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By Patrick Jones Patrick Jones is on the vanguard of new Welsh writing. His breakthrough play was, ‘Everything Must Go’. Which was a runaway hit in the West End and Wales. He is a frequent and highly visible contributor to literary publications in Wales, the UK and abroad. His latest play ‘ THE WAR IS DEAD, long live the war ‘ is a visceral reaction to the current shock and awe campaign in Iraq. “ Jones is a striking force, a writer of clarity and power, a dream weaver of sorts...I wanted to go away and think; go away and digest what I had seen and experienced and discover a new political questioning for myself … a triumphant work of hope” Hannah Jones – Western Mail “Patrick Jones is clearly a major talent. His work has the sophistication of Harold Pinter, but with Celtic emotion and spirit…It’s a superior piece of work which everyone should see regardless of what they think their position is in regard to wars ancient and modern.” Ashley Nield – South Wales Argus “Probably the most significant piece of theatre of the 21st century! Patrick Jones’s forceful and immensely powerful poetic drama is a passionate assertion of the futility of mankind…In my opinion everyone, and I mean everyone must see Patrick Jones’s play ‘The war is dead long live the war” Michael Kelligan – Theatre Wales The ‘WAR IS DEAD’ is set in the Iraqi desert. Two brokenhearted soldiers meet. Their paths have been interwoven in a way which shocks and inspires. This is a contemporary piece using film and images by film director, Karl Francis, who also directs the play. Music is by James Dean Bradfield of the Manic Street Preachers. The play is an hour long and is played by two talented Welsh actors, Chris Lennard and Paul Amos. The play is directed by Karl Francis the filmmaker whose most recent success is ‘ One of the Hollywood Ten’, with Jeff Goldblum and Greta Scacchi. It is still to be released in the UK, but has shown to huge audiences in the cinema and on cable in North America and the rest of the World. The play was first performed in 2003 at the Sherman theatre Cardiff and at the Blackwood Miners Institute. It was then a 95-minute piece but has been revised and developed by Karl Francis into its present form, running at less than 60mins. Thereafter it was successfully re-launched at the Hay festival to full houses and overwhelming audience approval. John Izzard of the Guardian described it as " a powerful piece of contemporary drama which cannot be missed". ‘THE WAR IS DEAD, long live the war’ is a play of our times and a play for all our times. Tour dates: ebbw vale beaufort theatre tues 16th nov theatre clywd fri 19th nov the gate theatre, off city road- cardiff mon 22nd nov abersytwyth arts centre thurs 25th nov |
| Patrick Jones web site: www.patrickjones.co.uk |
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Sunday, November 7, 2004 |
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