INTRO
Inspired by true events, Clubland is an original crime thriller set against a brilliant backdrop of London’s gangland and political arena. It’s packed with riveting characters from the far reaches of colonial Britain, showcasing a unique lead and diverse cast, all woven into an original tale of blood, romance, and death.
In the late eighties, Chicago's acid house dance scene sparked the rave phenomenon in the UK, a music that embraced ethnicities and sparked a cultural revolution. This story world rises from the gutters of London's underworld to the Halls of Parliament, lifting the lid on its criminal underbelly, big business, and the establishment, where corruption has seeped into every social strata.
Our hero Jake, of mixed heritage, is an ex-soldier – still in his twenties – enlisted to go undercover as a nightclub owner, he’s plunged into a fight for survival in this den of ruthless and murderous villains. Tasked to seek out who is behind the mass production of the illicit drug, Ecstasy, he struggles with his identity, morality, and his very existence in a corrupt and cruel world.
Deep under cover, he loses himself in the music scene finding camaraderie where least expected. Enlisting a new business partner, she becomes a source of solace and acceptance, the catalyst for his unrequited love for her.
Follow Jake as he leaves behind his tight-knit covert intelligence team, to go undercover in London’s clubland. Danger is around every corner in this murky labyrinth of drug dealers, gang bosses, corrupt police officers, ruthless businessmen and greedy politicians. What ensues is a slice of history, hitherto untold.
IS CLUBLAND JUST ANOTHER GANGSTER MOVIE?
Clubland looks back to a time when working class kids across Britain, reacted to the austerity of the day with the emergence of rave sub-culture that promised unity, a sense of solidarity and even freedom. All bore out on the dancefloors of nightclubs across the land, leaving an indelible mark on all who experienced it.
This is a movie driven by the countless voices that lived through the heady times of the Acid House scene, who organised mass gatherings without social media and mobile phones, when all we had was landlines, bits of paper we called flyers and word of mouth.
An entire generation was moved by the beat and as the scene spread from underground to mainstream, we witnessed the last great cultural uprising.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New york
International
screenplay
awards
Clubland hits New York with a quarter final place at the
NYC
International
Screenplay Awards.
Table Read - Manchester
7th November 2023
Brilliant table read by a great ensemble of actors who made it happen at very short notice. It was great to hear the rhythm and tempo of the scenes from diverse voices who brought the characters to life.
Thank you team Clubland.