A nine-week shoot gets underway in and around Port Talbot this week (w/c 24 April) on BBC One’s The Way, Michael Sheen’s directorial TV debut set in a small industrial town. 
 

The 3 x 60’ drama is the first production from Red Seam, the prodcos founded by Sheen and Bethan Jones, made in association with Little Door Productions. Sheen co-created the drama with James Graham and Adam Curtis; it is written by Graham. 
 

Derek Ritchie produces; the exec producers are Curtis, Graham, Jones and Sheen and Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC. Additional funding support comes from Creative Wales.
 

Sheen said at the time of the commissioning news: “I’m such an admirer of Adam and James’ work, so to create this project with them in these extraordinary times has been thrilling. I’m so excited to be telling this global story through the prism of my hometown and its community as we dig into the rollercoaster ride of our recent past and the mysterious depths that lay beneath.”
 

Jones, who executive producers for Red Seam, added: “The development of The Way has been a unique process – from the original idea and concept presented by Michael to the challenges of exploring the authenticity of the story with Adam, and the joy of seeing it all brought together by James through brilliant characters and storytelling.

“It’s been a passion project for us all for some time and it’s very exciting to finally be making it with our brilliant production team and Little Door Productions’ invaluable support.”

Gerwyn Evans, deputy director, Creative Wales noted: “Through Creative Wales’ MOU with BBC Cymru, we are keen to build on our successful partnership arrangements with an exciting slate of productions coming to screen in 2023. The Way is an excellent example of how we can use even more made in Wales content, using Welsh talent to tell our uniquely Welsh stories.”

Michael Sheen photo via Andy Gotts.