Stephen Graham on One-Shot Netflix Drama Series ‘Adolescence’ and the U.K. Knife Crime “Epidemic”

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Stephen Graham, a well-known British actor (from ‘Bodies’ and ‘Boiling Point’), explains the inspiration behind his new crime drama on Netflix, ‘Adolescence,’ which debuts this Thursday at a recent Next on Netflix event in London. The series, structured with four episodes each filmed as one continuous shot, is set against the backdrop of an escalating issue: a surge in knife violence among young men across the nation.

The narrative unfolds around 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), who finds himself under arrest for the tragic murder of a schoolmate. Graham, one of the co-creators and writers, portrays Eddie, Jamie’s father. Joining them are Ashley Walters from Top Boy, cast as Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe; Erin Doherty from The Crown, assigned as Briony Ariston, a clinical psychologist handling Jamie’s case; Christine Tremarco from The Responder, playing Manda, Jamie’s mother; Faye Marsay from Game of Thrones; Mark Stanley from Happy Valley; Jo Hartley from After Life; and Amélie Pease. This series poses challenging questions like what actions would you take if your adolescent son were implicated in a heinous crime, while delving into the destructive impacts of toxic masculinity and bullying.

Jack Thorne, who is both a co-creator and writer (known for Enola Holmes, The Swimmers, Joy, His Dark Materials), collaborates with director Philip Barantini, who previously showcased his single-shot expertise from Boiling Point, in this upcoming project. Additionally, Graham is involved in the production as well.

Graham explains that I portray a character named Eddie, who’s essentially an ordinary father figure. He’s a dedicated worker, running his own business, and he’s diligent in his efforts to provide for his family. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when his son is implicated in something.

Additionally, he discusses the origin of the series’ name. “There were specific events that stood out, where young males (who are actually still boys, not men, because their brains haven’t finished developing yet) were murdering young females,” the actor clarifies.

Graham found himself questioning the depths of these troubling situations that had arisen. One day, he felt a strong pang in his heart and wondered aloud: ‘What’s going on here? Why is this happening? What does it say about our society as a whole?’ he questioned. In a non-condemning tone, he pointed out an observation that we all share: when such incidents are reported on the news, we often blame the families, particularly the parents from low-income housing areas. Graham acknowledged that this is something we’re all prone to.

Regarding the one-shot approach, Graham describes it as a blend of theater and television. Essentially, he refers to it as a fusion of these two formats. From a technical standpoint, it’s equivalent to a play, with us performing for the camera. For each episode, we spent an entire week rehearsing alongside Phil, going over every detail, every moment, bit by bit. We analyzed the script, which was beautifully crafted by Jack Thorne. In essence, we fully delved into our characters.

He mentions that working within a single take provided him with a sense of tranquility: “We spent a full week perfecting the camera movements, but when it comes to our acting roles, we have the freedom to contribute our own ideas. Figuring out how to move around the table smoothly and continuously is crucial because it needs to flow seamlessly. It’s an incredibly rewarding process, and as an actor, I’ve never felt more at peace. From the moment ‘action’ is called until ‘cut’ is said, I am fully immersed in the character.

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2025-03-11 20:54