
Adolescence: A One-Shot Wonder
Stephen Graham, best known for his gripping performances in Line of Duty and Boiling Point, is making waves in a new role — this time behind the scenes. His first writing venture, Adolescence, a four-part drama, is now streaming on Netflix. The series follows Eddie Miller, a father struggling to hold his family together after his teenage son Jamie (Owen Cooper) is arrested for suspected murder.
Although set in Liverpool, Adolescence was primarily filmed at Production Park in Yorkshire, a facility more commonly used by world-famous musicians preparing for global tours. This marks a milestone for the Wakefield-based studio, as it hosted its first major TV production. The unique setting provided an innovative space for director Philip Barantini, who is known for his ambitious filmmaking techniques.
Barantini employed a one-shot filming style for each episode, an approach he successfully used in Boiling Point. Achieving this required months of meticulous planning, with the team carefully choreographing every movement of the camera, actors, and crew. Warp Films' joint CEO Mark Herbert reflected on the process, saying, "The series posed a major challenge for us with the one-shot element, so we needed a studio space that could match our technical needs but also provide a home for the crew and actors during the whole process."
The show’s timeline spans 13 months, with each episode capturing critical moments — from Jamie’s initial arrest to the tense lead-up to his court trial. Co-starring Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, Adolescence delivers a raw and immersive viewing experience, solidifying Graham’s place not just in front of the camera, but as a compelling storyteller behind it.