Joanna Scanlan, Tamsin Greig to Lead Sally Wainwright’s New Punk-Rock Drama ‘Riot Women’

As a film enthusiast who’s seen his fair share of British dramas, I can confidently say that “Riot Women” is shaping up to be a gem. The all-star cast, led by Joanna Scanlan and Tamsin Greig, promises a compelling narrative about the power of music, friendship, and self-discovery in the lives of middle-aged women.


Actresses Joanna Scanlan and Tamsin Greig have officially joined the cast of Sally Wainwright’s upcoming BBC series titled “Riot Women.

The new drama titled ‘Riot Women’ is penned by Happy Valley’s creator Wainwright, revolving around a band of middle-aged women who unexpectedly form a punk-rock group and participate in a talent contest. Upon penning their initial song, they discover not only the desire to express themselves but also the platform to do so effectively.

In the upcoming series “Slow Horses” and “A Very Royal Scandal,” Scanlan will portray Beth, while Greig, famous for “Black Books” and “Sexy Beast,” will take on the role of Holly. Additionally, Rosalie Craig from “Moonflower Murders” has been cast as Kitty, Lorraine Ashbourne from “Sherwood” as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore from “The Buccaneers” as Yvonne.

The six-episode production, spearheaded by Drama Republic, is set to air on BBC and BritBox, initially known as “Hot Flush” during development. The series will include unique tunes from the band ARXX. At present, filming is taking place on location in West Yorkshire.

In my perspective, as I navigate through challenging aspects of life such as demanding careers, adult children, intricate family dynamics, absent partners, and tumultuous relationships, this band serves as a catalyst for change. It’s not just the music that unites us; rather, it’s a powerful, long-suppressed secret that emerges among us – a secret that surprisingly entangles Kitty and Beth, the two creative geniuses behind the band, in an intricate triangle. This secret has the potential to disrupt everything we’ve built together.

The following actors make up the cast: Anne Reid (from “The Sixth Commandment”), Sue Johnston (known for “The Royle Family”), Peter Davison (famous for “Doctor Who”), Claire Skinner (“Outnumbered”), Angel Coulby (“Merlin”), Taj Atwal (“Line of Duty”), Chandeep Uppal (“Holby City”), Jonny Green (“White Lines”), Ellise Chappell (“Yesterday”), Macy Jacob Seelochan (“Shadow and Bone”), Tony Hirst (“Hollyoaks”), Shannon Lavelle (“Hamlin”), Amit Shah (“Happy Valley”), Rick Warden (“Red Eye”), Ben Batt (“Domina”), Natalia Tena (remembered for “Harry Potter”), Melanie La Barrie (“& Juliet”), Oliver Huntingdon (“Sherwood”), Richard Fleeshman (“The Sandman”), Olwen May (“A Very British Scandal”), Kevin Doyle (“Downton Abbey”) and Nicholas Gleaves (“Bodyguard”).

Wainwright expressed his immense enthusiasm, stating that this work surpassed anything he had written before. Not only that, but he’s thrilled to have five of the world’s best actresses portraying the Riot Women. He finds it both exhilarating and slightly terrifying.

Wainwright is responsible for creating, writing, executive producing, and directing the show. Amanda Brotchie (“Gentleman Jack”) will handle directing duties for block two. Jessica Taylor serves as a producer, while Roanna Benn acts as an executive producer for Drama Republic. Tanya Qureshi takes on this role for the BBC, with Robert Schildhouse and Jess O’Riordan doing so for BritBox International.

The show is set to air in the UK simultaneously on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, whereas viewers in the USA and Canada can find it on BritBox International. Mediawan Rights are handling international distribution rights, with Entourage Ventures also involved.

Read More

2024-09-19 17:18