THEATR PENA in a co-production with THE RIVERFRONT in association with THE TORCH THEATREAn English language adaptation of SIWAN by SAUNDERS LEWIS at Aberystwyth Arts Centre Thursday 19 February as part of their National Tour 11 February to 29 March 2015 Theatr Pena’s spring 2015 production is the world stage premier of The Royal Bed, Siôn Eirian’s masterful English language adaptation of the Welsh classic, Siwan, by Wales’s most famous playwright. The production will open in the Riverfront Studio on 11th February for a run of 6 performances before touring to 17 venues across Wales until 29th March. Set in medieval Wales, at the centre of the play is Siwan, the illegitimate daughter of King John and passionate, outspoken and politically astute wife of Llywelyn, Prince of Gwynedd. The play tells the story of her adulterous affair with the young Anglo-Norman marcher lord, Gwilyn Brewys, and the terrible revenge exacted by her enraged husband when he discovers the lovers in the royal bed, the consequences of which lead Wales to the brink of war. It is a heartbreaking tale of illicit passion, betrayal, revenge and broken dreams dealing memorably with the timeless moral complexities of a disintegrating marriage and political imperative. Saunders Lewis was born in 1893 in Wallasey, Wirral to a family of prominent Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. He is acknowledged as one of the most prominent figures in 20th century Welsh-language literature. Siwan, together with his play Blodeuwedd, are held by many to be the finest plays ever written in the Welsh language. Siôn Eirian is a dramatist who writes in Welsh and English for television, radio and stage. He is also a translator and poet and in 1978 won the crown at the National Eisteddfod. Siôn’s numerous translations for the stage include Woman of Flowers, a translation of Saunders Lewis’s Blodeuwedd for the Actors Touring Company, co-produced by the Sherman Theatre Company. The Royal Bed, his translation of Siwan, was commissioned and first produced by BBC Radio 4 in 1993. Siwan is played by Eiry Thomas, winner of two BAFTA Cymru Best Actress awards, Alis by Hannah O'Leary, Gwilym Brewys by Francois Pandolfo and Llywelyn by Russell Gomer with live music from mezzo soprano, Buddug Verona James and Celtic harpist, Delyth Jenkins. The production is directed by Erica Eirian, designed by Holly McCarthy with lighting design by Kay Haynes and sound design by Mike Beer. The production is produced by Ceri James. To book please contact Aberystwyth Arts Centre on 01970 62 32 32 or go online www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre |
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Wednesday, January 28, 2015 |
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