The Heart of Lewisham: Deptford High Street, a Filming Wonderland

Derived from the deep ford across the river Ravensbourne, Deptford High Street, nestled in the vibrant London Borough of Lewisham, is a place where history and modernity converge. With origins tracing back to the sixteenth century, this lively street has been a bustling hub of trade and culture for centuries. Today, it’s a melting pot of tradition and trend, where local markets, independent boutiques, and contemporary cafes create a unique, bonding and dynamic atmosphere that draws in visitors from all over. Not only do these insights underscore the profound impact of having visitors from all over the world, but also indicates the everlasting influence surrounds can have on a movie. Locations are at the heart of film with its own characteristics, just like the actors. 

In recent years, Deptford High Street has gained a new kind of fame as a sought-after filming location. One of the most notable projects shot here is the UK Netflix series ‘Supacell’,  which premiered with six episodes on 27th of June 2024. The street’s eclectic mix of old and new, its vibrant street life, and its authentic London charm made it the perfect backdrop for the show. This unique character didn’t go unnoticed — Time Out magazine recently named Deptford High Street one of the 33 coolest streets in London, a testament to its growing cultural significance. 

Directed by Andrew Onwubolu MBE, better known by Rapman and Sebastian Thiel, the Netflix series unfolds the story of five South Londoners navigating their newly discovered superpowers whilst battling the complexities of everyday life. Jessie Trace, the Film Officer on the job said, “It was lovely working with Spencer Normington and Chris Kennedy as Location Managers on Supacell. Rapman was charming on the technical recce and it was lovely to hear his stories of growing up in the area and how passionate he is about Lewisham. ‘Supacell’ was the first production to use Douglas Way Market as a unit base – making Deptford High Street an even better location for filming. I am very much looking forward to series 2”.

With the ultimate support and collaboration with the local community, the production company secured the use of several businesses on Deptford Market Yard which was used as a holding area for both cast & crew.  

As we await the second season that has already been confirmed, all the episodes of season one are streaming on Netflix and you can watch the trailer below!

Not only has Deptford high street been at the heart of this masterpiece, but it was also featured in Sky Tv Drama ‘A Town Called Malice’ directed by Jamie Donoughue, which revolves around a family of South London gangsters, and the comedy drama ‘Smothered’, directed by George Belfield that revolved around the pressure of modern dating!

Filming for ITV’s ‘You & Me’, a romantic comedy revolving around finding love when you least expect it, also took place in Deptford High Street. Writer of the TV Drama Jamie Davis mentioned that ‘it’s important to believe in the London we’re putting on screen, that it’s London we recognise and live and live in everyday’ sharing the importance of diverse in the Location itself with different streets and parts of London being on screen, to make the audience feel a sense of belonging. ‘The first cheat answer is London itself, because it’s not a given that you’ll get to film there’, his answer to one of the questions hints at how much effort is put into securing the locations by the production company. ‘It’s a show that makes you want to go out after you finish watching it, to see friends and be in your favourite places’ says Jamie at the mention of ‘Deptford High Street’ being one of his favourite places to film

We can’t wait to see what other shoots come along to Deptford High Street over the coming months!

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