Robert Sidaway (24 January 1942 – 16 August 2024) was an English writer, producer, director and actor. His credits as writer or producer for film and television include Rainbow (1996), Battle of the Brave (2004), Best Of British (1987–94) and Into The Rainbow / The Wonder (2017).
As a stage actor, Sidaway appeared in several West End theatre productions and numerous provincial and international tours, including Number 10 and The Magistrate, both with Alastair Sim. On screen, he performed in film and television, including two Doctor Who serials: as Avon in The Savages (1966) and Captain Jimmy Turner in The Invasion (1968).
Background
Sidaway was born in Wolverhampton, the son of industrialist Ronald "Bill" Sidaway, Chairman and Managing Director of Ductile Steels, and Beryl Cynthia Webb. He was educated at Tettenhall College, Wolverhampton and Trent College, Derbyshire.
Sidaway died abroad on 16 August 2024, at the age of 82.[1]
A Public Mischief by Kenneth Horne, directed by Harold French, with George Cole, Amanda Barrie, Charles Lloyd-Pack and Elspeth March. Originally opened at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne on 19 April 1965 before transferring to the St Martin's Theatre, London [2]
Sidaway in recording sessions for the animated series Chuck The Eco Duck, 14 April 2010
Theatre production
During the early 1970s, Sidaway worked in public relations and marketing for London theatre managements, in particular for producer John Gale, and from 1972 he was involved in No Sex Please, We're British at London's Strand Theatre. It became the world's longest running comedy play.
Sidaway subsequently moved into theatre production and produced and presented such productions as:
Sidaway's first film production work was for the Central Office of Information on documentaries and weekly news programmes. He also wrote television drama series for both BBC and ITV, including Crossroads.
In 1977 Sidaway co-created and co-produced the documentary series The Game Of The Century which consisted of six 30-minute programmes leading up to the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. It was first shown on BBC1 commencing on 23 April 1978.[3] He also co-wrote (with Bob Wilson) the accompanying book based on the series.[4]
Two further sports documentary series followed, The Game of The Century, World Cup ’82 (BBC) and A Choice of Champions (CBS), made for the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Between 1981 and 1984 Sidaway produced and co-wrote The Optimist, a silent comedy series for Channel 4 (UK). The pilot was independently financed and shot in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 1981 and was subsequently commissioned for a further six episodes by Cecil Korer, Programme Purchaser and Commissioning Editor for Light Entertainment at Channel 4. The first season was shot entirely in Los Angeles and was previewed on Channel 4's opening night (2 November 1982). The series commenced on 14 April 1983, following which a second series of six episodes was commissioned and filmed on location in London in 1984. The episode "The Fall Of The House Of Esher" was nominated for the Rose d'Or, Montreux in 1985.[5][6]
In 1985 Sidaway co-produced the Irish location shoot for the American soap Search for Tomorrow for NBC. At this time he was working extensively in Los Angeles on film and television projects.
The Optimist was co-produced with Charisma Films and until 1987 Sidaway was Head Of Production for Charisma, developing films such as Sellers On Sellers, based on the life of Peter Sellers and Extra Time (later written as United).
He subsequently formed Best of British Films & Television Limited and for four years co-created, co-wrote and produced 67 half-hours of Best Of British (BBC 1), a history of British film narrated by John Mills and Anthony Quayle which commenced on 22 April 1987.[9] He also co-wrote a book based on the first series which looked at the classic films of the Rank Organisation.[10]
In 1990 he co-created, co-wrote and produced 13 episodes of The World Of Hammer for Channel 4, a history of Hammer Film Productions narrated by Oliver Reed.[11] The company also produced documentaries and video specials, including Genesis - A History, a ninety-minute co-production with BBC on the music band Genesis, and Wicked Willie, the animated series.[12]
Having founded Winchester Pictures in 1989, Sidaway took Winchester Entertainment to the Alternative Investment Market in 1994 and was Head Of Production for the public company.
During 1994-95 Sidaway produced and co-wrote Rainbow, the family entertainment feature film starring Bob Hoskins, Dan Aykroyd, Jacob Tierney and Terry Finn. Shot on location in Montreal from September to December 1994, this was the first theatrically distributed all digital feature film. The film was made in association with Sony High Definition at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles and was released during 1996. He also co-wrote the novel based on the original screenplay.[13]
Independent productions
During 1995 Sidaway co-founded "The International Football Hall Of Fame" to develop and finance a unique football concept, worldwide media business and Manchester-based visitor attraction. Developed in association with Granada Media Group and Mirror Group Newspapers, the first election took place in 1997-98.
During 1999–2000 he co-wrote the TV series Dark Knight (Channel 5) and developed further film projects.
Between 2000 and 2008, some of the films on which Sidaway was Producer or Executive Producer included:
From 2008 to 2010 acted as audio-visual producer and writer on over 60 short films examining climate change and green technologies.
In 2008 created the character of Chuck the Eco Duck and subsequently wrote and produced the pilot about the continuing tales of a caring, socially minded duck and his adventures on the farm and across the world. In 2010 wrote and produced the first series of 13 episodes. In addition wrote and produced the first audio series of 14 shows, which were first broadcast on Fun Kids radio in the UK.
During 2011 and 2012 developed and wrote the film "Iron", based on the birth of the industrial revolution at Ironbridge Gorge. During 2013 Sidaway was an editor and consulting producer on the documentary "Medjugorge - Myth Or Miracle".
On 27 January 2015, Sidaway presented a screening and discussion on high frame rate film making to industry leaders in Beijing, China. He organized for respected film production designer David L. Snyder and innovative film maker Douglas Trumbull to be present. Trumbull's experimental short UFOTOG was shown in 4K, 3D, 120 fps.[14][15][16]
Into The Rainbow / 奇迹：追逐彩虹 / The Wonder: Chasing Rainbows
In 2011, Sidaway created and wrote the story for the action fantasy feature film originally titled The Wonder and wrote the original drafts of the screenplay during 2012.
The film was first announced during the American Film Market in October 2012 with Willow Shields starring.[17]
The film shot on location in Qingdao, China and Auckland, New Zealand between October and December 2015 as a co-production between the two countries.
The film was shown at the TIFF Kids International Film Festival during April 2017.[22][23][24]
The film received its U.S. Premiere with a Gala Screening at the Savannah Film Festival on 4 November 2017.[25][26]
Sidaway also co-wrote the book based on the original story.
Difei Zhou and Sidaway on location for The Wonder in Qingdao, September 29, 2015
Friendship Films
Friendship Films was initially established in 2015 to produce The Wonder and thereafter to develop and produce various film and TV projects.[27]
During 2018, Sidaway created, wrote and produced the documentary series Cult-tastic: Tales From The Trenches With Roger And Julie Corman, which consists of thirteen 50-minute episodes on the career of filmmakers Roger Corman and Julie Corman. It was filmed over a four month period in Los Angeles, California and features over 130 movies. The series is a co-production between Shout! Studios (the production arm of Shout! Factory) and Ace Film HK in association with Friendship Films.[28][29]
Film and television productions as writer and/or producer
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