A Year in Review: Filming & Photography
Take a look back at our Year in Review: Filming & Photography at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. This year has been a busy and varied year for filming and photography at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. From music videos and TV series to fashion photoshoots.
TELEVISION
2023 was a big year for seeing The Historic Dockyard Chatham on the small screen.
LOKI SEASON 2
In October, Marvel’s LOKI returned with a triumphant second series. The production team were on site at The Dockyard in 2022 with filming taking place in 3 Slip: The Big Space. The final scenes feature prominently in the series’ trailer, just make sure you watch until the end.
Secret Invasion
LOKI was not the first Marvel Studios TV series that used The Historic Dockyard Chatham as a filming location. In the opening scenes of Secret Invasion, Martin Freeman’s character Everett Ross was meeting with Agent Prescod to discuss the threat of a secret alien invasion. During the scene, The Dockyard doubles as modern day Moscow, and even features in the trailer.
The Great Season 3
Back in May 2022, The Great filmed in the Tarred Yarn Store. This popular series satirises the rise of Russia’s Catherine the Great who goes on to overthrow her husband Peter III of Russia to be the longest reigning female ruler in Russia’s history.
Call The Midwife Season 12 and Christmas special
The Historic Dockyard Chatham has become synonymous with the BBC drama Call the Midwife. Many of Poplar’s external scenes are filmed here and this year is no different. In January, Series 12 broadcast on BBC1 and is set in 1968 the story continues to follow the Nonnatus House nuns and midwives as they navigate medical advancements of the time and changing times of the 1960s.
One of the highlights of Christmas Day television is the Call the Midwife Christmas Special. The episode will air on BBC1 at 8.15 pm.
PHOTOGRAPHY
David Yarrow
In October, globally renowned photographer, David Yarrow spent some time at The Dockyard. For his “London Town” series, David photographed model and actress Cara Delevingne and model David Gandy in various locations around the site. Taking inspiration from Oliver Twist and The Peaky Blinders, David’s final images successful celebrate the city from a century ago.
David’s second shoot at The Dockyard saw the site at Chatham turn into The Big Apple with actor Bill Nighy. The pair wanted to tell a story in a single frame. They settled on the meat packing district in New York, a snowstorm and a nod to a memorable news story in the early 1960s featuring Muhammad Ali.
Sean Cook
Photographer Sean Cook used HMS CAVALIER as the backdrop and inspiration for his fashion shoot for Solstice magazine.
OTHER PHOTOSHOOTS
The Dockyard also welcomed Russell & Bromley and BooHoo Man during the year.
Music Videos
Ed sheeran
In March, Ed Sheeran visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film two special versions for his song Eyes Closed.
The piano version was filmed in the Tarred Yarn Store.
For the acoustic version, Ed used 3 Slip: The Big Space.
Hozier
The Tarred Yarn Store is a popular filming location, and also used this year by Hozier. Reuniting for the third time with director Anthony Byrne, on this occasion they filmed the music video for Hozier’s song Francesca.
B*Witched
B*Witched are back. This year is the 25th anniversary of the release their self-titled debut album and back in March they release their brand new single Birthday. The video was filmed in Slip 5.
Soft Play
Kent’s own Soft Play are a two man band. Staying close to home, the Tarred Yarn Store was location for their single Punk’s Dead.
More in 2024
With 2023 coming to a close, keep an eye out in 2024 for The Historic Dockyard Chatham as a filming location. If you do spot us, get in touch on our socials and let us know.
