From Metal Detecting to Manure Jars: Why Mackenzie Crook’s New ‘Small Prophets’ is the Most Surprising Show of 2026

Feb 15, 2026 /Mpelembe media/ — There is a specific, heavy stillness that descends upon a life after a profound loss—a feeling of being trapped in the amber of one’s own grief while the rest of the world moves forward. In the Greater Manchester suburb of Urmston, Michael Sleep has existed in this state of enchanting stasis for seven years, ever since his partner, Clea, vanished without a trace. His world is a repetitive loop of ordinary suburban ritual: Shreddies for breakfast, shifts at a massive DIY superstore, and visits to his father in a care home, punctuated only by the presence of his dilapidated Ford Capri. Continue reading →