ABOUT US

Since its creation in 1982, the aim of Cicada Productions has been to make films which enrich our understanding of the world – be it through nature, science, history or people.

 

Cicada’s daring projects in foreign locations have attracted co-producers throughout the world, who have developed a taste for our ambitious, big-budget programmes.

 

Whilst our passion for knowledge, investigation and understanding remains resolute, Cicada seeks new formats for documentary, to enhance the creativity and imagination involved in story-telling on television.

 

The People

 

Frances Berrigan – Managing Director

 

Frances was born in Australia but came to live and work in London in her early twenties. Having spent time at the BBC, the Open University and BBC Radio, she came to Cicada as producer/director on Cicada’s first series: Nature in Focus. Two years later, she took over the company, and has been running it ever since. Her wide range of interests reflects Cicada’s output. She has two children and lives in London with her husband.

 

 

Christian Holland – Head of Production

 

Christian worked as a freelance production manager on a variety of programmes for all the major broadcasters before joining Cicada.  In his capacity as Head of Production he ensures all Cicada projects are delivered on time and budget.  He is the main liaison with the broadcasters for both legal and financial issues and plays a key role in developing and financing new projects.

 

Mike Warner - Creative Director 

At Cicada Mike has EP SP'd a whole host of shows for the US: Mark Anstice: Extreme Tribes (4 x 60) Wonders of Planet Earth (15 x 60) Mark and Olly: Living With The Machigenga (8 x 60) Crime Scene Wild (6 x 60). In the past Mike had great success at RDF where he co-advised and was Series Producer/Director of Faking It, which won every award in TV, and Perfect Match, which won the Rose d'Or. As Head of Fact Ent at Diverse he co-devised and was SP/EP for series 1 & 2 of Beyond Boundaries, Young Black Farmers, Bear Grylls and many other formats and documentaries over four years. In comedy he directed the Mark Thomas Product and Comedy Lab for C4 as well the Alexei Sayle Show. In Factual he was SP/Director of the first series of Car Wars for BBC1 and has directed and produced all forms of primetime factual from The Uncovereds, From Hells, Wars, 999`s and every type of crime.