Dope Girls: Real History is Wilder

In every installment of Dope Girls, a notice pops up to let us know that although this series is based on a nearly-forgotten era in our past, everything you see, including incidents and characters, is purely imaginary.

As a film enthusiast, I find myself captivated by this captivating series set in 1918 post-World War I. It narrates the story of a band of women who dared to open an underground nightclub, a venture that was far from legal. This gripping tale is loosely inspired by Marek Kohn’s factual account “Dope Girls: The Birth Of The British Drug Underground.

Jane Tranter, the executive producer, clarified that the program doesn’t solely depend on one source. At a recent Q&A, she stated: “When creating a drama, we often draw from several diverse sources to craft our story.

Alex Warren and Polly Stenham created a fictional work drawing from various readings they’d encountered. Among these, Dope Girls stood out as providing the broadest and most accurate depiction of that particular era, and it had an appealing title. Consequently, we opted for the rights to Dope Girls.

However, the composition derives from the creative visions of Alex and Polly, and they truly excel in their imaginative ideas.

During this period, Warren described their writing collaboration as follows: “[The book] offers a factual depiction of the era, focusing on events in Soho, and the vibrant personalities that populated it.

Reading the book, we found ourselves drawn to certain characters, although our minds may have expanded upon their traits somewhat.

My long-time companion Polly and I were looking for a collaborative venture, and since she had previously encountered the “Dope Girls” book years prior, it appeared an ideal fit considering our shared history in Soho’s nightlife.

Instead, let’s say, “We visited the National Archives located in Kew, a remarkable institution. There, we were provided with gloves to handle ancient police documents and browse through yellowed pages.

Reading about the extraordinary deeds of those real individuals was truly captivating. Frankly, their achievements make the current world appear rather ordinary and mild in contrast. Indeed, there are feats so daring that they would surpass anything that could be shown on a BBC program.

This drama features Julianne Nicholson, Eliza Scanlen, Umi Myers, Eilidh Fisher, and others in the cast. Not only does it revolve around a nightclub setting, but it also delves into the narrative of introducing female police officers to the London Metropolitan Police force.

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2025-02-22 13:07