Michael Socha, left, and Jodie Whittaker in a scene from Toxic Town.Supplied
Between 1984 and 1999, the Corby borough council in Northamptonshire, England, demolished the town’s defunct steelworks for development. In the process, it dumped trucks full of toxic sludge from the settlement ponds throughout Corby, knowingly ignoring safety protocols and proper disposal methods. As a result, the sludge turned to toxic dust, which travelled throughout the town and was inhaled by residents.
Some of those residents were expectant mothers, and their children developed birth defects at a rate that was three times higher than the national average. A dramatic, decade-long legal battle followed, exposing one of the U.K.’s biggest environmental scandals. It was also the biggest child-poisoning case since the late 1950s and 1960s, when women were given thalidomide for morning sickness, resulting in babies born with deformities.
The Corby story, sometimes referred to as the British version of Erin Brockovich, comes to life again on Netflix, where it is now streaming. Toxic Town dramatizes the heart-wrenching stories of the mothers who fought for justice and compensation against the Corby council, led by Jodie Whittaker as Susan McIntyre, a woman whose son, Connor, had a congenital hand difference.
The four-part limited series starts by introducing McIntyre, Tracey Taylor (Aimee Lou Wood), who worked for city council, and Maggie Mahon (Claudia Jessie), whose husband drove one of the trucks full of toxic materials. As the story progresses from each woman’s pregnancy to the birth of their children to the realization that there were environmental factors at play in each child’s birth defect, the series tells not only the story of Corby, but also captures the essence of motherhood and the guilt many mothers experience when their children suffer, even through not fault of their own.
Toxic Town paints a full picture of the way mothers in Corby banded together to fight for their children in court and tell the world their stories.Supplied
It’s a relatable theme, as women grapple with “balance” and trying to do right by their children while fielding unsolicited advice, societal pressures and growing bills. In Toxic Town, those stakes are extra high because these children are sick, in pain, and in the case of Connor, facing a barrage of surgeries.
Even as it becomes clear there are external factors and decision-makers whose actions have resulted in these birth differences, the mothers’ guilt never goes away. Instead, it’s buried beneath anger. But it also bands these women together as they fight for their children in court and share their experiences with the world.
As those stories unfold, writer Jack Thorne weaves in the real-life story of the council, which fudged toxicology reports, ignored professional advice and safety warnings, and fought to keep the truth hidden. At the centre of that vortex is a fictional character councilman named Roy Thomas, played with aplomb by Downton Abbey’s Brendan Coyle. The character is a solid narrative choice, providing a common enemy for viewers.
Meanwhile, Thorne’s show features depictions of some of the real players who tried to take the council down from within, including councilman Sam Hagen (Robert Carlyle), who shared important documents from a whistle-blower and helped attorney Des Collins (Rory Kinnear) eventually win the case for the women.
It’s an impressive cast tackling captivating material, with pacing that, although slow at times, paints a full picture. From the guilt of those who unknowingly participated in the spread of toxins, to the complicated family dynamics that arise from dealing with a child with special needs, there are many layers to dig into — and the show certainly does.
Sure, these 19 families were bonded by the Corby case, which was widely reported on at the time. This series, however, offers an opportunity to dive deeper and imagine what the daily lives of these people were like and the horror they faced. It’s as much a tale of women supporting one another to secure an eventual win as it is the story of a middle class population taking back power from decision makers.
