| A Look-back and Guide |
Theatr na n'Og |
| A Retrospective 2001 to the Present Day , Touring the Theatres of Wales and England , May 1, 2024 |
The reviews of productions by Theatr na nÓg can be read below:“Operation Julie”: 4 August 2022 11 April 2024 “Dan Bottomley is a new Alston “Smiles” Hughes. Phylip Harries is PC Evans with his penchant for amateur history. Kieran Bailey is Richie Parry and a driving pummeller of the drums. Steve Simmonds is the manic Dick Lee from Thames Valley Police with his grudge against the Met and wielder of a fearsome lead guitar. “On the other side are are the idealisers, Joseph Tweedale's Richard Kemp and Georgina White's Christine Bott, who sings a beautiful lead vocal on King Crimson's “I talk to the wind.” Caitlin Lavagna's five roles, and multiple costume changes, include the eponymous Julie whose name was borrowed for the huge 1970's police operation.” August 2022: “With its impish relish for human paradox- folly and idealism in equal measure- its layered narrative, its subversive humour, its adoring musical tribute to the prog-rock pioneers of an era "Operation Julie" is the blast of summer performance exhilaration that theatre in Wales needs and its audiences deserve.” “Y Fenyw Mewn Du”: 13 December 2023 “That prevailing sense of malignancy is brought brilliantly to life by the cast. Tom Blumberg plays Actor, bringing a naïve enthusiasm to the role, with his eager energy and love of stagecraft, and is engaging and often humorous. Jonathan Nefydd as the elderly, skittish Arthur Kipps, is splendid – as is how he deftly transforms into a variety of characters through the addition of a flat cap, or a heavy greatcoat, or simply by donning a scarf and fingerless gloves.” “The technical aspects of lighting and sound effects were stars in their own right, creating a sense of dread throughout, and ramping up tension to, at times, genuine screaming pitch, evidenced by the cries, shrieks, and gasps – invariably followed by sheepish relieved laughter – as we peeked through splayed fingers, and prayed The Woman wouldn’t appear (whilst secretly hoping she would).” “Eye of the Storm”: 28 October 2019 “Emmie is a girl with dreams. She wants to become a meteorological physicist, studying the tornados that are her hobby and obsession; and in writer-director Geinor Styles’s exuberant musical play – with songs and lyrics by Amy Wadge, all performed by a formidable cast of eight who double as the live onstage band - we watch her find a way to make her dream come true despite many setbacks, including the active hostility of her embittered physics teacher. “Rosey Cale sings like an angel and acts like a true star in the central role of Emmie; and with the rest of the company offering a whole range of fine voices and powerful music-making in support, Styles brings this hard-hitting and necessary piece of 21st century popular theatre to an upbeat conclusion that may be just a shade starry-eyed, but that young Emmie has earned, every hard step of the way.” "Nye & Jennie": 5 November 2018: 21 October 2018: 18 November 2017 “Meredydd Barker's script for Geinor Styles and company is a true labour of love, three years in the formation. It took in visits to the archives to read Jennie Lee's letters in a handwriting that is challenging, to put it mildly. The result compresses thirty years of political history into eighty minutes. The great women of Labour have been underwritten in history. It took until 1997 for Jennie Lee to receive a substantial biography. It took until 2017 for Alice Bacon to receive hers and then only because the author, Rachel Reeves, had the time, her abilities not being applied on the opposition front bench. “The two-hander, set in a smoky sepulchral flat, is tribute to a bond of steel that made a political marriage. But if all history is contemporary history the dialectic that subtly haunts “Nye and Jennie” is the horror of the party that splits. Barker opens tellingly in the year of the formation of the National Government. Lee leaves Labour and with it her seat in parliament until 1945. The words that her biographer used was that Bevan berated her mercilessly.” "Tom – A story of Tom Jones": 10 March 2016 “Kit Orton is a great actor too. The voice, the energy and his sparkling sense of humour all combine to give us a heart-lifting experience. This is nothing less than a five star, totally captivating performance.” “Aesops Fables”: March 7, 2012: 30 March 2012 “We all had a great time, including our teachers, and we would really like to thank the staff of Gardyne Theatre and Theatr-Nanog for inviting us to come and for being really helpful when we were there. We would also like to say a special thank you to Alan Dear and Marilyn Binnie who really helped us out with Loops and gave our teachers a book with some great work in it for us to do.” “Salsa”: September 5, 2011 “Mae’r gomedi ramantaidd hon yn olrhain perthynasWayne a Rhian Needy wrth iddynt ymuno â dosbarth dawnsio. Mae Rhian yn rhoi’r ffidil yn y to ar ôl dim ond un wers – ond maeWayne yn darganfod talent gudd i ddawnsio Salsa, a hynny dan arweiniad Adela, yr hyfforddwraig Sbaeneg hardd…Mwynheais y ddrama hon yn aruthrol. Byddai rhaid i rywun fod â chalon o ddur i beidio â chael ei gyffwrdd gan stori fach mor dyner. “ "The Sinking of the Arandora Star": 29 September 2011 “It is far too long since I have seen a dramatic production of this quality, with not a weak spot in its tight weave at all. And since the piece was made to measure primarily for school pupils I was surprised to find it pack such an intense emotional wallop. “Four actors took on all the roles in the story, told by Lina (Lynwen Haf Roberts) a daddy's girl whose father Guido (Rhys Saunders) is dragged from his Mumbles cafe by