BBC's big-budget drama filmed at Cefn Sidan beach in Pembrey
BBC’S latest big-budget drama has married Morocco with Pembrey’s Cefn Sidan Beach.
Scenes from BBC One’s Atlantis, which premiers this week (Sat Sept 28th), were filmed at Cefn Sidan over the summer.
The 13-part fantasy drama, set in a Grecian world of legendary heroes and mythical creatures, has been created on location in Morocco, Pembrey and the Urban Myth Film studios in Chepstow.
Director Midge Ferguson said they were filming in Morocco since April, but when they were putting the final location scenes together in August they realised they were short of scenic shots of wide beaches and dunes and needed to replicate Morocco’s Oualidia beach.
He said: “After several location sorties we discovered Pembrey - Cefn Sidan was perfect. We had to wait for a weather and tide window, but fortunately the sun, heat and tide combined to enable us to get what we needed in just two days filming.”
“The shots we captured at Cefn Sidan will be edited into the beach sequence at the start of episode one which was originally filmed in Morocco.”
Ironically Sherlock fans had been swarming over the Pembrey Peninsula in the same week hoping to catch a glimpse of Benedict Cumberbatch, unaware that the Atlantis film crew and actor Jason Donnelly was there. He was protected by an army of security although they had all their meals at the park’s Sidan Cafe.
Pembrey Country Park ranger Emyr Richards, who accompanied the film crew and lead actor Jack Donnelly, said they had been impressed with the beauty and vast expanse of Cefn Sidan.
“They found just what they wanted at the Pembrey Burrows dunes end of the beach and it will be fascinating to see how this is stitched into the Moroccan sequences of Atlantis,” he said.
“They couldn’t believe how the park could be so packed and yet the vast miles of beach just swallowed everyone up and looked deserted - just what they required.”
Executive Board Member for Regeneration and Leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “In recent months, Pembrey has attracted interest from Sherlock, Dr Who and a host of other film makers big and small.
“When it comes to location, it seems Cefn Sidan fits the bill for all agendas. It is exciting that Atlantis is being shown across America, showing Cefn Sidan off to the world.
“We have to be proud that Carmarthenshire is involved in this epic adventure. Atlantis is bringing to life ancient myths with such a vibrancy and sense of humour and using the historic sands of Cefn Sidan as a backcloth.”
The family drama takes over the Saturday evening timeslot vacated by Merlin and Dr Who. It features a cast including Jack Donnelly as the Atlantis star Jason, Robert Emms as Pythagoras, Gladiator’s Mark Addy as Hercules; Aiysha Hart as Ariadne, Juliet Stephenson as the Oracle, and Sarah Parish as Pasiphae.
Jason washes up on the shores of an ancient land (Cefn Sidan) and discovers the City of Atlantis, a world of bull leaping and snake haired goddesses and palaces so vast it’s said they were built by giants.
Teaser trailers have been run over the last month on prime time television for the programme, which is forecast to be a hit across the UK and on America’s Supernatural Saturday channel.
Scenes from BBC One’s Atlantis, which premiers this week (Sat Sept 28th), were filmed at Cefn Sidan over the summer.
The 13-part fantasy drama, set in a Grecian world of legendary heroes and mythical creatures, has been created on location in Morocco, Pembrey and the Urban Myth Film studios in Chepstow.
Director Midge Ferguson said they were filming in Morocco since April, but when they were putting the final location scenes together in August they realised they were short of scenic shots of wide beaches and dunes and needed to replicate Morocco’s Oualidia beach.
He said: “After several location sorties we discovered Pembrey - Cefn Sidan was perfect. We had to wait for a weather and tide window, but fortunately the sun, heat and tide combined to enable us to get what we needed in just two days filming.”
“The shots we captured at Cefn Sidan will be edited into the beach sequence at the start of episode one which was originally filmed in Morocco.”
Ironically Sherlock fans had been swarming over the Pembrey Peninsula in the same week hoping to catch a glimpse of Benedict Cumberbatch, unaware that the Atlantis film crew and actor Jason Donnelly was there. He was protected by an army of security although they had all their meals at the park’s Sidan Cafe.
Pembrey Country Park ranger Emyr Richards, who accompanied the film crew and lead actor Jack Donnelly, said they had been impressed with the beauty and vast expanse of Cefn Sidan.
“They found just what they wanted at the Pembrey Burrows dunes end of the beach and it will be fascinating to see how this is stitched into the Moroccan sequences of Atlantis,” he said.
“They couldn’t believe how the park could be so packed and yet the vast miles of beach just swallowed everyone up and looked deserted - just what they required.”
Executive Board Member for Regeneration and Leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “In recent months, Pembrey has attracted interest from Sherlock, Dr Who and a host of other film makers big and small.
“When it comes to location, it seems Cefn Sidan fits the bill for all agendas. It is exciting that Atlantis is being shown across America, showing Cefn Sidan off to the world.
“We have to be proud that Carmarthenshire is involved in this epic adventure. Atlantis is bringing to life ancient myths with such a vibrancy and sense of humour and using the historic sands of Cefn Sidan as a backcloth.”
The family drama takes over the Saturday evening timeslot vacated by Merlin and Dr Who. It features a cast including Jack Donnelly as the Atlantis star Jason, Robert Emms as Pythagoras, Gladiator’s Mark Addy as Hercules; Aiysha Hart as Ariadne, Juliet Stephenson as the Oracle, and Sarah Parish as Pasiphae.
Jason washes up on the shores of an ancient land (Cefn Sidan) and discovers the City of Atlantis, a world of bull leaping and snake haired goddesses and palaces so vast it’s said they were built by giants.
Teaser trailers have been run over the last month on prime time television for the programme, which is forecast to be a hit across the UK and on America’s Supernatural Saturday channel.
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