Stephen Graham & the Gaslamp Era

A Thousand Blows & Other Performances

Stephen Graham is one of Britain’s most versatile and compelling actors, known for his ability to seamlessly embody hardened criminals and working-class figures. In the last decade or so of his career, he has found himself returning to stories set in the Victorian and Edwardian periods often in narratives that explore crime, corruption, and the underbelly of society.

From the murky streets of industrial 19th-century England, Graham has become a defining presence in gaslamp-era television and film. His performances in Bodies, Peaky Blinders, A Christmas Carol, Taboo, The Secret Agent, and his upcoming series A Thousand Blows exemplify his affinity for this historical setting.

Bodies (2023): A Multi-Timeline Murder Mystery

In Bodies, Graham takes on the role of a shadowy figure who plays a crucial part in a decades-spanning murder investigation. The Netflix series, based on the graphic novel by Si Spencer, shifts between four different time periods - 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053—each following a different detective discovering the same body in Whitechapel. Graham’s portrayal anchors the series in a sense of historical continuity, his character weaving in and out of timelines like a spectre of fate. The 1890s portion of the series fully embraces the gaslamp aesthetic, complete with fog-drenched cobblestone streets and flickering gaslights.

Peaky Blinders: Gangster in a Post-War Underworld

While Peaky Blinders (created by Steven Knight) is technically set in the early 20th century, its aesthetic and themes are deeply rooted in the Victorian era’s lingering criminal underworld. Graham played the gangster Hayden Stagg, a hard-edged figure who crosses paths with the Shelby family in the show’s later episodes. His performance adds another layer to Peaky Blinders’ exploration of power, violence, and class struggle.

A Christmas Carol: A Darker Take on a Classic Tale

Graham played Jacob Marley in the 2019 adaptation of A Christmas Carol. This retelling leaned into the horror and psychological torment of Marley as a tormented spirit suffering from his past misdeeds. This version of A Christmas Carol fully embraces the grim realities of Dickensian London, making Marley’s fate all the more haunting. Graham’s performance adds a palpable sense of dread, reinforcing the idea that the Gaslamp era was as much about suffering and exploitation as it was about industry and progress.

Taboo: A Sinister Power Broker in the Shadows

One of Graham’s most memorably sinister roles came in Taboo (2017), where he portrayed a rough and violent criminal in early 19th-century London. The series - featuring Tom Hardy, written and produced by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo), revels in the filth and grime of the era, depicting a city rife with conspiracy, betrayal, and occult dealings. Graham’s character is a survivor in this brutal world, embodying the cutthroat nature of London’s underbelly. His presence in Taboo underscores his ability to thrive in period settings, particularly those that emphasise corruption and power struggles.

The Secret Agent: Anarchists and Espionage in Victorian London

In The Secret Agent, a BBC adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novel, Graham played Inspector Heat, tasked with tracking anarchists in 1886 London. The series is steeped in paranoia and political intrigue, reflecting the tensions of a city grappling with terrorism and radicalism. Graham’s portrayal of Heat - a pragmatic but relentless officer - adds depth to the story’s themes of surveillance and moral ambiguity. It’s another example of how his presence enhances narratives set in the Gaslamp era, bringing authenticity and intensity to the role.

A Thousand Blows: Boxing in Victorian England

Graham’s latest foray into the Victorian underworld comes with A Thousand Blows, another Steven Knight series, set in 19th-century London’s brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing. He plays Sugar Goodson, a feared fighter navigating the city’s violent and unforgiving streets. Produced by and starring Stephen Graham, the series promises to delve deep into the social structures of Victorian London. Given Graham’s track record, his portrayal of Goodson is sure to be a success.

A Legacy in the Gaslamp Era

What makes Stephen Graham such a natural fit for gaslamp-era storytelling? His ability to embody working-class characters, criminals, and morally complex figures allows him to seamlessly integrate into these worlds. Whether playing a gang leader, a tormented ghost, a corrupt official, or a bare-knuckle brawler, he brings an intensity and authenticity that elevates the material. His performances highlight the struggles of those who lived on the fringes of Victorian and Edwardian society - the forgotten, the exploited, and the dangerous.

With A Thousand Blows on the horizon, as well as the Peaky Blinders film, Graham’s affinity for the gaslamp era shows no sign of waning. His body of work demonstrates his skill in bringing history’s darker corners to life, ensuring that the Victorian era remains as vivid and enthralling as ever.