When a group of elite private school boys go viral for mocking a homeless man, spraying champagne in his face and filming it; St Gilberts is disgraced and must find a way to redeem their reputation. To do this they bring in five talented young black scholarship students offering them a place at the school. Attempting to assimilate them into a world vastly different from their own.
The students all take up this opportunity being encouraged by Gus the leader of the outreach programme they are a part of. Gus (played by Daniel Lawerence Taylor the show’s creator and writer) picks these students for their independent excellences: the hot headed but passionate- Jaheim, the political activist - Leah, the artistic and geeky- Omar, the incredibly intelligent - Toby and finally Femi - the smiley proud Nigerian attempting to meet his parents standards. When the students first step foot on St Gilberts soil they are appalled, intrigued and excited by the institution they are now a part of.
The group differ in how they take to St Gilberts and the strange rituals of the privileged posh students. Femi, Toby and Omar seem to be excited by the prospect and opportunity afforded to them. Femi falls into a group that unironically call themselves the ‘rah-scals’.
Toby sees the school as an ample opportunity to meet women as well as meet his intellectual quality. Omar, having heard rumours of a secret society, does everything in his power to become a member. Whereas Leah and Jaheim seem to find the transition process a lot more challenging.
Leah starts an activist campaign getting herself into hot water with the headmaster after exposing the institutionalised racism alive in St Gilbertsespecially in regard to a painting of their founder. Whilst Jaheim is angered by posh boy Rupert (who was the instigator of the viral video) and cannot prevent contention with him leading him to run-ins with the headmaster. The six part series tracks how each of the characters finds their place at the school in an attempt to turn this PR stunt into an opportunity of a lifetime.
I was lucky enough to be invited to an early screening of the first episode of ‘Boarders’ which included an interview with writer Daniel Lawrence Taylor, executive producer Maddie Sinclair, production designer Stephen Nicholas and actor Myles Kamwendo. From this I got to see the incredible work that went into the show from everything to making St Gilberts (the fictional school set in an actual boarding school) look like an established institution to Daniel’s refined art for writing both the poignant and the hilarious. At this event I was able to talk to Daniel directly and I really got to see first hand how this has been a passion project for him.
Daniel, having worked on getting this show on television for years, really pushed for these stories to be told so we can see more characters like Jaheim, Leah, Omar, Toby and Femi on our screens. One thing I really took from ‘Boarders’ as a show and from Daniel at the screening is the importance of representation. Daniel did not see black representation so he had to write it himself and make space in an industry that has long ignored the presence of black creators.
This show does not shy away from the reality of racism including microaggressions, prejudice and violence. The depiction of these realities is done with tenderness and also humour when appropriate. When the Radio- Times interviewed the cast what was astounding amongst them was how proud they were of the authenticity of their depiction in the show.
Jodie Campbell who plays Leah spoke about the palatability of the show. Racism is spoken about in a way that makes those who haven’t experienced it understand its presence without feeling like ‘its preaching to you’. ‘Boarders’ is exactly that a palatable but authentic series, exposing institutionalised racism but at its core it is a show about five young black people and their reality. I definitely recommend this show as it encompasses the pertinent, the authentic and the incredibly funny.