| “Stole the Show...” |
In Memory |
| Christine Pritchard , Stage & Screen of Wales , February 16, 2023 |
Betsan Llwyd led the tributes to Christine Pritchard on S4C's “Heno.” “Dozens have paid tribute”, reported the Daily Post, “describing her passing as a "huge loss." Others described Pritchard as a "lovely woman inside and out" who will be "missed by everyone." She was recalled equally for her professionalism, warmth and effervescence of character. In her work for theatre she was a regular with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru in its early days. The productions included “Y Pair”, Gareth Miles' adaptation of “the Crucible”, and “Cysgod y Cryman”. At “Romeo and Juliet” in 2004 the reviewer wrote: “Christine Pritchard stole the show with her portrayal of the delightful Nurse and offers another insight into her talents.” Michael Bogdanov directed her again in “Romeo and Juliet” for the Wales Theatre Company: “Christine Pritchard’s consummately warm-hearted nurse.” She appeared as a dementia sufferer in “Flowers from Tunisia” at the Torch: “Christine Pritchard’s wonderful portrayal of Reah.” She played Lady Bracknell in Mappa Mundi's “the Importance of Being Earnest”: “After making an entrance like the stateliest of Wagnerian battleships, to wild, slow-motion cavortings from the other characters, Christine Pritchard’s fine Lady Bracknell half-turned and instantly transformed herself into a drawing-room dragon, still formidable but on a domestic scale.” She was one of the creators of the all-women company Theatr Pena and took the title role in the revival of “The Killing of Sister George”: “Christine Pritchard’s June aka Sister George mingles command and forcefulness with rage, taunting and suspicion.” In the reimagining of Genet's “The Maids” by Theatr Pena: “Christine Pritchard’s Claire may sniffle and whimper but there is a definite touch of evil deep in her heart.” The reviewer at "The House of Bernada Alba" wrote: “The elderly, long-serving, long-suffering household servant Poncia is given an outstanding interpretation by Christine Pritchard; it’s a performance that wraps itself around you and has you laughing and shaking with her own high spirited lasciviousness.” For television the long-running roles in “Pobol y Cwm” and “Dinas” were her best-known. Generations of children were captivated by her performances as Rala Rwdins. Among many other productions were “Glas y Dorlan”, “Un Bore Mercher”, “Tourist Trap”, “Doctors”, “Stella”, “Indian Doctor.” * * * * Erica Eirian recalled her meeting and the collaborations with Theatr Pena: "We were friends as well as professional colleagues. I will add my voice to the many who have paid tribute to this beautiful, glamorous, classy, talented woman who will be missed by so many. "I had heard of Christine long before I met her in the 1980s in the Radio Drama Studio in Llandaff. We were recording a programme for schools. I was inexperienced and nervous, she was very experienced - a well-established, popular actor of the Welsh stage, screen and radio - and very relaxed. But without saying anything or doing anything in particular she put me at ease simply by taking it as a given that I knew what I was doing (she always took it as a given that I knew what I was doing – even when I didn’t). "Our paths crossed again in radio drama a few times and later when we were both cast in Lawrence Allen’s stage play “Angels Don’t Need Wings” for Hijinx Theatre in 2002 and when we ended up together on one or other of the RWCMD Audition Panels. "She was always friendly and I was always pleased to see her. But it wasn’t until 2008 when a group of friends and acquaintances, including Christine, came together in my home to read Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda Alba” that the seeds were sown for both Theatr Pena and for our friendship, a friendship which lasted until her death on Tuesday 14th February. "She was a loyal and supportive Theatr Pena Company Member and Director and a loyal and supportive friend to me. She took a pragmatic approach to Theatr Pena’s challenges and always exuded an air of relaxed calm including in the rehearsal room which I think belied an occasional well-concealed actor’s insecurity. "Nonetheless she had the ability to put the audience at ease when she stepped onto the stage and gave assured and accomplished performances in Theatr Pena’s productions of The House of Bernarda Alba (Poncia), The Maids (Claire) and The Killing of Sister George (June Buckridge aka Sister George) giving what Mike Smith described in his review as “a towering performance” in the latter. She was easy to work with but no pushover and could be quite formidable on the very few occasions she disagreed with something or other. "I will always remember the warmth of her welcome, her zest for life, the meals and conversations we shared. I last saw her when I visited her in hospital ten days before she died. Always immaculately turned out I was not surprised to see that her standards had not slipped in hospital, she looked as glamorous and beautiful as ever and had just received a manicure from her beloved daughter