Some of the finest British actors, writers and directors, each with a personal connection to the Windrush story, tell the story of the Afro-Caribbean community in modern-day Britain through a series of monologues.

A host of the UK’s finest acting talent - including Sir Lenny Henry (The Long Song, Broadchurch) and Vinette Robinson (Sherlock, Doctor Who) - explore modern British family life through a series of heartfelt monologues for BBC Arts on BBC Four.

Set in the front room of an Afro-Caribbean home, the series explores the highs and lows of one family from the 1940s to the present day through their hopes and desires, challenges and shattered dreams.

Curated by Kwame Kwei-Armah (Artistic Director, Young Vic theatre), the series of eight 15-minute monologues is led by four female directors and has been developed by eight leading British writers.
A partnership between BBC Arts, the Young Vic theatre and Douglas Road Productions, the series follows similar partnerships - Queers (2017, curated by Mark Gatiss) and the highly-acclaimed Snatches (2018, curated by Vicky Featherstone of the Royal Court Theatre).

Can love overcome fear? Can perseverance overcome ignorance and racism? What does it cost to belong? Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle challenges our collective understanding of what it means to be part of the Afro-Caribbean community in modern-day Britain.

Eunice arrives into 1940s England full of hope and ambition, and we follow her dynasty across leaps of a decade to the present day. Each self-contained monologue links to the original arrival of the enthusiastic, young nurse. We hear of Eunice’s baby, conceived out of wedlock with a runaway white doctor, and of Cyrus - her knight in shiny overalls - who offers his heart and loyalty by agreeing to marry her and put his name on the child’s birth certificate, despite the fact that Eunice doesn’t love him.

Sir Lenny Henry says: “Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle is a wonderful entry point for anyone who wishes to take the psychic temperature of a diaspora generation. I’m proud to be associated with this project and I hope you enjoy it. We tell these stories because they are a gateway to understanding for our children.”

Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director of the Young Vic theatre, brings together some of the finest British actors, writers and directors, each with a personal connection to the Windrush story, to tell the tale through a series of deeply emotive monologues.

The impressive cast of nine includes Vinette Robinson (Black Mirror, Doctor Who, Sherlock) as Yvonne; Sir Lenny Henry (The Long Song, Broadchurch) as the older Cyrus; and Montserrat Lombard (Upstart Crow, Ashes To Ashes, Love Soup) in the role of Samantha.

A number of rising stars feature in the younger roles: Danielle Vitalis (Attack the Block, Youngers, Afro Punk Girl) as Eunice; Clifford Samuel (McMafia, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll and A Guide For The Homesick) as young Cyrus; Gamba Cole (Damilola: Our Loved Boy, Guerilla, Lucky Man) as Malcolm and Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Poirot, Jericho, Ready Player One) as David. Whilst, Jonathan Jules (Invasion Earth, The Battle Within, Dave Allen at Peace) plays the role of Kev, and, Olivia-Mai Barrett (Disney’s Alex & Co, Penny on MARS) is Michaela.

Kwame Kwei-Armah says: “This has been an incredibly personal project for me: as a storyteller I’ve felt a huge sense of responsibility in exploring this history. Having the chance to honour my late parents and the pioneering Windrush immigrants - as a generation begins to slip away - has felt incredibly moving. I hope that the series will draw viewers to question their own story and how we collectively move forward.”

The team of leading writers for television and stage includes Carmen Harris (EastEnders, The Crouches, Family Affairs); Angie Le Mar (Funny Black Women On The Edge, The Brothers, Forty); Roy Williams (Clubland, Sucker Punch); Juliet Gilkes Romero (RSC The Whip, Best Play Award at Writers’ Guild); and Carol Russell (House of Usher, Comin’Atcha, The Story Of Tracy Beaker). With a number of actors composing scripts: Clint Dyer (Royal Court Theatre, Scala Films, Theatre Royal Stratford); Nathaniel Martello-White (Royal Court, Young Vic), and Kwame Kwei-Armah (Artistic Director, the Young Vic).

The all-female team of directors are led by Bafta Award-winning writer-director Tinge Krishnan (Been So Long, The Exorcist TV series), and includes 2013 London Film Festival Best British Newcomer Destiny Ekaragha (Silent Witness, Gone Too Far); Christiana Ebohon-Green (Holby City, Eastenders, Doctors); and Dionne Edwards (We Love Moses, That Girl).

