Red Bull Screenland

Knightmare and Screenland

By David Goldstein

Knightmare is part of a new documentary series from Red Bull TV.


Screenland, produced by School of Humans, is a series of nine transatlantic documentaries - each about the length of Knightmare episode - that 'immerse viewers into the world of gamers, makers, artists, designers and coders who are revolutionising the world as we know it through screens all around us.'

Screenland episode 5, Cult Classics Redux, follows Paul Flannery and his Knightmare Live cast as they prepare for the finale of Knightmare Live's 2016 London run. As watchers of Knightmare.com will know from our review of the show, it was a special night: our webmaster Alan Boyd (aka Mystara) was a dungeoneer, Knightmare creator Tim Child was in the audience and Hugo Myatt, the screen Treguard himself, made a most welcome guest appearance.

The episode includes clips from Knightmare and interviews with Tim Child, Hugo Myatt and Paul Flannery, as well as dungeoneer Alan in action.

All in all, it's a well produced reminder of why Knightmare has held onto a 'huge cult following that goes back decades'. No series was better at breaking the fourth wall and constructing fantastic illusions beyond the screen. As fans of Knightmare, you can be proud of playing your part in its popularity.

Watch Screenland episode 5 on the Red Bull TV website

A shot from the Screenland documentary featuring Knightmare.

Knightmare Live continues to give Knightmare (dragon) wings in 2017, with forthcoming shows in London and Exeter.

Cara Ellison, who helped make Screenland, also wrote an excellent article about Knightmare for Unwinnable.com. We should mention that it contains strong language, in case you planned on reading it aloud to children.

What do you reckon to Screenland? Let us know on our forum.

Image credits: Red Bull TV

You Might Also Like...

Games Machine

Games Machine 08-87 p94 - first page of Knightmare article

"Imagine a game show in which the only prize is success within the dungeon... and the cost of failure is death." John Minson imagines the world of Knightmare in 1987.

The Quest 4.1: Dungeoneers and Dragons

Series 8 opening sequence from episode 1

Interviews with team two (Daniel Sacker) and team three (Nathan Coppen) from Series 8.

Series 8 Quest 7

Series 8 Quest 7 - Corridor of Blades short cut - header

Team 7: Oliver, David, Matthew and Anthony from Leicester / Melton Mowbray

See Also