By James V. Ruocco
It's back to work for the cast and crew of BBC One's long-running primetime soap "EastEnders."
Production resumes this week at Elstree Studios after more than three months following a COVID-19 lockdown which forced a halt in production.
"EastEnders" aired its final pre-lockdown episode on June 16, 2020. With no remaining episodes to broadcast, the series was forced to go off the air for the first time in 35 years. New episodes, reduced from a half hour to only 20 minutes (it's four-episodes-a-week format will be fully restored), are expected to air sometime in September.
As filming starts up again, the cast and production crew were greeted by the unveiling of a new mural depicting a black woman on the wall of a building (Ian Beale's house) directly across from the show's popular Queen Victoria pub. In the wake of the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, which sparked protests, riots and controversy across the globe, the show's producers decided to make the mural a permanent fixture in Albert Square.
The artwork itself was painted directly onto the wall of the outdoor Elstree Studio set after several days. It measures 5 x 2 metres in size and was completed just a few days before the "EastEnders" cast and production returned to work to resume filming.
The specially-commissioned mural was created and painted by British-born Ghanaian artist Neequaye Dsane, professionally known as Dreph. In 2017, he painted a series of beautifully crafted murals across the capital city of London, depicting ordinary women of African and Caribbean descent whose workmanship was created solely for the betterment of their individual communities and society.
"The opportunity to have my artwork on the set of 'EastEnders' as a permanent feature having the same impact as my work has on the streets of London, was a really exciting opportunity for me," says Dsane. "I remember watching the very first 'EastEnders' episode three decades ago, so I was really surprised and excite to hear from the team."
Jon Sen, the executive producer of "EastEnders" is thrilled at the prospect of having Dsane's mural permanently on display on the show's outdoor set. "Dreph's mural is an exciting and timely addition to the show that reflects events currently taking place in the real world.
"Anti-racism is something that the cast, crew and producers care passionately about at 'EastEnders' and the show is well-known for tackling social issues and celebrating diversity and inclusivity through its characters and storylines."
"EastEnders," which airs four times a week on BBC One, follows the popular ITV primetime soaps "Emmerdale" and "Coronation Street," both of which have resumed filming at their respective sites. Safety and social distancing measures are actively in place in accordance with the current UK guidelines to make the workplace safe for both the cast, the producers, the directors and the entire production crew.