Lamia Dabboussy, BBC Arts, says: “Following the success of Queers and Snatches, it’s fantastic to once again bring television and theatre together in this way, supporting established as well as emerging writers, directors and producers to deliver this highly moving series of stories. It’s been wonderful to work in partnership with the Young Vic theatre and Douglas Road Productions in making this a reality."

Quotes

Kwame Kwei-Armah, Executive Producer and Artistic Director, Young Vic
“This has been an incredibly personal project for me: as a storyteller I’ve felt a huge sense of responsibility in exploring this history. Having the chance to honour my late parents and the pioneering Windrush immigrants - as a generation begins to slip away - has felt incredibly moving. I hope that the series will draw viewers to question their own story and how we collectively move forward.”

Sir Lenny Henry, actor and Executive Producer, Douglas Road Productions
"This series sets out to ask questions of those who made the long journey from the homeland to the Motherland: they explain why they came to Britain, what happened to them once they got here, and how they felt about that. It’s pertinent because the media has tended to focus only on the sensational aspects of the Windrush crisis - these monologues dig a little deeper. Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle is a wonderful entry point for anyone who wishes to take the psychic temperature of a diaspora generation. I’m proud to be associated with this project and I hope you enjoy it. We tell these stories because they are a gateway to understanding for our children.”

Angela Ferreira, Executive Producer, Douglas Road Productions
“It will be hard for anyone who has lived through any part of the last 70 years in the UK to not react to aspects of this story - whether that is the setting of the home, our inter-generational relationships, or the ways of coping with the highs and lows of life. To work with a cast, crew and writers with first-hand experience of this domestic history has enabled us to collectively create something truly authentic.”

Lamia Dabboussy, Executive Editor for BBC Arts
“Following the success of Queers and Snatches, it’s fantastic to once again bring television and theatre together in this way, supporting established as well as emerging writers, directors and producers to deliver this highly moving series of stories. It’s been wonderful to work in partnership with the Young Vic theatre and Douglas Road Productions in making this a reality.”

Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four
“BBC Four is a unique proposition within British TV and we’re always proud to celebrate voices and stories that are less known and often unheard. This monologue format has been successful for the channel in the past, and Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle promises to be another emotional journey for the audience. It’s a treat to be working with established voices such as Sir Lenny Henry and Kwame Kwei-Armah alongside a new generation of talent.”

Carol Harding, Series Producer, Douglas Road Productions
“When Angela Ferreira asked if I was available for a series of films on Windrush, and Sir Lenny Henry followed up with a call, I was producing BBC One’s Casualty. After meeting Kwame Kwei-Armah at the Young Vic I jumped on board. To be honest I had made my decision on hearing ‘Windrush’, as the characters and stories and the setting of the front room resonate with my family history. Fortunately, Lucy Raffety, the Series Producer on Casualty, agreed to my release with enthusiasm.”

Series outline

The 15-minute episodes will be broadcast in pairs in February 2019. Exact broadcast details to be confirmed closer to transmission.

Episode one
Eunice (1949)
Danielle Vitalis (actor), Carmen Harris (writer), Destiny Ekaragha (director)

Episode two
Cyrus (1951)
Clifford Samuel (actor), Kwame Kwei-Armah (writer), Christiana Ebohon-Green (director)

Episode three
Kev (1968)
Jonathan Jules (actor), Clint Dyer (writer), Dionne Edwards (director)

Episode four
Yvonne (1981)
Vinette Robinson (actor), Juliet Gilkes Romero (writer), Christiana Ebohon-Green (director)

Episode five
Samantha (1993)
Montserrat Lombard (actor), Angie Le Mar (writer), Destiny Ekaragha (director)

Episode six
Malcolm & David (2000)
Gamba Cole (Malcolm) & Elliot Barnes-Worrell (David), Nathaniel Martello White (writer), Tinge Krishnan (director)

Episode seven
Cyrus (2011)
Sir Lenny Henry (actor), Roy Williams (writer), Tinge Krishnan (director)

Episode eight
Michaela (2019)
Olivia-Mai Barrett (actor), Carol Russell (writer), Dionne Edwards (director)