The First Look at Steven Knight's 'This Town' Recreates the 1980s Music Scene

Although Steven Knight's best-known series — the gangland drama Peaky Blinders — wrapped up last year, the creator hasn't been taking much in the way of time off. His polished World War II drama Rogue Heroes is rolling into its second season and his upcoming Disney+ series A Thousand Blows will explore the world of an illegal boxing ring in Victorian London. But his latest BBC drama is set to tell what is said to be a much more personal story about the second chance that music and the found family it often creates can offer. 

Set in 1981, This Town tells the story of four young people who are drawn into the world of ska and two-tone music, which exploded from the grassroots of Coventry and Birmingham in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, uniting black, white, and Asian youths. The six-part series is set during a moment of huge social tension and unrest, and follows the story not just of the formation of a band, but of a group of young people fighting to choose their own paths in life and explores the many ways that creative genius can emerge from a time of madness.

"This is a project very close to my heart," Knight said in a statement when the series was first announced. "It’s about an era I lived through and know well and it involves characters who I feel I grew up with. It’s a love letter to Birmingham and Coventry but I hope people from all over the world will relate to it."

The series' cast is led by Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), Nicholas Pinnock (Marcella), and David Dawson (My Policeman), and stars Levi Brown (Loss and Return), Jordan Bolger (The Woman King), Ben Rose (Line of Duty), and Eve Austin (You) as the four young leads. 

The larger ensemble includes Geraldine James (Back To Life), Peter McDonald (Dublin Murders), Freya Parks (The School of Good and Evil), Shyvonne Ahmmad (Annika), John Heffernan (The Pursuit of Love), Stefan Asante-Boateng (Coronation Street), Séainín Brennan (The Fall), George Somner (This Is Going To Hurt) and Brendan Gibson (Mr Selfridge). 

This Town production partner Mercury Studios will also bring in an exciting range of high-profile musical artists to help lay the backdrop for Knight’s story. Acclaimed producer Dan Carey, and Brit and Mercury nominated musician, novelist, and poet Kae Tempest, have written the songs performed by the band in the series.

This Town is created, written, and executive produced by Steven Knight. It is directed by Paul Whittington (Feeding Time) and produced by Charlotte Surtees and Tim Whitby. The six-part series is produced by Kudos (a Banijay UK company) and Nebulastar for the BBC, co-produced with Mercury Studios in association with Kudos North, Stigma Films, and Nick Angel. Executive Producers are Karen Wilson, Martin Haines, and Katie McAleese for Kudos and Jo McClellan for the BBC. It was filmed on location in the Birmingham area and at Steven Knight’s new Digbeth Loc. Film and TV Studios.

There's no airdate for This Town as yet on either side of the pond, nor has the series announced an American distributor. But given Knight's popularity — and prolific output — it seems likely it will make its way to Stateside eventually.