Introduction

Plebs is a British comedy series broadcast on ITV2, and was first broadcast in March 2013.

Three Plebs join the army in peace-time, hoping to win respect, romance and military discounts at selected restaurants. But when war is declared they are sent to fight on the front line of a Roman legion for a cause they do not believe in. Now their main interest is the struggle for survival.

Outline

TV Series

The show initially follows new arrivals from the provinces Marcus, Stylax, and their slave Grumio, as they deal with daily life in Ancient Rome. Marcus and Stylax work in the scriptorium of a grain company with their manager, Flavia, the water-carrier Aurelius, and communications officer Claudius. They live next door to two Britons: Cynthia, an aspiring actress, and her slave Metella, with their ever unscrupulous landlord a constant thorn in their sides.

Cynthia and Metella departed in Season 3, and introduces Delphine, a woman from Gaul, who begins a relationship with Marcus.

The fourth series replaces Stylax, who is crushed to death, with a new character, Jason, played by Jonathan Pointing and gives Aurelius a leading role. The four endeavour to run a bar in a renovated public toilet.

On 30 April 2020 it was confirmed the series would end with a feature-length special (see Film below). Due to the pandemic, filming was delayed but eventually completed in May 2022.

Film

Hoping to win respect, romance and discounts at participating restaurants, the boys sign up to the army during peace time but when war is declared they are sent to fight on the front line for a cause they do not believe in. Unsurprisingly they will not return as conquering heroes or cover themselves in glory.

Chelmsford 123, an earlier British sitcom set in Britain during Roman times.

Cast

• Jon Pointing … Jason
• Tom Rosenthal … Marcus
• Ryan Sampson … Grumio
• Ellie Haddington … Phaedra
• Mariam Haque … Patricia
• Tom Basden … Aurelius
• Tom Moutchi … Magnus
• Dean Coulson … Virgil
• Karl Theobald … Landlord
• Robert Wilfort … Florian
• Jamie Michie … Gordian
• Patrick Baladi … Diomedes
• Alex Carter … Draco
• Paul G. Raymond … Thaddeus
• Kåre Conradi … Segimundus
• Joe Thomas … Amadeus
• Gary Beadle … Actaeon
• Manal El-Feitury … Leda (as Manal El Feitury)
• Tori Allen-Martin … Barbronelda
• Kenneth Collard … Petipor
• Anton Trendafilov … Priest

Production

Plebs was filmed at Nu Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria, as were 300: Rise of an Empire (2014), The Expendables and The Hitman’s Bodyguard.

For Soldiers of Rome, the film was also filmed in South Wales as well as its respected Bulgaria setting.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Sam Leifer
• Producer(s):
  • Ramit Anchal … Post Production Executive
  • Kate Bullions … line producer
  • Caroline Leddy … executive producer
  • Teddy Leifer … producer
• Writer(s):
  • Tom Basden
  • Sam Leifer
• Music:
  • Sam Thompson
• Cinematography:
  • Rob Kitzmann
• Editor(s):
  • Adam Bokey
• Production:
  • Rise Films
• Distributor(s):
  • ITV.
• Release Date: 08 December 2022.
• Running Time: 86 minutes.
• Rating: 15.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)