Maddigan's Quest

Maddigan's Quest is a fantasy-based television series set in a post-apocalyptic future. It was based on an original concept by Margaret Mahy and was developed for television by Rachel Lang and Gavin Strawhan.[2] The show originally screened on BBC1 in the UK, and was also aired on TV3 in New Zealand and the Nine Network in Australia in early 2006.[1][2]

Maddigan's Quest
GenreFantasy drama[1]
Created byMargaret Mahy
Developed by
Starring
Narrated byRose McIver
ComposerVictoria Kelly
Country of originNew Zealand
Australia
United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • John Barnett
  • Ewan Burnett
  • Elaine Sperber
ProducerSimon Bennett
CinematographyDale McCready
Editors
  • Gary Hunt
  • Doug Dillaman
Running time30 minutes[2]
Production companies
Release
Original network
Original release26 January (2006-01-26) –
16 February 2006 (2006-02-16)

Storyline

Early in the 22nd century, the world underwent a vast and rapid change. The tectonic plates of the Earth began to shift and rapidly changed the face of the planet. Since then, the events of this time have grown to be known as the time of the Great Shift or the Great Chaos- and have become myth and legend. As a result of these events, the population of Earth severely dropped and little remained of the old ways. While some forms of old technology exist, the ways of man have receded. Slavery is not uncommon, bandits roam the highways.

Maddigan's Quest follows the circus troupe 'Maddigan's Fantasia', who come from the city of Solis, a beacon of freedom and peace for the desolate world. Each year, the Fantasia leave Solis to perform and earn a living, but this year is different: they have been set the task of obtaining a new Solar Converter to replace the existing converter–the only power source in Solis–which is failing. At the centre of this quest is 14-year-old Garland, the last member of the Maddigan family line.

Near the beginning of the Fantasia's journey, just after Ferdy Maddigan, the group's leader and Garland's father, is killed, two boys and their baby sister appear from the future. But while the younger brother, Eden, seems to be a blessing to the performers with his illusionary skills, his older brother Timon is hiding a dark secret which threatens the Fantasia, their mission, and the future of Solis itself.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Road Rats"Charlie HaskellMargaret Mahy, Gavin Strawhan and Rachel Lang26 January 2006 (2006-01-26) (U.K)
11 February 2006 (2006-02-11) (N.Z)[2]
2"Hillfolk"Charlie HaskellMargaret Mahy, Rachel Lang and Gavin Strawhan30 January 2006 (2006-01-30) (U.K)
18 February 2006 (2006-02-18) (N.Z)
3"Gramth"Geoffrey CawthornMichael Bennett and Gavin Strawhan31 January 2006 (2006-01-31) (U.K)
25 February 2006 (2006-02-25) (N.Z)
4"Witch-Finder"Peter BurgerMichael Bennett1 February 2006 (2006-02-01) (U.K)
3 March 2006 (2006-03-03) (N.Z)
5"Greentown"Peter BurgerRachel Lang2 February 2006 (2006-02-02) (U.K)
10 March 2006 (2006-03-10) (N.Z)
6"Plague"Geoffrey CawthornJames Griffin6 February 2006 (2006-02-06) (U.K)
17 March 2006 (2006-03-17) (N.Z)
7"Newton"Vanessa AlexanderJames Griffin and Rachel Lang7 February 2006 (2006-02-07) (U.K)
24 March 2006 (2006-03-24) (N.Z)
8"Tunnellers"Vanessa AlexanderMichael Bennett and James Griffin8 February 2006 (2006-02-08) (U.K)
31 March 2006 (2006-03-31) (N.Z)
9"Off the Map"Charlie HaskellMargaret Mahy, Rachel Lang and Gavin Strawhan9 February 2006 (2006-02-09) (U.K)
7 April 2006 (2006-04-07) (N.Z)
10"Birdboys"Charlie HaskellGavin Strawhan13 February 2006 (2006-02-13) (U.K)
14 April 2006 (2006-04-14) (N.Z)
11"Pilgrim's Vantage"Charlie HaskellRachel Lang and Gavin Strawhan14 February 2006 (2006-02-14) (U.K)
21 April 2006 (2006-04-21) (N.Z)
12"Laketown"Peter BurgerRachel Lang15 February 2006 (2006-02-15) (U.K)
28 April 2006 (2006-04-28) (N.Z)
13"Solis"Peter BurgerRachel Lang16 February 2006 (2006-02-16) (U.K)
5 May 2006 (2006-05-05) (N.Z)

Home releases
DVD releases
SeasonEp #Release Date
Region 1Region 2Region 3Region 4
1 13 NA 7 August 2006 NA 7 December 2006

Awards and nominations

Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand
Year Nominee Award Result Ref
2007 Maddigan's Quest Best Dramatic Presentation – Long Form Award Won [3]

Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand
Year Nominee Award Result Ref
2007 Maddigan's Quest Best Children's Programme Won [4]
Rose McIver Performance by an Actress Nominated [5]
Jordan Metcalfe Performance by an Actor Nominated [5]
Rachel Lang Script, Drama Nominated [5]
Victoria Kelly Achievement in Original Music Won [4]
Carl Smith, Rodney Larsen and Steve Finnegan Contribution to a Soundtrack Won [4]
Tracey Collins Contribution to Design Won [4]
Albedo VFX Contribution to Design Nominated

Book

Maddigan's Fantasia, later re-released under the title Maddigan's Quest, is a novel written by Margaret Mahy as a tie-in for the TV series (based on her concept).[6]

The circus troupe Maddigan's Fantasia are on a mission to get a new solar converter from Newton for their hometown Solis. But on the way there, the Fantasia meet two strange boys, Timon and Eden. They are from the future and have come to help the Fantasia change history: in their timeline, when the Fantasia did not get back to Solis in time, the council gave up on them and took a new path, a radiation path. Timon and Eden's parents were killed because an evil monster called the Nennog rules Solis in the future and their parents tried to work out a way to change the past. They created a time slider, but they were killed for it, so Timon and Eden did the job for them and then they saved the Fantasia and Solis was saved.

References
  1. Waller, Ed (19 January 2006). "BBC lines up NZ drama for Thursdays". C21media. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  2. "Fantastic quest challenges childhood trust". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  3. "Sir Julius Vogel Award Results– 2007". Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  4. "How the West's won! | Scoop News". Air NZ Screen Awards. Scoop. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. "Air New Zealand Screen Awards 2007 finalists | Scoop News". Air NZ Screen Awards. Scoop. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  6. "Maddigan's Fantasia". HarperCollins New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 June 2005. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
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