Royal Court and BBC announce collaboration on female-led monologue series

Romola Garai, Shirley Henderson and Siobhan Finneran are among actors taking part in a BBC project marking 100 years of suffrage, in partnership with London’s Royal Court Theatre.

Snatches will be a series of eight 15-minute monologues, created by female writers for female performers and broadcast on BBC4.

Curated by Royal Court artistic director Vicky Featherstone, the stories are inspired by women who have spoken out and challenged the status quo, and the cast also includes Jodie Comer, Corinne Skinner-Carter, Liv Hill, Kiran Sonia Sawar and Antonia Thomas.

BBC4 editor Cassian Harrison said the monologues promised to be “angry, dangerous and unlike anything seen before”.

They will be written by Abi Morgan, Zinnie Harris, Tanika Gupta, EV Crowe, Theresa Ikoko, Charlene James, Vicky Jones and Rachel De-Lahay.

Featherstone said: “The Royal Court is delighted to be teaming up with BBC4 to bring eight untold stories about ordinary women who do the extraordinary, to our screens.

“The wonderful range of writers, actors and film-makers involved represents only the tip of the iceberg of talent, provocation and ideas. We have come quite a log way in 100 years, but these pieces explode with the proof that we still have a lot further to go.”

Snatches: Moments from 100 Years of Women’s Lives will be broadcast as part of the BBC’s Hear Her season beginning in June, marking the anniversary of women’s suffrage.

They will be made by BBC Studios Pacific Quay Productions and will be directed by Vanessa Caswill and Rachna Suri. Debbie Christie is executive producer.