One of Wales’ best known and highly regarded actors, Christine Pritchard's portrayal of a woman caught in the grip of rapidly encroaching dementia is one of the many good things about a finely observed, award winning drama by Laurence Allan being produced by Milford Haven’s Torch Theatre Company and touring Wales during May. Both representatives of the great strength of creative talent that lies within Wales, the author’s mother provided the inspiration for the central character in Flowers From Tunisia, Reah - a fit and feisty seventy year old widow slipping into the middle stages of dementia. Notwithstanding its grim subject matter, Allan demonstrates his special skill of being able to treat very sensitive human matters with a monstrous yet very warm sense of humour. We laugh out loud at much of this play and when we are not laughing we are holding a glowing smile within us, with the banter which goes on between Reah and her long suffering son almost the stuff of a comedy duo. Underlying the humour however, it is clear that Reah’s ever weakening state of mind is of great concern and putting a serious strain on Keith whose own mental faculties have worn a bit thin by his time in the Gulf War. Her life-long friend brings a bit of relief to them both by way of a holiday in Tunisia and it is there that Reah meets and becomes enchanted by a young flower seller who brings a touch of innocence and joy that is just one of the many delightful aspects of this play which won the Theatre in Wales Best Play of the Year Award in 2005. A subtle and wisely informed comment on a family problem experienced by over 40,000 people in Wales, Flowers From Tunisia offers no magic cure but it may help to clear up a few misunderstandings. Directed by Cardiff based Simon Harris who recently became an Associate Director of the Torch, it is a drama which achieves a compelling and skilful balance between genuine laughter and something intensely moving. Flowers From Tunisia opens at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven on Thursday 5 May and runs until the 14th, after which it goes on to tour Wales. Tickets for its run in Milford Haven may be purchased online at www.torchtheatre.co.uk or by calling the Torch Box Office on 01646 695267. P E R F O R M A N C E A N D T O U R D A T E S MAY | MAI 2011 TORCH THEATRE, MILFORD HAVEN Thursday 5 to Saturday 14 May | Dydd Iau 5 hyd Dydd Sadwrn 14 Mai Performances Tuesday – Saturday inc. 7.45pm Box Office | Swyddfa Docynnau 01646 695267 www.torchtheatre.co.uk ON TOUR | AR DAITH THE MUNI ARTS CENTRE, PONTYPRIDD Wednesday 18 May | Dydd Mercher 18 Mai 1.00pm & 7.30pm Box Office | Swyddfa Docynnau 08000 147 111 www.rct-arts.co.uk BLACKWOOD MINERS INSTITUTE Thursday 19 May | Dydd Iau 19 Mai 7.30pm Box Office | Swyddfa Docynnau 01495 227206 www.blackwoodminersinstitute.com SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE Monday 23 May & Tuesday 24 May| Dydd LLun 23 & Dydd Mawrth 24 Mai 7.15pm Box Office | Swyddfa Docynnau 01792 475715 www.swanseagrand.co.uk CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE, CARDIFF Wednesday 25 May | Dydd Mercher 25 Mai 8.00pm Box Office | Swyddfa Docynnau 02920 304400 www.chapter.org CLWYD THEATR CYMRU, MOLD Friday 27 & Saturday 28 May | Dydd Gwener 27 & Dydd Sadwrn 28 Mai 7.45pm Box Office | Swyddfa Docynnau 0845 3303565 www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk |
| torch theatre web site: www.torchtheatre.co.uk |
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Tuesday, April 19, 2011 |
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