Temple of Peace ‘Stars’ in Richard Burton Biopic

Wales’ Temple of Peace has projected onto the ‘silver screen’ in recent weeks, with release of the film “Mr Burton” starring Toby Jones (of ‘Mr Bates & the Post Office’), Lesley Manville and with Harry Lawtey playing the teenage Richard Jenkins of gritty, working class 1930s Port Talbot – before his meteoric rise to international stardom as Richard Burton, one of Wales and indeed the world’s most famous historic actors.

Whilst the film is a worthy biopic in itself for the centenary of the actor’s birth, Temple Friends could be forgiven for feeling that many of the scenes in the latter half of the film look a little familiar. Reviewers and commentators have commended how well the production recreated the unique ‘art deco’ character of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon, where Burton first performed ‘Henry V’ in 1951 – extensively reconstructed in recent years. But this attention to detail came not from CGI reconstruction, but from using Wales’ beautiful Temple of Peace as the ‘film set’ for many of the internal scenes, totalling about 5-10 minutes in the latter half of the film’s story.

From Film Cymru Wales:

“In the Welsh town of Port Talbot, 1942, Richard Jenkins lives as a wayward schoolboy, caught between the pressures of his struggling family, a devastating war, and his own ambitions. However, a new opportunity arises when Richard’s natural talent for drama catches the attention of his teacher, Philip Burton. Taking Richard under his wing, the young man thrives under Philip’s strict tutelage and the guidance of kindly landlady, Ma Smith. However, as the acting world comes within Richard’s reach, the burden of his past risks holding him back forever.

Starring Toby Jones, Harry Lawtey, Lesley Manville, Aneurin Barnard and Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Mr Burton was directed by Marc Evans, written by Tom Bullough and Josh Hyams, and produced by Ed Talfan and Hannah Thomas for Severn Screen, alongside Promise Pictures’ Josh Hyams and Brookstreet Pictures’ Trevor Matthews. The film was financed by BBC Wales, Principal Film Finance, Moo Studios and Ffilm Cymru Wales awarding National Lottery funding and by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.”

Stills from Wales’ Temple of Peace:

‘Shooting’ at the Temple was undertaken over a week in July 2024, during which the Hall of Nations and Vestibule were ‘dressed’ to represent different areas of Stratford’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 1951: a box office, rehearsal rooms, auditorium. One of the Temple’s upstairs offices even masqueraded as Richaerd Burton’s dressing rooms / ‘green room’ for tense scenes as the actor prepared for his debut as Henry V.

One of the joys of working in the Temple is the occasional chance to see ‘behind the scenes’ of productions in progress. We rarely know what is being filmed, given commercial secrecy that surrounds productions prior to public release (otherwise everyone would know the stories before they came out). Part of the fun can be guessing what a film might end up being… But also, seeing the talents in action of dress and props departments, who produce everything from 1950s theatrical poster reproductions to fake marble walls with light fittings that exactly match the Temple’s existing materials!

‘Mr Burton’ is showing in cinemas across Wales over April and May 2025.

Why not come and see where it was filmed – and indeed, many other productions from Doctor Who to ‘His Dark Materials’? WCIA offer monthly ‘Temple Tours’ exploring the rich story behind Wales’ Temple of Peace – book via Eventbrite.