A first look at Sally Wainwright‘s next project, Riot Women, has been unveiled by the BBC and streaming service BritBox.
The BAFTA-winning writer, known for Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack, has taken on a new six-part series led by Joanna Scanlan (After Love, The Thick of It), Rosalie Craig (Moonflower Murders, Serpent Queen) Tamsin Greig (Sexy Beast, The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin), Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood, Alma’s Not Normal) and Amelia Bullmore (The Buccaneers, Vienna Blood).
The newly released images show the five women pulling together as punk rockers, forming a makeshift band for a local talent contest. But in writing their first original song, the group soon discover they have a lot to say. Taj Atwal (Line of Duty), Chandeep Uppal (Holby City), and Macy Jacob-Seelochan (Shadow and Bone) feature as the band’s riotous backing singers.
Sally Wainwright‘s ‘Riot Women’.
BBC/Britbox
Rosalie Craig as Kitty in ‘Riot Women’.
BBC/Britbox
“I’m having a whole new buzz of excitement about the show as we bring it together in the edit, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone,” said Wainwright.
The series “is a testament to the power of friendship, music, and the resilience of women who refuse to be silenced by age or expectation,” a synopsis reads. “As the story progresses, it’s more than music that binds them; a deeply potent, long-buried secret begins to surface — one that unexpectedly entangles Kitty and Beth, the two unlikely creative masterminds behind the band, in a complex triangle — and threatens to tear everything apart.”
Wainwright (right) also serves as lead director on the series.
BBC/Britbox
First look at ‘Riot Women’.
BBC/Britbox
Riot Women will feature original songs from the band ARXX. It is created, written, and executive produced by Wainwright, who is also the series’ lead director. Jessica Taylor (Happy Valley, Fool Me Once) is the producer. Roanna Benn (One Day, Doctor Foster) is the executive producer for Drama Republic, with Tanya Qureshi for the BBC, Robert Schildhouse and Jess O’Riordan for BritBox. The series is produced by Drama Republic, a Mediawan Company.
Riot Women will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the U.K. later this year. BritBox will stream the series in the U.S. and Canada. Mediawan Rights will distribute the series internationally with the participation of Entourage Ventures.