Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants is an hour-long, female-led, period drama set in England during the roaring 1920s that shows gangland London as we’ve never seen it before. Although fictional, it’s inspired by actual people and events and examines the rags to riches exploits of an all-female criminal gang that rose out of the slums of the Elephant and Castle area of South London.

SYNOPSIS:

Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants is an hour-long, period drama set in England during the roaring 1920s that shows gangland London as we’ve never seen it before. Although fictional, it’s inspired by actual people and events and follows the rags-to-riches story of an all-female criminal gang that rose out of the slums of the Elephant and Castle area of South London.

The series combines character-driven drama with escapist, high-stakes action in a heightened world that explores the rich history and significant social changes of the 1920s through a female lens. It’s decadent, stylish, and dangerous. We’ll take a deep dive into areas such as women’s suffrage, changing moral standards, class struggles, emerging consumer culture, and women's ongoing battle with the patriarchy. In this post-war boom era, women entered the workforce in ever-increasing numbers, and many became pioneers in roles such as private detectives, police officers, and MPs. Women became more independent, confident, and demanded respect. This will be reflected in our stories, which are ultimately about hope, determination and overcoming the odds.

The leader of this glamorous female crime syndicate is Alice Diamond (23), aka ‘The Queen of the Forties.’ Alice and her cadre of gangsters plunder department stores, ladies' fashion stores, and jewelers throughout London and are notorious for their good looks, fashion sense and ability to hold their own with even the toughest male gangsters. They steal the finest silks, gems, and furs, utilizing bespoke thieving gadgetry and hide their plunder in custom-made clothing. They spend their illicit gains in a whirlwind of excess but also take care of the poor in their community and have a fund to help women, children and those in need.

Alice is tall (5’9” at a time when most men were 5’6”), self-assured, strong, calm and considered but doesn't take any crap from anyone and wears diamond rings on each finger that double as knuckle dusters. Alice’s ‘right-hand woman’ is Maggie Hughes (23), whose petite stature and baby face looks belie her hot temper and willingness to fight anyone, at any time. They make a great team, but will their differing styles tear them apart as Maggie's unpredictability makes life increasingly challenging for Alice and the gang?

Alice's struggle for respect, along with the power struggles within the gang and with other gangs, and constant struggles with store detectives and the police, all combine to provide plenty of conflict, tension and dramatic fuel to propel the story forward. As these fierce and determined women vie for the leadership of the gang, will the organization hold together or collapse, bringing everyone down with it?

Can Alice fulfill her dream of becoming respectable and living a peaceful, law-abiding life by the sea before the long arm of the law catches up with her and puts her behind bars for good?