The BBC and Red Seam have announced casting for The Way, the new drama written by James Graham, directed by Michael Sheen, and co-created by Sheen, Graham and Adam Curtis, developed and executive produced by Bethan Jones.
Made for the BBC by Wales-based company Red Seam in association with Little Door Productions, The Way has just begun filming in Port Talbot. The three-part drama tells the story of an ordinary family caught up in an extraordinary chain of events that ripple out from their home town.
Steffan Rhodri (Steeltown Murders, Gavin and Stacey), Mali Harries (Keeping Faith, Hinterland), Sophie Melville (The Pact, Iphigenia In Splott), Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin, Cabaret) and Michael Sheen (Staged, Good Omens) lead the cast as the Driscoll family with, Maja Laskowska (Trigonometry, Baptise) as a young women caught up in the family’s escape.
Luke Evans (Nine Perfect Strangers, The Pembrokeshire Murders) stars as Hogwood, a mercenary in pursuit of the Driscolls, with Tom Cullen (The Gold, Weekend), Danny Sapani (Killing Eve, The Diplomat), Mark Lewis Jones (Outlander, The Crown), Paul Rhys (Discovery of Witches , Chaplin), Erin Richards (The Crown, Gotham), Aneurin Barnard (The Catch, 1899),Catherine Ayers (The Light in the Hall, Keeping Faith), Jonathan Nefydd (Pobol y Cwm, Grav), Matthew Aubrey (Keeping Faith, World on Fire),) and Andria Doherty (It’s a Sin) all playing key roles across the series. Child actor Teilo James Le Masurier will make his screen debut as Rhys, the Driscoll’s 4 year old grandson.
Ambitious, powerful and surprising, The Way taps into the social and political chaos of today’s world by imagining a civil uprising which begins in a small industrial town. Fleeing unrest, The Driscolls are forced to escape the country they’ve always called home and the certainties of their old lives. Will they be overwhelmed by their memories of the past, or will they lay their ghosts to rest and take the risk of an unknown future?
Director, co-creator and executive producer Michael Sheen says: “I feel very lucky to get to work every day with these phenomenal actors. We’ve always had so much acting talent here in Wales and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to tell this extraordinary story with the very best at work today.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama says: “I’m delighted to see cameras now rolling on The Way, with so many immensely talented people coming together to bring Michael, James and Adam’s unique and hugely entertaining story to screen. Life’s about to change forever for the Driscoll family!”
Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales says: “The team behind ‘The Way’ are a class act. They personify just how hot drama production is in Wales right now. This is our biggest year ever of drama for BBC Cymru Wales and the talent pipeline is astonishing. It is terrific to be working with this team and I know our audiences are going to love the story they’re telling. It’s one hell of a caper.”
Gerwyn Evans, Deputy Director, Creative Wales, says: “It’s a very exciting year for the Welsh screen industry, with an exciting slate of drama productions coming to our screens in 2023. Today’s exciting announcement of The Way’s stellar cast is an excellent demonstration of the success of Creative Wales’s relationship with BBC. and the ways in which Welsh Government support helps to create opportunities to create quality content using Welsh talent, to tell our uniquely Welsh stories.”
The Way (3×60’) is made by Red Seam for the BBC in association with Little Door Productions. It is written by James Graham, directed by Michael Sheen in his directorial debut for television, and is produced by Derek Ritchie. Adam Curtis, James Graham and Michael Sheen join Bethan Jones as executive producers for Red Seam, with Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC. International distribution is by ITV Studios and additional funding support has been provided by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.
The Way was co-commissioned with BBC Cymru Wales and will air on BBC One and iPlayer.
Jon Creamer
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