Significant Others

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

New Australian drama

Coming to ABC in 2022 From award -winning creator and writer Tommy Murphy

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ABC and Screen Australia are pleased to announce the commission of a bold, new psychological drama Significant Others. Set to air in 2022 on ABC TV and ABC iview, the six-part series is created by award-winning writer Tommy Murphy ( Holding the Man , Devil’s Playground ).

Produced by Fremantle Australia with finance support from Screen NSW, Significant Others tells the intriguing story of a single mother who fails to return from her morning swim, leaving behind two teenagers and a fractured family searching for clues in the rubble of the catastrophe. Putting the pieces together is the awakening that threatens to tear this family apart.

Tommy Murphy, creator and writer, said: “ Significant Others is a character-driven series with an undertow of intrigue. It follows a family tearing each other apart over a missing loved-one. It is equally about how they put themselves back together. I am thrilled to be working with such an experienced, brilliant team on this story.”

Working alongside Tommy Murphy are some of Australia’s most respected writers including; Sue Smith ( Brides of Christ , Saving Mr Banks ), Louise Fox ( Glitch , Broadchurch ), Niki Aken ( The Hunting ), Blake Ayshford ( Mystery Road ) and Vonne Patiag ( The Unusual Suspects ). The series will be executive produced by Chris Oliver-Taylor ( Glitch ) and Justin Davies ( Beautiful People ). ABC Executive producers are Louise Smith and Sally Riley. Acclaimed producer Matt Reeder ( Hearts & Bones ) is series producer.

ABC Head of Drama, Comedy & Indigenous Sally Riley says “It is our absolute pleasure to be working with Tommy Murphy on this captivating drama that provides surprising and often sideways insights into grief, family and loss. We are proud to be uniting with our production partners to bring Significant Others to ABC audiences next year.”

Executive producers, Chris Oliver-Taylor, CEO Asia Pacific Fremantle and Justin Davies, said: “ Significant Others is a triumphant, edge of your seat series full of intrigue and suspense about a very contemporary family scrambling to rebuild from catastrophe. Beautifully crafted by Tommy Murphy, we are excited to work with our broadcast partner in Australia, the ABC and Fremantle International to see the series come to life in 2022.”

Screen Australia’s Head of Content Sally Caplan said: “We’re proud to support this original, moving drama from Tommy Murphy, together with some of the country’s top writers and the exceptional team at Fremantle. Exploring fractured family dynamics in the wake of a devastating tragedy, I’m confident Significant Others will engage viewers on the ABC and find a global audience.”

Production Credit: A Fremantle Production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC and financed with support from Screen NSW. Created by Tommy Murphy. Produced by Matt Reeder. Executive Producers Chris Oliver-Taylor and Justin Davies. ABC Executive Producers Louise Smith and Sally Riley. Distribution by Fremantle International.

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Gripping psychological drama, Significant Others, debuts in October

Bold new Australian psychological drama, Significant Others, is unmissable television this Spring when it premieres on Sunday 16 October at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview. The compelling six-part series follows a family struggling to piece together their lives after a loved one vanishes. Will the uncertainty and emotional upheaval rebuild them or tear them further apart?

A powerful linen up of Australian talent, the exciting ensemble cast of Significant Others includes newcomer Zoë Steiner and rising star Gulliver McGrath (Hugo) as Sarah’s children, alongside Rachael Blake (Lantana), Alison Bell (The Letdown) and Kenneth Moraleda (Janet King) as Sarah’s siblings and Jacqueline McKenzie (Savage River) as Sarah. Rounding out the ensemble are Todd McKenney (Strictly Ballroom), Rarriwuy Hick (Cleverman), Diana Popovska (Rake), Alan Dukes (Operation Buffalo) and Fayssal Bazzi (Stateless).

Leading TV and Film director Tony Krawtiz collaborated with award-winning screenwriter and playwright Tommy Murphy who drew on personal experience to create the moving and powerful series.

Catastrophe strikes when Sarah (Jacqueline McKenzie), the single mother of two teenagers, vanishes on her regular morning swim. Her teenage kids, Ciaran (Gulliver McGrath) and Hanna (Zoë Steiner), reluctantly call on their missing mother’s estranged siblings. Ursula (Rachael Blake), Den (Kenneth Moraleda) and Claire (Alison Bell) arrive to discover the family home partially demolished, while a destructive inheritance dispute still looms over it. Could their shambolic sister’s disappearance be her latest stunt?

This entangled family takes on life in the rubble and attempt to parent the two teenagers who struggle to keep hope that their mum will return.

Production Credit: A Fremantle Production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC and financed with support from Screen NSW. Created by Tommy Murphy. Series Director Tony Krawitz. Produced by Matt Reeder. Executive Producers Justin Davies, Brett Popplewell and Carly Heaton. ABC Executive Producers Louise Smith and Sally Riley. Distribution by Fremantle International.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

This week’s edition of The Age Green Guide has a preview.

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