ANGLESEY-born director Celyn Jones has described seeing posters for his new film Madfabulous across London as a “pinch me moment”, as he celebrates bringing the story of the outrageous and flamboyant Henry Cyril Paget, the “Dancing Marquess”, to the big screen.
Speaking in an interview with Coastal Chief Reporter Suzanne Kendrick, Celyn, founder of Mad as Birds - a UK-based independent film and TV production company, opened up about filming at Plas Newydd House and Gardens, what he hopes the reaction will be from audiences and why bringing large-scale productions to North Wales matters so much to him.
The visually extravagant and beautifully shot film explores the real-life story of Henry Paget, the 5th Marquis of Anglesey - an aristocrat remembered for his lavish lifestyle, theatrical flair and refusal to conform to society’s expectations.
Celyn spoke warmly about the excitement of seeing Madfabulous promoted across London - a milestone moment for the independent film and for Celyn himself.
"We don't live in London anymore - gosh, we left there in 2012 - but people keep texting me photos of the Madfabulous posters everywhere," he said.
"There was a big one in King's Cross and it is in loads of tube stations.
"There is a poster with my name as director, saying 'a Celyn Jones film', and you know you go... 'this is it!'"
Celyn said filming in the real locations connected to Henry’s life was hugely important to him.
He said: "Filming at Plas Newydd... This is the house he lived in and this is the house we filmed in. You look at the poster and there is the house.
"It is set in that world, and we made it in the same world, and I think that is a really glorious thing."
Celyn said it was important for the film to be shot authentically in North Wales.
"If you can, why not," Celyn said.
"It is so unique - that house next to the strait, with that history and that separation from the mainland.
"There were no bridges then, so when you watch the film and Henry is sailing up the Straits, that is a real thing. Nelson trained mariners who said 'if you can navigate the Menai Straits, you can navigate the world' - that is why it is in the film.
"It was a real kind of boost to make it where we did. We could make it as close to the story, in the world of the story as possible, but also make it Wales. We had a lot of North Wales crew, mostly Welsh crew, but a lot of North Wales crew and North Wales actors all telling the story.
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“We’ve made it the way we wanted to make it, and if that is being audacious then that is fine, because it is not a bad thing to be audacious about – telling a story in the world where it is set, with people from that world.
"It was not only very important but a wonderful honour to actually be able to do that."
The production was filmed at Plas Newydd - The ancestral home of the 5th Marquess of Anglesey, situated on the banks of the Menai Strait.
Scenes were also shot in Glynllifon Estate (Plas Glynllifon) near Caernarfon, Pwllheli and Penrhyn Castle in Llandygai.
Celyn, who grew up in Holyhead, described returning home to create such an ambitious film as both surreal and emotional.
"I’m from the docks of Holyhead, working class, so doing a film in the posh house on the other side of the island felt like going to space,” Celyn laughed.
“But I knew that world, I knew the environment, I knew the landscape and I knew what I wanted."
The director also revealed how much the cast enjoyed spending time in North Wales, with several actors exploring the area between shoots.
“Rupert Everett (Gelert) hadn’t been to this part of Wales much, but he had a great time in Caernarfon and really loved the people, as well as going for gorgeous walks with his dog,” Celyn said.
"Callum Scott Howells (Henry Paget) hadn’t been there much but has been there loads since, and Ruby Stokes (Lily Paget) hadn’t been before either.
"They all had the most brilliant time, the most gorgeous summer.”
Celyn added that some of the stars even headed to Zip World during breaks from filming.
“There are videos of them all going down the zip wire,” he laughed.
“They went out eating and drinking in Caernarfon, went to the beach - even the crew. They really made the most of being here.”
Celyn praised the support shown by the National Trust during filming at Plas Newydd, saying that while working in a protected historic property came with challenges, the authenticity it brought to the film was "invaluable".
“Everybody was so supportive,” he said. “Whenever they could help us, they did.
“You are celebrating as much of the house as possible. It is hard, obviously, because you are filming in a protected house. Thousands of people visit it throughout the year, you’ve got to look after the artworks, and there are restrictions.
“We filmed in Penrhyn Castle as well.
“You get the grandness, the authenticity, and they are amazing spaces to shoot in, but the restrictions are there for a reason - to protect and preserve. We had to be box clever, using it as much as we needed to in the story, and when we didn’t need to use it, we could do the interiors elsewhere.
“We found a disused old estate which we took over and used for a lot of the interior scenes.
“The design team could go absolutely bananas. They could put all the murals on the walls, do the drapes, and we could add atmosphere and smoke into the rooms.
“The National Trust, wherever they could help, they helped. For everything else, we just used somewhere else, which gave it a bit more versatility.
“I loved that we went to Pwllheli and shot in the square and made it like a little film set, making the kebab shop look like a Victorian island. We went to Plas Cadnant and did all the sunken gardens.
“I’m such a passionate Welsh man and Anglesey boy, and I have so much ambition - not for myself, but for everyone around me.”
The filmmaker also spoke passionately about his hopes for more big cinematic films being made in North Wales.
“Why can’t we make big cinematic films here?” he said.
“I want young people to look at it and think this is a viable industry and accessible."
Reflecting on the story itself, Celyn described Henry Paget as somebody who felt “like a satellite from the future” entering an old-fashioned world. His presence affects behaviour, rules start to get broken, and he talks to the maid in a way that nobody had ever spoken to a maid before, which Celyn said he loved as a moment.
“I was drawn to a guy - a character that enters a world and changes it, and then is changed by the world.”
“Young people don’t usually rush to see period dramas,” he said.
“I wanted to make a period drama that young people thought was cool to go and see but also, one that did not ignore the brilliant older audiences who are really faithful to period dramas.
"The musical score is all originally written by a young composer called Dan Baboulene. We actually recorded with the Prague Philharmonics, we went to Prague for one day and recorded the entire score in one day."
Celyn praised lead actor Callum Scott Howells for his portrayal of Henry, calling it “an extraordinary performance”, while highlighting the strength of the wider cast.
“It’s such an ensemble piece,” he said.
“There are no small parts in this film.”
Celyn also confirmed to Suzanne that he will soon return to Anglesey for another film project.
“I’m coming back,” he said.
“Madfabulous isn’t just a blip. I am coming back to Anglesey next month to direct another film.
"I can't say what it is or where or who is in it, but what I can say is that it is a beautiful story with a fantastic cast."
Madfabulous has already generated excitement across North Wales, with cinema screenings and Q&A events attracting strong support - including a sold-out event at Pontio in Bangor and a special Q&A screening on Saturday, June 6 with Celyn at Chester's Storyhouse.
“It’s about celebrating cinema together,” Celyn said.
“If we support films like this and go and see them in cinemas, we can keep making more.”
Madfabulous will be released in UK cinemas on June 5.
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