After several days preparing buildings and set dressing Market Street and Mermaid Street, filming began on Monday, September 8 for three days, for what had been described as a Regency drama with working title January Nights.
After news spread that Olivia Colman was to be one of the starring actors, it soon became clear that what was being shot was in fact a Netflix six-part adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
The town was busy with the usual tourists mixing with excited locals, eager to see the Bennett sisters or catch a glimpse of who was to be this version’s Mr Darcy. Film crew and actors in Regency dress mingled with onlookers, waiting for their scenes to start.
Market Street was transformed with horses and carts and carriages, a pen with sheep and goats, stalls set up to sell gingerbread men, household wares and flowers. The small house next to the town hall on the corner of Church Square became the Cross Keys Inn and the window of Simon the Pieman no longer displayed cakes and scones, instead there were game birds, tins of tea and baskets of fruit and vegetables as it became a tea dealer and grocer.
In splendid sunny weather, filming took place in Market Street on Monday and Tuesday. It soon became clear why the working title was January Nights as snow machines were seen in Market Street on Wednesday with filming continuing in Mermaid Street and outside the Ypres tower.
Local residents shared photographs of what they had seen on the town’s streets or glimpsed from their windows, on social media. A conversation between a possible Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett was spied from an upper window, horses were seen being ridden down Traders Passage, Red Coats and Regency ladies in bonnets rested in the pews of St Mary’s, and cast members stood on street corners in pink ponchos to ward off the rain.
As well as in Rye, the series, written by author and journalist Dolly Alderton, has been filmed in London, Yorkshire and across the country and is directed by Euros Lyn.
Emma Corrin plays Elizabeth Bennett, Jack Lowden is Mr Darcy and Mrs Bennett is played by Olivia Colman. Other members of the cast include Rufus Sewell, Freya Mavor, Jamie Demetriou, Daryl McCormack, Rhea Norwood, Siena Kelly, Louis Partridge, and Fiona Shaw as Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Image Credits: Miriam Burrell , Juliet Duff , Kenneth Bird , Scott Varley , Heather Stevenson .
Whilst this is an interesting spectacle I would like more information on the planning and execution of this.
Who knew about this and when?
How and when were local residents informed of this?
Why weren’t all residents informed?
Who was paid money and how much?
How much did the councils earn and what are they doing with that windfall income?
How many businesses suffered and had no recompense?
I’m in Rye every day but knew nothing about this until it was happening? Or have I just missed all communications?
Just interested in how this all works and whether there’s any real benefit to the town?
Look at the Council meeting minutes, or phone their office, for thr information you want. This will all have been approved months ago.
This is a rather dismissive response to a sensible question. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect residents to remain ahead of events by having to continuously enquire about what future events may be expected.
On a positive note, the filming must surely mean a nice windfall to council tax payers.
My favorite scene in the “updated” adaptation of Pride & Predjudice is when Charles Bingley takes Mr. Darcy down to the Rye Waterworks pub on Tower St. (okay, it was a pump house in Austen’s time. Details, details…) and treats him to a battery of incredibly good ales, which hath the effect of gentling Darcy’s otherwise crabby disposition, leading to the immortal line “…It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of an ale from the Waterworks.” Fade to black. Roll credits.
So looking forward to seeing Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy. Jack your life will never be the same! Brilliant actor. Love every acting role you are in. This will bring your talent to a wider audience.
Have been a fan since I saw him on Graham Norton show. Happy life good health to you n Sorcha