Production is wrapping on “Kensal Town,” an edgy and hyper-real six-part drama series set in the streets of North West London, based on the lives and true stories of the area’s diverse population, all set to an original soundtrack from local musicians and the lead cast.
“Kensal Town” is set in and around a 500-yard stretch of road in the poorest part of the richest borough in London. It is one of the most diverse areas of the world, a cultural melting pot where supermodels rub shoulders with gang members, media moguls live in multi-million-pound mansions next to struggling single mums in high rise estates, where often the only escape from a life of crime and drudgery is through music and social media stardom.
The show’s fresh new cast includes Tien Lebon as Navros, Liluma H-Yates as Ammo, Sylvie Varcoe as Pandy, and Mischa Eckersley as Ximena. They are joined by Emily Carey as Juni, Eric Roberts as Greg, Saffron Burrows as Mira, and Callum McGowan as Euan. Two of London’s leading grime artists, P Money and Little Dee, appear in the series as themselves.
“I came up with the idea for ‘Kensal Town’ through growing up and observing the lives of the amazing multicultural community living around me, and knowing that their nefarious activities are not always what they seem. Working with the community to develop the story and script is a thrilling opportunity to bring an under-represented group of people onto television screens and create an authentic and unfiltered drama series. Names have been changed, events embroidered, and personalities merged but the place remains the same,” said writer and director William Sarne.
Producer Bob Clarke, who raised the finance for the project through Samahoma Media Advisors from Insight Media Fund, added: “Will’s vision for ‘Kensal Town’ was an instant winner for us – a dark, funny, and stylish drama unfolding across four seasons. He’s assembled a truly diverse cast of breakthrough actors, many of whom live nearby and who, along with the crew have contributed their own experiences and stories to a series which feels totally of the moment. With its iconic location – home to the Notting Hill carnival and world-famous streets like Portobello Road and Ladbroke Grove – it is sure to have huge international appeal”.