his former dominoes partner PC Dai Evans (Dafydd Rhys Evans) to be taken off on the ill-fated ship to an internment camp.” "The Bankrupt Bride": 20 October 2009: 18 October 2009 “The work that Sian Jenkins has done for Vivien Parry's Maureen Meek is so good it deserves a plaudit. In her starchy black suit, with her knotted brow and her crabby disdain Vivien Parry is unrecognisable from other appearances. It is a role seized with relish and played deliciously, and maliciously, for all it is worth. “The cast of five have an outstanding set in Max Jones' design. He captures to perfection the ramshackle bottom floor dereliction that is a hallmark of the few independent department stores that remain. See the eye for detail in the old-fashioned folding lift door, the clunky first generation cordless phone and the pre-digital till.” Cyrano": 18 December 2008: 03 December 2008: 28 November 2008: 22 November 2008: 16 November 2008 “Cyrano” looks superb. Theatr Na n’Og’s ostentatious great boots, hats and swordplay are just as persuasive. The production also has at its heart a swaggering, larger-than-life, confident performance in Rob Lane’s Cyrano, a contradictory Romantic creation encompassing violence, tenderness and magnanimity. Just to reinforce his out-sizedness director Geinor Style has him stride through an audience row at the beginning of Act two. “The second reason for this production to be cherished is the music of Dyfan Jones. Last month his elegiac Tryweryn theme was to be heard in “Drowned Out”. “Cyrano” opens with a solo beautifully sung by Eleanor Howell as the unapproachable Roxanne, swathed in wonderful velvet. The long battle scene in Act two is underpinned by a masterful sound score.” “The Trial of Elgan Jones”: September 22, 2006 “In this re-creation of the trial of a young boy charged with trespass, poaching, theft and murder, where we find ourselves not only actually in the scenes of the alleged crimes, a forest and a country house, but in the courtroom as jurors. “We're there to pass judgement first on someone who's accused of sheep-stealing thanks to the very unreliable witness of an elderly deaf and dotty lady (not guilty, say we, guilty says the judge, and in 1865 his word is law) and then on Elgan Jones, a poor frightened working-class 12 year-old.” "The Princess and the Hunter": 25 February 2005: 15 April 2006: 03 May 2006 “”Geinor Styles is Theatr na n’Óg, her style and her high professional standards define the company. The Princess and The Hunter is another fine piece of extremely successful and captivating theatre, appealing to all ages. “The director has brought together as fine a company of Welsh acting talent as you will find. Anghard Lee is a delightful and spirited Melangell. She really develops a great relationship with her new animal friends, particularly Carys Gwilym as Sioed and Siecyn, the hares that lie at the heart of the story. “ "Halen yn y Gwaed": 16 November 2005 “Trwy gydweithio ag Amgueddfa Abertawe, nod y ddrama fywiog a chyffrous hon yw dod â hanes morwrol Abertawe yn fyw i blant yr ardal. “Caiff y plant gyfle i gymryd rhan mewn gweithdy drama gyda'r actorion, yn ogystal â gwneud gweithgareddau addysgol yn yr Amgueddfa a dysgu sgiliau morwrol fel clymu rhaffau.” "Me, A Giant!": 22 July 2005 “My personal favourite was the witch played by Lee Mengo complete with German accent. He has tremendous potential for playing a Teutonic drag queen! Lee also doubled up as the Man with Seeds, the troll and brother Rhys. “A gentle message of tolerance, how to grow a bean seed and possibly friendship – sunshine, water and lots of love – not to mention standing one’s ground with an older sibling, was put across with music, dance, action and some ingenious props.” "Melangell": 22 February 2005: 16 March 2005 “Roedd bod yng nghefn y llwyfan yng nghanol y cast o 160 o blant, wrth iddynt gael cyngor munud olaf gan Geinor Jones, Cyfarwyddydd sioe Melangell yn argoeli'n dda. Roedd pob un o'r cast yn eistedd yn gwrando ar y cyfarwyddiadau â brwdfrydedd ar eu wynebau, cyn troedio yr un mor frwdfrydig ar y llwyfan. Adrodd y chwedl leol am Felangell yr oedd sioe blant ysgolion cynradd dalgylch yr Eisteddfod. Daw Melangell a'i ffrind Mari i ddyffryn hudol o wlad Erin, a gwneud ffrindiau gyda'r anifeiliaid maen nhw'n eu cyfarfod yno.” "Painting with Light": 10 September 2003: 04 August 2003 “Neath-based theatre company Theatr na n'Og have established a reputation as one of the most innovative groups of their kind in Wales, bringing education and live theatre to thousands of schoolchildren in and around Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Bridgend. “Their latest production, directed by company stalwart Geinor Jones, revolves around the Rebecca Riots and the early days of photography and succeeds in bringing the period to life by bringing the audience right into the thick of the action: the play is performed in the round, with the audience split into three separate groups.” "Nia Ben Aur" : 28 February 2003: 17 February 2003 “The show has been attracting large and appreciative audiences throughout its tour, proving that even at a time when American pop culture reigns supreme, there is a massive appetite for entertainment which credits its target audience with intelligence and respect for the mother tongue.” "Angel": 13 October 2001 “Theatr na n'Og’s reputation for high-quality drama aimed at children of all ages is well deserved, and this extraordinary production is undoubtedly one of its finest pieces to date. “This is far more than just a play; it is a total theatrical experience in which the audience are drawn into the action in more ways than one.” |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
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