BBC America to air ‘Snatches: Moments from Women’s Lives’

Commissioned by BBC Four in association with the Royal Court Theatre, BBC America will air Snatches: Moments from Women’s Lives, a short film series featuring an all-female line-up of writers and actors. The series airs in partnership with Jezebel and features an introduction by Jezebel Editor-in-Chief Julianne Escobedo Shepherd on Sunday 4 November at 9am ET.

Marking the 100-year anniversary of women getting the right to vote in England, this series of monologue short films tell stories inspired by women who have spoken out, challenged the status quo or made a stand.

Curated by the Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, Vicky Featherstone Snatches: Moments from Women’s Lives are vibrant, visceral monologues full of rage, humor, lust, resentment, joy and guilt written by Abi Morgan, Vicky Jones, Rachel De-Lahay, Zinnie Harris, Tanika Gupta, Charlene James, E.V. Crow and Theresa Ikoko.

Featuring performances by Jodie Comer, Shirley Henderson, Antonia Thomas, Romola Garai, Liv Hill, Siobhan Finneran , Corinne Skinner-Carter and Kiran Sonia Sawar, and direction by Vanessa Caswill and Rachna Suri.

“Snatches tells short, electric stories about women’s bodies, women’s voices and women’s full participation in society that could not be more relevant right now,” said BBCA President Sarah Barnett. “Vicky Featherstone and her genius writers and actors show how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. These stories are moving, rage inducing and inspiring. We are so proud to air them on the eve of an election in the US where women are front and center both as candidates and as subjects of a fierce conversation around equality.”

“We have come quite a long way in 100 years, but these pieces explode with the proof that we still have a lot further to go,” said Featherstone. “These snatches are the writers’ ingenious, bold, emotional, funny and angry responses to the place we still find ourselves in 2018. They are in no way conclusive or comprehensive of all experiences. They are merely a gesture, an offering, maybe a small beginning of something, they are snatches of extraordinary experiences lived by ordinary women. We are reclaiming our history and telling our own stories and reclaiming the word.”

Tipping Point written by Rachel De-Lahay with Antonia Thomas

• A pregnant woman in the future is being pursued on social media.

Multiples written by Zinnie Harris with Siobhan Finneran

• Accused of the murder of her three babies a woman educates herself to prove the expert witness wrong.

Pritilata written by Tanika Gupta with Kiran Sonia Sawar

• It’s 1932 and Pritilata leads an attack against the European Club in an attempt to gain Independence from the British.

Reclaim the Night written by Charlene James with Liv Hill

• 1977 and the first Reclaim the Night march takes place in Leeds in response to the curfew imposed on women to protect them from the Yorkshire Ripper.

Pig Life written by E.V. Crowe with Shirley Henderson

• It’s 1991 and rape in marriage has been made illegal.  Our character is shocked to realize what she has been living through.

Bovril Pam written by Vicky Jones with Jodie Comer

• It’s the Early 1960’s, stuck between Victorian England and the sexual revolution, a secretary in the typing pool finds herself.

Outside written by Theresa Ikoko with Corinne Skinner-Carter

• A woman celebrates her 100^th birthday while outside the revolution is beginning.

Compliance written by Abi Morgan with Romola Garai

• A hotel room meeting between a young actress and her powerful producer.

Snatches was originally commissioned by BBC Four in association with the Royal Court Theatre. The executive producer is Debbie Christie made by BBC Studios Pacific Quay Productions and the Directors are Vanessa Caswill (BBC Little Women, Thirteen) and Rachna Suri (Playing Ball).

Snatches airs as part of Galaxy of Women – BBC AMERICA’s cross platform initiative putting women center frame.