Suzanne Ahmet as News Announcer/Giovanni’s Mum

Teresa Banham as Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Anna Demetriou as Chantelle

Patience Tomlinson as Esme

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and

The Telling as Emilia's ensemble:
Clare Norburn voice
Ariane Prüssner voice, medieval harp, percussion
Joy Smith harps and percussion
Jorge Jimenez Vielle
 

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Love in the Lockdown follows medieval musician Emilia and playwright Giovanni in the early stages of an intense relationship, which starts with awkward early Zoom dates just before lockdown.

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Over 3 months, the separated lovers get closer and work on a project together, inspired by the book The Decameron by Boccaccio. Boccaccio placed The Decameron as a “14th Century box set” of 100 stories told by young people to while away their quarantine during the Black Death in Florence in 1348. Giovanni plans to reimagine The Decameron, drawing out parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, while Emilia and her ensemble, played by The Telling, plan the music.

They put together films of music from the 14th century by Guillaume de Machaut, Johannes Ciconia, Francesco Landini, Gherardello da Firenze and anon, which will form part of the final show.

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But a number of forces are at work to challenge the lovers and test their relationship – not least Giovanni’s wayward mother and Venetia Lemming-Brown, a TV Commissioning Editor who wants to sprinkle the show with TV magic, which means no medieval music – and no Emilia.

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Directed and filmed entirely over Zoom by actors and musicians on their phones and recording devices.

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Each episode was originally streamed on YouTube and Facebook in real-time, a year on from the point in 2020. The series is re-released periodically.