Breaking News: Fictionhouse Shuts Down as Founders Shift Focus to Theater
EXCLUSIVE: Fictionhouse, a UK-based drama production company established by Dominic Cooke and Kate Horton, is ceasing operations. The founders are now shifting their focus towards independent theater initiatives.
In 2020, Cooke and Horton co-founded Fictionhouse with the intention to develop a variety of projects spanning film, television, and theater. Their collaboration dates back to their successful tenure at the Royal Court Theatre, and both have held significant roles at the National Theatre in the UK.
Fictionhouse operates under the umbrella of Newen Studios, a production and distribution entity owned by TF1, a major French broadcasting company. Recently, it was announced by Newen, soon to be rebranded as Studio TF1, that Fictionhouse would be closing down.
The financial backing for Fictionhouse was provided through Ringside Media, part of the Newen-supported Ringside Studios group led by Gub Neal and Kate Bennetts, notable for producing the series Liaison for Apple.
Attempts to reach Cooke and Horton for comments were unsuccessful. It is reported that Cooke will continue his career in directing independently, currently preparing to direct Imelda Staunton in George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession, following their recent collaboration on Hello, Dolly! at the Palladium.
On the other hand, Horton has taken on the role of lead producer for Mike Bartlett’s Unicorn at the Garrick Theatre, a project under her own banner, Kate Horton Productions, established in October of the previous year.
A spokesperson from Newen stated, “As Fictionhouse winds down, Kate and Dominic are looking to pursue separate freelance projects in theater. Both Ringside and Newen are keen to maintain their collaborative relationships with them and are co-developing various film and TV projects that were part of Fictionhouse’s portfolio.”
Kate Bennetts of Ringside added, “We have thoroughly enjoyed our creative partnership with Dominic and Kate. We are eager to continue working with them on selected film and television projects and wish them the best in their solo theater endeavors.”
The closure of Fictionhouse is indicative of broader challenges within the UK TV drama industry, which has been grappling with funding difficulties amid shifting strategies by streaming services and rising costs. Even approved series are finding it tough to secure complete funding, leaving many anticipated projects in uncertainty.
The announcement follows the departure of Leona Connell, the commercial head at Newen Connect in the UK. This has led some industry observers to speculate about Newen’s commitment to the UK market.
However, a Newen spokesperson reassured that the recent shifts do not affect their goals for the UK or their international expansion plans. “Newen Connect will continue to support UK projects like the upcoming drama Bruno, in collaboration with Ringside Studio. We are also working on developments with Chalkboard and our partnership with Jude Law’s Riff Raff, involving several projects with key UK stakeholders,” the spokesperson explained.
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