SMALL AXE tells stories about London's West Indian community from the late-1960's to mid-1980's. The title is derived from a Jamaican proverb, which has resonance throughout the Caribbean, "if you are the big tree, we are the small axe".
EPISODE 1
Mangrove
The true story of the Mangrove restaurant, a lively community hub in London’s Notting Hill that was the subject of relentless police raids during the 1970s and a consequent trial.
EPISODE 2
Lovers Rock
Lovers Rock is for lovers and rockers everywhere; and a love letter from Steve McQueen to the blues parties of yesteryear, when clothes were tight, and dancers smooched and skanked to the selector’s choice for a hot summer night in 1981.
EPISODE 3
Red, White and Blue
After seeing his father assaulted by police officers, a young black man is driven to join the force, with hopes of changing racist attitudes from within. He soon finds himself facing both his father's disapproval and racism in the ranks.
EPISODE 4
Alex Wheatle
The true story of award-winning writer Alex Wheatle, who spent his childhood in a mostly white institutional care home and was jailed after the Brixton uprising of 1981.
EPISODE 5
Education
Education is the story of an everyday hard working family whose daily lives are disrupted when Kingsley, the 12 year old son, is sent to a school for those with “special needs”. Education reveals the disgraceful story of Haringey Councils Educational segregation Policy in 1971.
John Boyega
Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn
Letitia Wright
Shaun Parkes
Steve Toussaint
Micheal Ward
Malachi Kirby
Shaniqua Okwok
Antonia Thomas
Tyrone Huntley
Francis Lovehall