Small Axe: John Boyega and Letitia Wright to star in Steve McQueen’s BBC One series

John Boyega and Letitia Wright will star in Small Axe, Steve McQueen’s new series for BBC One.

The Oscar and Bafta-winning filmmaker’s new project is an an anthology of hour-long stories conceived and written by him with Alastair Siddons and Courttia Newland (Alex Wheatle is a writing consultant to the series). The six films tell five stories, with the first told across two episodes, and are set within London’s West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 80s.

Produced by BBC One, Turbine Studios and Lammas Park, the series is executive produced by Tracey Scoffield and David Tanner for Turbine Studios and Steve McQueen for Lammas. Also joining the cast are Evening Standard Theatre Awards’ Outstanding Newcomer Malachi Kirby (Curfew, Black Mirror, Roots), Shaun Parkes (Lost In Space, Hooten & The Lady), Rochenda Sandall (Line Of Duty, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch), Alex Jennings (A Very English Scandal, Victoria) and Jack Lowden (The Long Song, Mary Queen of Scots).

The title Small Axe is derived from a Jamaican proverb that has resonance throughout the Caribbean, “if you are the big tree, we are the small axe”. Small Axe is also the title of a Bob Marley song from 1973 album Catch A Fire. It means that relatively marginal or small voices of dissent can successfully challenge more powerful voices.

Mike Elliot is producing for EMU Films with Turbine Studios and Anita Overland. Associate producers are Charlotte Andrews for Turbine Studios, Susan Dolan for Lammas Park and Helen Bart. The drama was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, and the executive producer for the BBC is Lucy Richer, Senior Commissioning Editor for Drama.

McQueen says: “I felt these stories needed to be shared. I wanted to re-live, re-evaluate and investigate the journeys that my parents and the first generation of West Indians went on to deliver me here today calling myself a Black British person. What’s important about our stories is that they are local but at the same time global. I think audiences will identify with the trials, tribulations and joy of our characters as well as reflecting on the present environment in which we find ourselves. The dynamic nature of the series allows us to confront injustice in the face of adversity hence the proverb Small Axe.”

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says: “It is an honour to have Steve McQueen, along with this stellar cast, tell these important and inspiring stories on BBC One. Small Axe will air on BBC One next year, and this powerful drama is not to be missed.”

Tracey Scoffield, Turbine Studios Executive Producer, says: “We’ve been working with Steve McQueen and the BBC for over five years developing this project and the privilege continues now we are in production, putting together the best cast and crew to do justice to these incredible stories and the real people behind them.”

Filming is now underway.

Article source: Daily Mail, by Staff Reporter