Angharad. "She held my hand for the duration of my visit only letting go to drink a glass of champagne. She asked after mutual friends and spoke of her approaching death - “None of us like to leave the stage do we Chris”, I said. “No indeed,” she replied and then we agreed that there comes the time when we have no choice. “I’m very accepting” she said, “I feel very calm and relaxed about it.” And then we had a glass of Prosecco, hers with orange juice." Geinor Styles recalled the work with Theatr na nÓg: “Yn 2013 ysgrifennodd a chyfarwyddodd Sara Lewis ddrama i Theatr na nÓg "Breath of Fresh Air" a bu'n castio'r actores arbennig Christine Pritchard ochr yn ochr â Dafydd Rhys Evans. Roedd yn gymaint o fraint i ni i gael Christine yn rhan o’n cwmni. Roedd hi wastod yn actio gyda gras a gonestrwydd pur. Byddwn i gyd yn trysori’r amser a dreuliasom gyda hi am ei haelioni a’i charedigrwydd.” “In 2013 Sara Lewis wrote and directed a play for Theatr na nÓg "Breath of Fresh Air" and cast the wonderful Christine Pritchard alongside Dafydd Rhys Evans. It was such a privilege for us to have Christine as part of our company. She acted with grace and honesty. We will all treasure the time we spent with her for her generosity and her kindness.” From Gareth John Bale: “Christine, pleser odd cal gweithio da ti a dysgu tra’n gwylio ti wrth dy waith. Joies i’r teithio, y drincs a’r werthin. Diolch am dy gwmni ac am dy gefnogaeth. Cysga’n dawel Fabulous to work with and a pleasure to tour with. Always great company. Welsh acting royalty.” * * * * Christine Pritchard was born in Caernarfon, where she attended Ysgol Syr Huw Owen. At Bristol University she studied English, Latin and Drama and then returned to Wales for the first professional work. BBC Cymru Wales' article read: “Roedd yn adnabyddus i genedlaethau o blant Cymru am chwarae'r wrach Rala Rwdins yn y gyfres deledu o'r un enw. “Fe ymddangosodd ar ddegau o ffilmiau a chyfresi fel Glas y Dorlan, Dinas, Pobol y Cwm, Anita ac Un Bore Mercher. “Roedd yn adnabyddus i gynulleidfaoedd di-Gymraeg hefyd, gan ymddangos ar gyfresi Saesneg fel Tourist Trap, Doctors, Stella ac Indian Doctor. “Cafodd ei magu yng Nghaernarfon ar aelwyd ddwyieithog, ac aeth i ysgol Syr Hugh Owen yn y dref. “Aeth yn ei blaen i astudio yn y brifysgol ym Mryste, gan ennill gradd mewn Saesneg, Lladin a Drama. “Bu'n gweithio fel athrawes yn Llundain ac ar ynys St Kitts yn y Caribî, cyn cael blas ar gynhyrchu dramâu tra'n gweithio mewn ysgol yn ardal Putney. “Yn 1969 cafodd gyfweliad llwyddiannus gyda Chwmni Theatr Cymru, gan newid gyrfa i fod yn actores. “Fe wnaeth y cam o'r llwyfan i'r sgrin fach ar ddechrau'r 70au, gan ymddangos ar gyfresi fel Glas y Dorlan a Dinas yn y 70au ac 80au. “Yng nghanol y 90au bu'n rhan o ddwy o gyfresi mwyaf poblogaidd S4C - rôl y prif gymeriad yn Rala Rwdins, a Pobol y Cwm ble bu'n chwarae rhan Laura Metcalfe. “Yn fwy diweddar byddai cynulleidfaoedd wedi'i gweld yn actio ar raglenni megis Anita, Deian a Loli, 35 Awr ac Un Bore Mercher. “Roedd hi hefyd yn un o gast rheolaidd opera sebon Radio Cymru am flynyddoedd sef Eileen/Rhydeglwys a bu'n brif gymeriad (sef 'Hilda') mewn dwy gyfres o Bisgits a Balaclafas. “Chwaraeodd ran hefyd mewn sawl drama unigol fel Goleuni yn yr Hwyr, Disgw'l, Y Hi a Fi, Lle bu Dau ac Ofelgoelus ac roedd ganddi ran amlwg mewn sawl nofel a gafodd ei haddasu ar gyfer Radio Cymru. “Wrth siarad ar raglen Post Prynhawn dywedodd Graham Jones, cynhyrchydd y gyfres Dinas ar S4C rhwng 1985 ac 1991 fod Christine Pritchard - a oedd yn actio rhan Ruth Gregory - "wastad yn 'neud ei gorau". “Ro'dd hi wastad wedi paratoi mor drylwyr. O'dd hi'n darllen y sgript i gyd, yn gwybod yn union sut i chwarae'r cymeriad a sut i chwarae i'r camera," meddai. "Doedd dim diwedd ar ei brwdfrydedd hi. O'dd hi'n gallu troi ei llaw i fod yn unrhyw gymeriad. Mae'n anodd meddwl ei bod wedi mynd. Fe fyddaf yn ei cholli hi."radio cymru “Mae nifer hefyd wedi rhoi teyrngedau iddi ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Dywedodd yr awdures Fflur Dafydd: "Diolch am bob dim Christine. “Nes i ffangirlio hi yn nhoiledau Gloworks adeg 35 awr a methu stopio mynd 'mlaen am Ruth Gregory o Dinas a sut ro'n i'n gwireddu breuddwyd yn gweithio gyda hi. “Mor wych. Mor classy. Braint ac anrhydedd oedd sgwennu iddi. “Dywedodd yr actores Rhian Cadwaladr: "Trist clywed y newyddion am Christine. Cymeriad hoffus, llawn hwyl a fuo'n garedig a chefnogol i mi pan oeddwn i'n actores ifanc nerfus yn cychwyn yn y byd actio. Tydi rhywun ddim yn anghofio hynna." Source, with thanks, at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/64151119?at_link_id=33C43564-AC78-11ED-B0BD-CA8E0EDC252D&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_type=web_link&at_link_origin=BBC_Cymru_Fyw&at_format=link&at_campaign_type=owned&at_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2wKiMGQ4kXKdIK5zoZ4JZl2mHt-_RgpKnTRFYFoZ3r4Xyaj9ZSvDAFEUk Picture: Christine Pritchard as Susan Trefor in “Enoc Huws” for BBC Cymru Wales in 1975. Christine Pritchard 1943-2023 |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
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