In the esteemed realm of television festivals, at the Series Mania event held in Lille on Tuesday, Sally Wainwright, the BAFTA-acclaimed showrunner behind iconic series such as "Happy Valley" and "Last Tango in Halifax," revealed her latest creative endeavor with a splash of punk spirit. Declaring menopause as the ultimate punk rock experience, Wainwright unveiled "Riot Women," a captivating dramedy chronicling the formation of a DIY punk band by a band of spirited middle-aged women.
"The seed of this idea was planted over a decade ago when I began casually proposing the notion of fifty-something women rocking out in a punk band to my colleagues," Wainwright revealed on the Series Mania main stage, flanked by her producing partner Roanna Benn of Drama Republic. "This project is deeply personal, a reflection of my own life and the menopause journey... but I yearned to discuss it through a lens that was propulsive and exhilarating, turning the narrative on its head."
"From start to finish, it's hilariously entertaining and utterly engrossing," Benn enthused.
"Riot Women" boasts an ensemble cast including Joanna Scanlan ("After Love," "The Thick of It"), Rosalie Craig ("The Serpent Queen"), Tamsin Greig ("Sexy Beast"), Lorraine Ashbourne ("Alma’s Not Normal"), and Amelia Bullmore ("The Buccaneers," "Vienna Blood"), who portray the menopause-embracing punk rockers. According to Benn and Wainwright, the actors not only learned to play their instruments but also co-wrote the lyrics for their Riot Women tunes, such as "Seeing Red" — a track that Wainwright herself described as "all about menopause" — and the whimsical "Shitting Pineapples," which delves into the experiences of childbirth.
Securing broadcast partners for a show centered around women over 50, particularly one devoid of a crime narrative, posed quite a challenge, Benn acknowledged. "There are no corpses in this show," she noted, "and in today's climate, it's not what the industry claims to be seeking, which is quite disheartening."
Wainwright added, "There's a distressing lack of shows featuring women in their 50s. It's truly sad because women in this age bracket are incredibly fun and entertaining."
Filmed in the scenic Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, where "Happy Valley" also unfolded, "Riot Women" is a six-part series produced by Drama Republic for the BBC and BritBox. It is being distributed globally by Mediawan Rights.
With its blend of humor, heart, and unapologetic punk attitude, "Riot Women" stands as a testament to the vibrancy and vitality of mid-life, challenging stereotypes and celebrating the spirit of rebellion that knows no age limit.
