Today (28 July 2014) Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, in partnership with Pontio and Cwmni’r Frân Wen announce the professional cast of Chwalfa. The opening production in Theatr Bryn Terfel, Pontio, the new Arts and Innovation Centre in Bangor will include 13 professional cast members.
The actors include familiar names including Richard Elfyn, Dyfrig Evans, Morfydd Hughes, Emyr Himyrs Roberts, Robin Griffith and Gwenno Hodgkins. Ceri Murphy, who is currently playing the part of Trevor Beasley in Dyled Eileen by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, will be joining the cast as well-known actors from the popular television series Rownd a Rownd. The cast includes Lisa Jên Brown – the popular singer in the band 9Bach; who’s been brought up in the area.
Lisa Jên Brown said;
“I’m so pleased to be a part of Chwalfa. It’s an honour for me to be in the first production on the stage of Theatr Bryn Terfel in Pontio; especially as I was one of the cast of the last production Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru performed at Theatr Gwynedd, which was Siwan.
The story which the background to Chwalfa is one that is very close to my heart, and as one who is originally from Bethesda, it’s obvious that the history of the strike is deep within me and the rest of the community. Being brought up looking at Y Fronllwyd and the Quarry filling every window of the house, I’ve decided to write and sing about the quarry and the community with the band 9Bach, so it’s something deep inside me, in my bones. I can’t wait to be a part of this production!”
This production of Chwalfa is an adaptation by Gareth Miles of T Rowland Hughes’ novel, and it’s based on the history of the Penrhyn Quarry’s Great Strike, the longest running industrial dispute in UK history, which lasted for three years between 1900 and 1903. The production will include professional actors and community cast. There will be up to 50 from the local area in the community cast, which will include an ensemble, chorus and musicians, and these will join the professional cast on stage.
Arwel Gruffydd, Artistic Director of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, and the director of Chwalfa said;
“Creating the first event to be staged in Theatr Bryn Terfel will be a great honour, and an unique opportunity to create an event people will remember, I hope, for some time to come. It’s a pleasure to announce the professional cast today. The community cast rehearsals have already started, and are going very well, and the professional cast will start in the next few weeks.”
The community cast have started rehearsals in Jerusalem Chapel in Bethesda. The professional cast will start rehearsals on the 11th of August in Bangor. A full list of the professional cast is below:
Lisa Jên Brown
Robin Ceiriog
Richard Elfyn
Dyfrig Evans
Tudur Evans
Sion Emyr
Robin Griffith
Gwenno Hodgkins
Morfudd Hughes
Lois Meleri-Jones
Ceri Murphy
Emyr Himrys Roberts
Owen Puw Williams
Pontio’s Artistic Director Elen ap Robert said:
“Pontio’s opening season will celebrate the theme of ‘lle-chi’ – a play on the word ‘slate’ and ‘your place’ in Welsh. From Chwalfa – to our opening Gala, to our community opening event ‘There is a Place’ – we want everyone to know that Pontio if your place. 9Bach will be curating musical evening Llechi in October so I’m particularly delighted that Lisa Jen will perform with Chwalfa too. Congratulations to all of the cast as they start rehearsals – we can’t wait to see you on the new Bryn Terfel stage.” |
