Caroline Quentin,who began her career as a dancer in pantomime, takes a tour backstage to explore the highs and lows of life in the chorus through the decades.

Ensemble players in West End shows or end of the pier revues may have worked as hard as the stars but they never got the glory- instead they got the worst dressing rooms and the costumes that never quite seem to fit.

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01Early Stages2002012220030629
20061013 (BBC7)
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20140119 (R4+)
20140120 (R4+)		Digs, dressing rooms and dancing at the right height - Caroline Quentin begins her investigation of life in the chorus line.
Digs, dressing rooms and dancing at the right height - all part of life in the chorus line

The earliest choruses were contrived as a ruse to lure audiences with a glimpse of leg.
They spawned whole armies of girls wanting to sing and dance and by the 1930s, every town had its own pantomime with chorus dancers and singers displaying varying degrees of talent.
But the cramped changing areas and low rates of pay gave rise to an enduring camaraderie among chorus men and women.
Caroline Quentin investigates life in the chorus line.
This week: Digs, dressing rooms and being the right height.
02From Kicking Line To Ensemble2002012920030706
20061020 (BBC7)
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20080727 (BBC7)
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20121111 (R4+)
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20140203 (R4+)		Caroline Quentin investigates life among the hoofers, including Tiller Girls and the War.
Caroline Quentin investigates life among the hoofers. Tiller Girls, the War and ringing the choreographic changes.
How Oklahoma changed the perception of the chorus for ever, by changing it into an ensemble.
Caroline Quentin takes a tour backstage to explore the highs and lows of life in the chorus through the decades.
03 LASTThe Chorus On Screen2002020520030713
20061027 (BBC7)
20070308 (BBC7)
20080803 (BBC7)
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20090926 (R7)
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20121118 (R4+)
20121119 (R4+)		Time for your close-up! Caroline Quentin investigates life among the hoofers and the impact of film and TV.
Time for your close-up! Caroline Quentin investigates life among the hoofers.
Time for your close-up - the impact of film and TV.
Caroline Quentin investigates life among the hoofers.
TV gave dancers the chance for a close-up, and possibly fame!
How the movies and the arrival of television changes the role of the chorus.
Caroline Quentin investigates life in the chorus line.
This week: Time for your close-up - the impact of film and TV.

Genre

  • "Documentaries / Arts / Culture and the Media / Factual"