Landmark Appearance of Normal People

Teddington’s Landmark Arts Centre has revealed that it was chosen as the location for the filming of the Normal People special which aired on RTE’s Comic Relief. A touch of TV magic arrived at The Landmark when Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal reprised their Normal People roles as Marianne and Connell, with Andrew Scott’s Hot Priest from Fleabag, to record the sketch in top secret for the TV fundraising show, which aired on RTÉ on Friday 26 June.

Martin Nicholds, Chair of Trustees said: “The Landmark has been dormant since March, because of our enforced closure due to COVID, so it was fantastic to fire it up at again for this special filming with the stars of TV’s two hottest productions. The building really came into its own as the sketch was based around a confessional in a church.”

The filming of the highly anticipated episode was a closely guarded secret to avoid any spoilers before it was aired on Comic Relief. The sketch was filmed under pretty tricky circumstances with everyone having to observe social distancing rules throughout.

Martin Nicholds commented: “The film crew heard about The Landmark’s emergency fundraising appeal on social media so they were keen to help, especially as the building totally ticked the box as a location for the shoot.”

“Daisy, Paul and Andrew had great empathy for our current plight, that as an arts venue we’re facing permanent closure, and offered their support by posing for photos. They also signed an original print by local artist, Jenny Ing, which we will raffle online for our fundraising. Look out on our social media for news on that.”

The Landmark launched an emergency fundraising appeal in April as its closure, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, meant that it faced permanent closure by mid-May. A massive fundraising effort has raised over £50,000, including £2,700 raised in a day by local organisation, Teddington Together, who staged, Rockin The Lockin, when 25 local talented musicians gave up their time to play a 12-hour live-streamed virtual music marathon.

Donations received so far ensures the centre’s survival until November but without knowing when the doors can be reopened again, the fundraising needs to continue. Meanwhile, the centre has been running virtual classes and hopes to have socially distanced classes in the building this summer. Other virtual events planned in July include a live streaming of comedian Mark Thomas’ award winning show, Serious Organised Criminal, on 9 July and a virtual quiz on 8 July (to register visit Landmark Arts Centre.

More information can be found on their website and donations for sponsorship can be made.