James R | On 06, Dec 2020

Steve McQueen’s Small Axe continues this Sunday with Alex Wheatle, and a trailer gives us a first look at the next chapter in the anthology.

The collection of hour-long stories was conceived and written by Steve McQueen with Alastair Siddons and Courttia Newland (Alex Wheatle is a writing consultant). The six films tell five stories all set within London’s West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 80s. The title Small Axe is derived from a Jamaican proverb that has resonance throughout the Caribbean, “if you are the big tree, we are the small axe”. Small Axe is also the title of a Bob Marley song from 1973 album Catch A Fire. It means that relatively marginal or small voices of dissent can successfully challenge more powerful voices.

Alex Wheatle follows the true story of award-winning writer Alex Wheatle (Sheyi Cole), from a young boy through his early adult years. Having spent his childhood in a mostly white institutional care home with no love or family, he finally finds not only a sense of community for the first time in Brixton, but his identity and ability to grow his passion for music and DJing.

When he is thrown in prison during the Brixton Uprising of 1981, he confronts his past and sees a path to healing. Sheyi Cole stars opposite Jonathan Jules.

You can see them in action at 9pm on BBC One on Sunday 6th December. Here’s the trailer:

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