Shrubs - sarcococca, hydrangea sargentiana (after a good start), skimmia (similarly). Perennials - many ferns, some evergreen, epimedium, hosta (after a good start), periwinkle, dicentra (after a good start). Some grasses, particularly hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', which is surprisingly tough. By a good start I mean proper cultivation of the ground and a GOOD watering in. What's the soil type?

It would be wise to remove his email address, and for you to pass any replies to him yourself. This site is public and you don't know who would see it and take advantage.

Gordon has a difficult problem. You don't say how big or how wide the area is or whether he wants shrubs or low plants. If he wants shrubs then mahonia japonica is his best bet. If he just wants to cover the ground euphorbia robbiae will do the job, spreading over several yards from one plant in a few years. These two are the toughest I can think of for that position. Vinca major or minor would survive. He might try hostas if he applies a little cunning - dig a largish hole and put gel crystals in the bottom and mix in, then water thoroughly, and keep watered in dry weather. I have grown an ordinary perennial geranium in a dry shady spot like this (it wilted before I thought of the solution)
Alernatively he could gravel the area and stand hostas and ferns on it in pots. There are a few ferns that will grow in dry shade in the ground but take advice because most prefer damp.

I agree it would be best to remove his email address.....

Me to its not good to share email public.

Lets get back to the question,
Its admins job to remove "e"mail address info,

Is this hedge close to we're your friend want's to grow anything?

Because if it is the hedge will take a lot of the goodness out of the soil near to its root spread,
And rain water will not always get near enough to keep plants watered enough,
The higher the hedge the wider the roots, the poorer the soil.
Not many people ever think of feeding hedges hence the roots take as much goodness as they can.

Sorry Dungy, its up to the individual not admin. My suggestions took hedge roots into consideration - couldn't think of anything else that would survive there in those conditions.