Safe Home follows Phoebe, a twenty-something professional, who leaves her job at a prominent law firm to work at a struggling family violence legal centre. As interconnecting stories unfold, relationships are tested and the pressure mounts to save the centre. With so much at stake, Phoebe must navigate a path that isn’t always clear, and people aren’t always as they appear.
Aisha Dee (The Bold Type) stars as Phoebe, leading an exceptional cast, including recent Logie-nominee Mabel Li (, ), Virginia Gay (Judy & Punch, Winners and Losers), Thomas Cocquerel (The Gilded Age, Red Dog) and Antonia Prebble (Westside, Outrageous Fortune).
Supporting cast members include Hal Cumpston (The Walking Dead), Chenoa Deemal (Troppo), David Roberts (Total Control), Janet Andrewartha (Neighbours), Mark Mitchinson (The Hobbit), Tegan Stimson (Irreverent), Katlyn Wong (Mystic), Nicholas Burton (Barons) and Yuchen Wang ().
There are two types of people in this world: those that think family violence could never happen to them… and those that know it can happen to anyone.
From award-winning producer Imogen Banks (Offspring, Puberty Blues, RFDS) Safe Home is directed by 2021 AACTA award-winning director Stevie Cruz-Martin (, Pulse) and created by acclaimed playwright Anna Barnes. Safe Home was inspired by Anna’s time working at a family legal centre in Melbourne. The series is written by Anna alongside Michelle Law, Jean Tong and co-produced by Emelyne Palmer.
“Working in the sector, I became aware of the important role the media played in telling stories about family violence,” shares Anna. “The often sensational news stories significantly influence a lot of the general public’s understanding of this complex issue. In creating Safe Home, we have worked with professionals in the field – so while fictional, it’s rooted in authenticity and the real-life processes of the legal services.”
“Incredibly excited” about the series is Julie Eckersley, who commissioned Safe Home for SBS. “This a compelling and suspenseful drama series; think Unbelievable meets SBS’s hit series The Hunting. It will engage your heart as well as your mind and make you question everything you think you know about family violence.”
Producer Imogen Banks is thrilled about the cast, and with the support of SBS, has been able to realise her goal of finding “more opportunity for emerging creatives… we have been able to build a hugely exciting team of emerging uber talents, starting with Anna Barnes, who has created a beautifully written smart and complex drama, through to our extraordinary director, the undeniably talented Stevie Cruz-Martin. I could not have asked for a better launch project.”
“It will engage your heart as well as your mind and make you question everything you think you know about family violence.” Julie Eckersley, SBS Head of Scripted
Screen Australia’s Head of Content, Grainne Brunsdon, believes “this captivating series about the hugely relevant and urgent topic of family violence is set to be one of the most compelling dramas of 2023.”
Echoing Grainne’s words, VicScreen CEO, Caroline Pitcher, said “We’re delighted to support this Victorian led story which is being created and made in Melbourne. Attracting the high calibre, award-winning cast of Safe Home is testament to the creative team’s extraordinary talent. This highly anticipated drama is set to strike an emotional and intellectual chord with audiences, highlighting the depth of local talent and powerful storytelling. We look forward to this compelling miniseries reaching our screens.”
We can’t wait to see it, either.
Safe Home is a Kindling Pictures production for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS and financed with support from VicScreen.
Safe Home will premiere on SBS in 2023.
