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The Changes (TV series) facts for kids

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The Changes
The Changes BBC TV title card.png
Title card
Genre Fantasy
Written by Peter Dickinson (novel)
Anna Home (adapter)
Directed by John Prowse
Starring Victoria Williams
Keith Ashton
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 10 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Anna Home
Production location(s) Bristol
Release
Original network BBC1
Original release 6 January (1975-01-06) – 10 March 1975 (1975-03-10)

The Changes is a British children's science fiction television serial filmed in 1973 and first broadcast in 1975 by the BBC. It was directed by John Prowse and is based on the trilogy written by Peter Dickinson: The Weathermonger (1968), Heartsease (1969), and The Devil's Children (1970) (the books were written in reverse order: the events of The Devil's Children happen first, Heartsease second, and The Weathermonger third).

Background

The Changes posits a Britain where a sudden enveloping noise emanating from all machinery and technology causes the population to destroy them. The resulting upheaval displaces many people and reverts society to a pre-industrial age where there is a deep suspicion of anyone who may be harbouring machinery. Even the words for technology are taboo. The remnants of modern technology that escape destruction (such as electricity pylons) produce a physical and sometimes violent repulsion among those left in Britain.

The Changes are seen through the eyes of teenage schoolgirl Nicky Gore (Victoria Williams), and the 10-part series, originally broadcast every Monday from 6 January to 10 March 1975, traces Nicky's quest to reunite with her parents and solve the mystery.

Regular cast

  • Vicky Williams as Nicky Gore
  • Keith Ashton as Jonathon
  • David Garfield as Davy Gordon
  • Rafiq Anwar as Chacha
  • Zuleika Robson as Margaret
  • Raghbir Brar as Gopal

Episode guide

Note: Episode titles were given in Radio Times, but were not shown on-screen.

No. Title Guest cast Airdate
1 "The Noise" Sonia Graham (Mrs Gore), Bernard Horsfall (Mr Gore), Clyde Pollitt (Preacher), Bartlett Mullins (Old Man) 6 January 1975 (1975-01-06)
A strange noise fills people all over Britain with a violent rage against modern technology.
2 "The Bad Wires" TBA 13 January 1975 (1975-01-13)
Separated from her parents, Nicky joins a group of Sikhs.
3 "The Devil's Children" Arthur Hewlett (Mr Tom) 20 January 1975 (1975-01-20)
Nicky and the Sikhs settle at Brooker's Farm but are dubbed by villagers as "the Devil's Children".
4 "Hostages!" Arthur Hewlett (Mr Tom), Edward Brayshaw (Chief Robber), Derek Ware (Second Robber) 27 January 1975 (1975-01-27)
Bandits attack the village and take the children hostage.
5 "Witchcraft!" Roy Evans (Carter) 3 February 1975 (1975-02-03)
Nicky tries to track down her aunt, while the farm is visited by a witch finder.
6 "A Pile of Stones" TBA 10 February 1975 (1975-02-10)
Nicky is found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to death by stoning.
7 "Heartsease" Kenneth Gilbert (Innkeeper) 17 February 1975 (1975-02-17)
Nicky and Jonathon escape, pursued by the witch-finder and enraged villagers.
8 "Lightning!" Kenneth Gilbert (Innkeeper), Tom Chadbon (Michael) 24 February 1975 (1975-02-24)
Nicky and Jonathon try to escape to sea but their boat is struck by lightning.
9 "The Quarry" Tom Chadbon (Michael), Oscar Quitak (Mr Furbelow) 3 March 1975 (1975-03-03)
Nicky and Jonathon set off to investigate a mysterious power source on the other side of the mountains.
10 "The Cavern" Oscar Quitak (Mr Furbelow) 10 March 1975 (1975-03-10)
The protagonists enter a cavern and uncover the cause of the unbalancing of the world.

Soundtrack

The Changes
Soundtrack album by
Paddy Kingsland and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Released 21 April 2018
Genre Soundtrack
Label Silva Screen
BBC Radiophonic Workshop chronology
Burials in Several Earths
(2017)		 ''The Changes''
(2018)		 Doctor Who The Five Doctors
(2018)

A selection of music from this serial was released as a single in 1976.

The soundtrack for this serial by Paddy Kingsland was released on double white vinyl LP on 21 April 2018 for Record Store Day 2018.

It is to be reissued as a bonus disc in the Record Store Day exclusive 6-CD box set Four Albums 1968 - 1978 29 August 2020.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Paddy Kingsland. 

Episode 1: "The Noise"
No. Title Length
1. "The Changes Opening Titles"   0:35
2. "Home Alone (Nicky's Theme)"   3:05
3. "Everybody's Gone"   2:07
Episode 2: "The Bad Wires"
No. Title Length
4. "A Note On The Door"   1:14
5. "A Special Kind Of People"   3:34
6. "Your Ways Are Not Our Ways"   1:08
7. "The Changes Closing Titles (56" Version)"   1:01
Episode 3: "The Devil's Children"
No. Title Length
8. "The Bad Wires"   0:58
9. "The Barns"   1:36
10. "Life On The Farm"   1:45
11. "The Devil's Children"   2:17
12. "The Village Court"   0:56
Episode 4: "Hostages!"
No. Title Length
13. "The Forge"   1:34
14. "Hostages!"   4:48
15. "Rescue"   5:43
16. "The Changes Closing Titles (67" Version)"   1:10
Episode 5: "Witchcraft"
No. Title Length
17. "The End Of The Rescue"   0:30
18. "A Farewell"   0:43
19. "A Journey, And Arrival at Henley Farm"   3:21
Episode 6: "A Pile Of Stones"
No. Title Length
20. "Sentence Of Death"   3:07
21. "Leaving Shipton"   3:09
Episode 7: "Heartsease"
No. Title Length
22. "Heartsease"   4:09
23. "At Purton Bridge"   1:10
24. "The Changes Closing Titles (63" Version)"   1:07
Episode 8: "Lightning!"
No. Title Length
25. "After The Bridge"   1:59
26. "Michael And Mary"   2:09
Episode 9: "The Quarry"
No. Title Length
27. "Necromancer's Weather"   3:19
28. "The Quarry"   2:46
29. "Mr Furbelow"   0:59
30. "Qui Me Tangit, Turbat Mundum"   2:39
31. "The Changes Closing Titles (48" Version)"   0:53
Episode 10: "The Cavern"
No. Title Length
32. "Into The Rock"   2:59
33. "The Cavern"   1:53
34. "Merlinus Sum"   0:19
35. "It's All Over"   1:40
36. "Everything's Alright Again (End Titles)"   0:49
Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
37. "Nicky's Theme (Stereo Demo)"   1:35
38. "Theme 2 Demo"   1:47
39. "The Noise"   3:10
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