Leave to Enter is a television web series, written and created by Sean McConaghy, and first aired in 2009 via the show's official website. Shot on a shoestring budget, Leave to Enter is the debut production from Room Enough Productions, a company started in 2009 by Sean McConaghy, David Palliser and Jon Baldwin.
The Plot
editThe show follows Sean McCaffrey (played by creator Sean McConaghy), an Irish-American chef living in London. Sean generally manages to get on the wrong side of whatever, or whomever, he comes across (the show's tagline is "Who will he piss off today?") The central relationship is that between him and his ever-patient Irish girlfriend Donnla (played by his real-life partner Donnla Hughes). The show features a whole swathe of characters from Sean's London life: the "famous" actor Ben, his wanna-be restauranteur friend Adam, the off-beat Will and his Icelandic sidekick Mel, and Donnla's combative sister Marie.
A running theme through the show is whether Sean actually has the right to live in the United Kingdom and "leave to enter" comes from the technical term for someone granted entry by UK immigration. This is first touched on in the second episode, "The Letter", when after getting a confusing letter from the UK Border Agency, Sean goes to his friend Dave (played by the show's producer, David Palliser), an anglicized Australian estate agent, for advice.
The Cast
editMany of the characters in the series are written for the specific actors playing them. Much of the cast met during drama training at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
- Sean McConaghy, the show's creator, writer and co-producer, plays Sean McCaffrey. He is protagonist of the show.
- Donnla Hughes plays Sean's girlfriend, Donnla.
- Marie Ruane plays Donnla's sister, Marie.
- Ben Aldridge plays the "famous" actor and friend of Donnla, Ben Aldridge.
- Adam Slynn plays Ben's friend and Sean's nemesis in episode one, Adam.
- Will Bliss plays Sean's kooky and often nonsensical friend, Will.
- Melkorka Oskar plays Will's Icelandic friend, that only he can understand, Mel.
- Simon Manyonda plays Sean's friend and Anthony's sidekick, Simon.
- Anthony Welsh plays Sean's friend and Simon's sidekick, Anthony.
- David Palliser, the show's co-producer, plays the Australian real estate agent, Dave.
- Georgiana Taylor, one of the series' directors, plays the aggressively unpredictable real estate agent, George.
The Crew
editThe series is produced by David Palliser and Sean McConaghy, founders of Room Enough Productions.
- Georgiana Taylor directed Episode 1: "Be Agreeable", Episode 2: "The Letter" and Episode 4: "F**king Boyfriends".
- Sam O'Mahony-Adams directed Episode 3: "The Toothbrush" and Episode 5: "Birth of a Poser". He is also the series editor and music composer and also shot Episode 1.
- Steve Hudson shot Episode 2 and Episode 4.
- Aoibheann McCann was Art Director for Episode 5.
The Location
editMost of Leave To Enter is shot in the north London suburb of Crouch End. A vibrant and friendly community, already with a long history in the arts, it is both a location for the show and home of many its cast and crew. Businesses featured in the show are the bar Kiss The Sky, where Simon and Anthony are seen hanging out, Hot Pepper Jelly, where Sean confronts Donnla, and The Queens, where Sean is interviewed by Adam.