Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney Lead Parkinson's Disease Drama Onwards and Sideways

Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney are set to star in parkinson's disease drama Onwards and Sideways. The feature-length film centers on two people diagnosed on the same morning, with music, dance, humour and emotion built into the story.

Paul Mayhew-Archer’s Script

Paul Mayhew-Archer wrote the drama after being told in 2011 that he had Parkinson’s at 58 years old. His script also brings in Tony Evans, a deputy head at a local primary school, and Emma Dretzin, a pianist, composer and single mother of two daughters.

John Madden directed the film and said, "I am really looking forward to telling the story of Tony and Emma – a friendship which unfolds unexpectedly. A story of humour and emotion, of challenge and bravado, of music and dance – transcending the assumptions of a little understood condition, and triumphing over the odds to find joy, release and love."

Cast Around North Norfolk

Monica Dolan, Rory Kinnear and Paul Mayhew-Archer are also joining the cast, with the drama set and filmed in North Norfolk. Hilltop Screen is producing the film for the and John Gore Studios, while Kaleidoscope Film Distribution is handling worldwide sales.

Lindsay Salt said the film shines a light on living with Parkinson’s, and John Gore said it is "a true privilege" to bring the story to the screen with Laura Linney, Rhys Ifans and the creative team. That combination points to a project built for reach across cinemas, iPlayer and One, not a niche one-off.

Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans

Ifans plays Tony Evans, while Linney plays Emma Dretzin, and their characters meet after the same-morning diagnosis. For viewers, the practical takeaway is simple: this is one to watch for a performance-led drama rather than a medical lecture, and it is due to arrive soon across cinemas, iPlayer and One.