Female Boxing Drama in Production for SBS

The Ropes, a new four-part drama for SBS in Australia, has officially started production.

Jack Thompson stars in the series alongside Keisha Castle-Hughes (Game of Thrones, Whale Rider), Igal Naor (Homeland, Riviera) and Nicole Chamoun (Safe Harbour, Romper Stomper). Produced by Lingo Pictures for SBS, The Ropes follows aspiring Iraqi-Australian boxing trainer Amirah Al-Amir (Chamoun).

The Ropes will premiere on SBS and SBS On Demand later in 2018. The series has received principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Create NSW.

SBS’s director of television and online content, Marshall Heald, said: “The Ropes continues SBS’s run of acclaimed provocative dramas that reflect Australian stories through a uniquely multicultural lens. This compelling and intense series is distinctly SBS, showcasing the complex and nuanced relationships of a migrant family alongside the physicality and deep-seated culture of misogyny in the sporting world.

“We are thrilled to be creating this stellar drama with the team at Lingo Pictures and an incredibly talented cast with a wealth of experience from all corners of the globe.”

Producers Helen Bowden and Courtney Wise said: “SBS has been supporting beautiful, daring drama and we are delighted to be working with them on The Ropes. The world of boxing is passionate and fraught with adversity and creating a female-driven story within this world is exciting. We are thrilled by the talented cast attached to portray this, including a fearless gang of women lead by Keisha Castle-Hughes and Nicole Chamoun.”

Sally Caplan, head of production at Screen Australia, said: “The Ropes is a story of female defiance that tackles gender inequality, multi-generational conflicts and the challenges faced by displaced immigrant families. Helmed by a predominantly female creative team, this series is yet another meaty drama commission from SBS who are at the top of their game with back-to-back high-quality series from Safe Harbour to Sunshine, The Principal and Deep Water.”

Create NSW’s director of screen sector investment, Sophia Zachariou, added: “The Ropes is a fantastic project for NSW that delivers realistic Western Sydney locations and storytelling as well as great representation for female and culturally and linguistically diverse filmmakers, cast and crew. In addition to funding, we are also proud to foster new creative talent in the Australian screen industry by supporting director Shannon Murphy with two female crew attachments for the series.”