S4C drama Creisis to premiere this Easter
February 15, 2024
S4C, the public broadcaster and only Welsh language television channel, has commissioned Boom Cymru (co-producers of the BBC’s Christmas feature length drama, Men Up) to produce Creisis, a six-part drama.
Creisis uses dark humour and breaks the fourth wall to immerse the viewer in the life of psychiatric nurse Jamie Morris, who isn’t only struggling with the mental health of his patients – he’s also grappling with the deterioration of his own mind. The drama is set to air at Easter.
Written by Anwen Huws (Light in the Hall/Y Golau) the plot follows the lives of staff in an overstretched mental health crisis unit in the South Welsh valleys as Jamie, played by Gwydion Rhys (Hidden/Craith, Light in the Hall/Y Golau), finds his world unravelling before us.
Jamie is a hurricane of chaos, juggling one crisis after another from home to work and back home again. His job finds him on the front line, caring for the most vulnerable people in his community.
The challenging themes in the series bring the mental health of those working in the sector into focus and authentically reflect stories of those who live in the heart of Welsh valley communities.
These communities are known for pulling together in times of struggle, even in the face of Covid, Brexit, and the cost-of-living crisis.
Filming took place on location in Bridgend and Pontypridd.
Cast include Hannah Daniel (Keeping Faith, Hinterland, Holby City), Sara Gregory (Alys, Torchwood, Under Milk Wood), Alex Harries (Light in the Hall/Y Golau, Keeping Faith), Richard Elis (Eastenders, Coronation Street, The Pact), Arwel Gruffydd (Y Sŵn, Hedd Wyn).
Marged Parry, Producer, Boom Cymru, said: “Creisis is a story about belonging and being part of a community, and what it means when the support system that holds a person together begins to break away.
“This is what happens to Jamie – a mental health nurse caring for the most vulnerable in society – but increasingly feeling the burden of responsibility until he reaches breaking point; a journey that I’m sure will be relatable for many.”
Gwenllian Gravelle, S4C’s Drama Commissioner, said: “I wanted to commission a drama that had focus on mental health and how it works at the heart of a close community. This drama rises to the challenge with an insightful narrative as we watch our central character Jamie lose his grip with reality.”
Gerwyn Evans, Deputy Director of Creative Wales, added: “Creisis is a poignant drama telling an important story that reflects the challenges we face in society today. Creative Wales is focused on supporting these homegrown productions, and through our MOU with S4C, we’re committed to working together to support indigenous companies to create high quality Welsh language content. This, in turn, creates increased opportunities for our talented workforce, and newcomers to the industry to live and work in their home nation and develop long-term, rewarding careers.”