Danny and the Human Zoo

Danny and the Human Zoo is a fictionalised account of Sir Lenny Henry’s life as a teenager in 1970s Dudley. The drama centres on Danny Fearon, a talented impressionist played by young actor Kascion Franklin and his large working class Jamaican family, with Cecilia Noble as Danny’s mother and Lenny Henry as Danny’s father, Samson.It was also another 'first' as it was the director Destiny Ekaragha’s first TV project. Destiny had previously made short films called The Park and Tight Jeans, which was officially selected by the 2008 Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival. It was also voted the best short film shown at the London Film Festival by the Observer newspaper.Kascion and Destiny talk openly about the casting process, building-up trust between the cast members, the relationship between the entire production team, filming on location in Birmingham, obtaining funding for projects and the challenges faced on this project and others. Both also share tips for those wanting to get into the acting and directing scenes.Don't forget you can get involved with discussions about any of our podcasts using #academycast.