True-crime drama Steeltown Murders begins south Wales shoot
Filming has begun in south Wales on Steeltown Murders (w/t), a true-crime drama about a series of murders in the Port Talbot area.
Severn Screen is producing the four-part BBC series that is written by seasoned scribe Ed Whitmore; it was co-commissioned with BBC Wales.
Set in both 1973 and the early 2000s, Steeltown Murders (w/t) centres on the hunt to catch the killer of three young women in the Port Talbot area and the remarkable story of how - in the first case of its kind - the mystery was solved almost 30 years later using pioneering DNA evidence.
Contrasting the policing methods of the 1970s with the forensic breakthroughs of the early Noughties, Steeltown Murders (w/t) is a portrait of a town dealing with the repercussions of an unsolved case three decades on.
Philip Glenister and Steffan Rhodri star as DCI Paul Bethell and Phil ‘Bach’ Rees, with their younger selves played by Scott Arthur and Siôn Alun Davies respectively.
Deputy director of Creative Wales, Gerwyn Evans, said: “This important new drama will bring to light the impact these tragic events had on the community, it’s important that these Welsh stories are told to an international audience. This production also showcases Welsh talent both in front of and behind the camera.
“Creative Wales’ investment into productions like this means we’re able to build on Wales’s skills base in film and television, ensuring the sector has the pipeline of talent it needs both now and in the future. I am glad to see that six new trainees have been given an opportunity to work with Severn Screen on this project and look forward to the announcement of more exciting screen projects in the near future.”
Executive producer Ed Talfan of Severn Screen added: “We are hugely grateful to the BBC, All3Media International and Creative Wales for their support on the project. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Ed Whitmore and Marc Evans, and look forward to delivering a compelling and compassionate drama.
“The most important aspect of this project is remembering that the events of 1973 are still fresh in the minds of many people. Ed Whitmore and Marc Evans have worked on a number of challenging fact-based dramas and are working closely with our incredible cast and crew to bring this true story to the screen.”
Marc Evans directs; Hannah Thomas produces in association with All3Media International.
Executive producers are Talfan, Jon Hill and Whitmore for Severn Screen, and Rebecca Ferguson and Helen Perry for the BBC. All3Media International will distribute the series internationally, additional funding support has been provided by Welsh Government via Creative Wales.
Photo via BBC.
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