INTRODUCTION:
THATCH is my debut comedy short, a surreal piece set in the wonderfully unassuming surroundings of The Museum Vaults pub in Sunderland. Starring Ellerose Guillory, John Lee Taggart and Danny Matthews, the film takes an ordinary pub encounter and steadily twists it into something stranger, darker and much more ridiculous. It is a film about identity, performance, and the stories people tell about themselves…about themselves.
INSPIRATION:
The idea for THATCH came from wanting to make something that felt unmistakably North East, while also allowing reality to become increasingly absurd. I have always loved comedy that begins in a recognisable, everyday situation before gradually drifting into surreal territory, with the characters behaving as though everything happening is completely normal.
A traditional pub felt like the perfect setting. Pubs are places where stories grow, personalities become exaggerated and complete strangers can suddenly find themselves involved in very intense conversations about absolutely nothing. The Museum Vaults already has so much character and atmosphere that it felt less like finding a location and more like discovering a ready-made, lived-in world for the film.
As my first short as a Director after years of acting – I wanted THATCH to be playful, visually distinctive, and slightly difficult to explain without sounding completely unhinged.
THE PROCESS:
Well, it all started with a brilliant local and North East-based cast and crew. We were fortunate to have a location that immediately gave the film texture, warmth and authenticity, while also being unusual enough to support the stranger elements of the story.
Our cast: Ellerose Guillory, John Lee Taggart (also the Writer and Producer) and Danny Matthews — fully embraced the film’s very particular tone and my quite mad vision. Surreal comedy can be difficult because the performances need to feel grounded even when the situation is becoming increasingly bizarre. Everyone committed completely, which made the world of the film feel believable despite the escalating absurdity.
The film was shot by our Director of Photography, Jake Yearwood, who helped give THATCH a distinctive cinematic identity while working within the practical limitations of filming inside a real pub with no money. Like many independent shorts, we were working with limited time and resources, so the challenge was to remain ambitious while making quick, practical decisions…thanks to more experienced people like Paul Stainthorpe (1st AD and a delightful gent) and Glenn Ellis (Grip and a splendid soul), we were able to do just that.
The atmosphere on set was incredibly positive, and there was something particularly enjoyable about watching a group of talented local filmmakers take such a strange idea completely seriously. It was a fantastic first directing experience and confirmed that I would definitely like to make more films, ideally ones that are equally difficult to describe.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FINALIST:
Being named a finalist for selection at Worcester Film Festival is genuinely amazing, particularly as this is my debut short film. To have THATCH recognised by a BIFA-qualifying festival is a huge encouragement and a brilliant reward for everyone who gave their time, energy and talent to the project.
The film was made by a North East-based team in a much-loved local pub, so it is especially exciting to see it reaching audiences further afield. I am incredibly grateful to Worcester Film Festival for selecting us, and taking a chance on such a fun/insane thing.
I cannot wait to experience the festival alongside the other filmmakers and finalists.
WHERE TO WATCH/FOLLOW:
Follow me on Instagram @j0rdysh0w or @apprenticefilms for updates and behind‑the‑scenes content, as well as insights into all of the other stuff I’ve been up to lately!
About The Author
