Anthology Group emerges from Bob & Co.

A new UK production group is set to emerge from the re-organisation of the Bob & Co group of companies. Bob Benton and his partner Hilary Strong announced in Edinburgh today that the new entity will be called the Anthology Group and will bring together six television and film production companies (two of them entirely new scripted production businesses), a theatre production company and an established licensing company

Benton, who founded Bob & Co, and Strong, the company CEO, say they will continue to push forward with a number of production and licensing projects as the company grows. The Anthology Group will house Anthology Studios, which will initially focus on factual, comedy and drama production.

“This is an incredibly exciting moment for the company,” Benton said. “Launching Anthology will allow us to move forward as a fully equipped production group, telling the best stories across television, theatre and film platforms alongside our existing investment and licensing businesses. Our focus is to develop and produce scripted and unscripted television, film, digital and theatre content and the new infrastructure will allow us to do that on an international scale.”

Under the umbrella of the new group there are several companies that compete across a range of sectors. Duchess Street Productions specialises in developing and producing original drama series and adaptations, while Ghost Light Theatre Productions develops and produces innovative original theatre. In addition, Anthology boasts Rockfleet, a new, scripted comedy/drama production company formed by BBC comedy and drama producer Emma Smithwick and live comedy producer & director Phoebe Bourke, while Spark TV mixes genres in compelling narratives.

Anthology also owns and runs Larkshead Media, Woodcut Media, SUMS Film & Media and Mischief Screen. The last of these is a new venture that aims to develop and exploit Mischief work both in the UK and internationally. According to Anthology, its stake will be held through Anthology Studios, with Mischief Screen will be led by Hilary Strong, who says Mischief has already been commissioned and is currently exploring partnerships with US and international partners.

Chairman of Anthology Studios Jeremy Mills said, “Anthology Studios has a huge range of talent within it, with a number of well established production companies and two new scripted ventures; Mischief Screen, focusing on the unique creative talents of the team behind the “Goes Wrong” theatre brand