A leading Welsh psychiatrist has given his support to the very first production of the newly formed Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru – the Welsh National Theatre Company – which starts a five week tour of Wales in Mold this week. The play by renowned north Wales-born dramatist, Meic Povey, looks at the strained relationships within a family group when faced with the difficulties posed by mental health. But Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Dafydd Alun Jones, says that Yn debyg iawn i ti a fi (Very much like you and me), is so much more than just a story concerning a family dealing with a schizophrenic relative. “The play also gives an insight into the state of mind of the other family members and how difficult it is at times to differentiate between reality and pretence,” said Dr Jones, in his introduction to the play’s official programme. “Meic Povey has succeeded in illustrating the thin line which distinguishes between the normal and the abnormal and how all the family members in the play demonstrate, to a varying extent, the personality of the schizophrenic,” he added. The play will open in Theatr Clwyd on Friday, April 23, 2004 with a further performance on Saturday, April 24, 2004. Both performances will start at 7.30pm. “There will also be an opportunity for Welsh learners to experience pre-performance extracts from the play in English at 6.30pm before the Saturday night performance,” said Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Marketing Manager, Elwyn Williams. “This is a new initiative which we hope will prove to be a popular attraction with Welsh learners as a means of extending their knowledge of Welsh,” he added. Following the first two nights in Mold Yn debyg iawn i ti a fi then goes on a five-week-long tour which takes in Milford Haven, Aberystwyth, Swansea, Bangor and Cardiff. The cast of four include Siw Hughes, who plays the long standing Cath Jones character in the S4C soap Pobol y Cwm, Bryn Fôn, Gwenno Hodgkins and Glyn Pritchard. The play is directed by the Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Artistic Director, Cefin Roberts. Cardiff based dramatist, Meic Povey, who is originally from Nant Gwynant in Snowdonia, is recognised as one of the leading contemporary Welsh language playwrights. He is also an accomplished actor with his on-screen performances including playing the gullible DC Jones in the popular TV series, Minder. |
| Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru web site: www.theatr.com |
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Monday, April 19, 2004 |
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