| Richard Burton Centenary |
Richard Burton |
| Week of Events of Celebration , Port Talbot, Pontrhydyfen, Swansea, London, Switzerland, BBC Cymru Wales Radio & Television , November 17, 2025 |
Monday 10th November was a squally day that was not welcoming for gatherings outdoors. Nonetheless it was a day that began a week of culmination of events to mark the centenary of the birth of Richard Burton. In Port Talbot and Pontrhydyfen two plaques were unveiled; those in attendance included Burton's daughter, grand-daughter and Angela V John, historian and biographer of Philip Burton. * * * * The film “Mr Burton” was broadcast at prime time on BBC1. Over the weekend 8th-9th November films including “the Desert Rats” and “the Robe” were re-shown. * * * * On 12th November Charlotte Frances Burton gave a lecture for the Richard Burton Archives a the Taliesin Centre at Swansea University. It was titled “How to Build a Richard Burton: Reflections of a Grand-daughter” and focussed on the deep sense of Welshness transmitted through the family. * * * * BBC2 showed an hour-long documentary “Richard Burton- Wild Genius”. The contributors included Kate Burton, Sally Burton, Clare Bloom, Gabriel Byrne, Waris Hussein, Angela V John, Derenn Nesbitt, Siân Owen, Tony Palmer, Iwan Rheon, Matthew Rhys, Siân Phillips, Nancy Schoenberger, Michael Sheen, Rhiannon Trowell, David Wood and Nick Young. * * * * On 14th November a Richard Burton Centenary Gala took place in the Orangery at Margam Country Park. Michael Sheen, Jeff Wayne, the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre and Nansi Adams performed. * * * * The Minister for Culture, Jack Sargeant, was in Switzerland. A plaque was unveiled at his former home. The village square was renamed Place Richard Burton. A torchlit walk went to Céligny cemetery, the place of Burton’s burial, with a reading of his favourite poem by Dylan Thomas. The Minister for Culture, Jack Sargeant said: “It was an honour to join the tributes in Céligny, as we mark 100 years since Richard Burton’s birth. We celebrate not only his life, but the enduring influence of his work, his Welsh roots, and his global reach. “Richard Burton never forgot his Welsh heritage – his distinctive voice carried the essence of Wales into the global imagination. His journey from Wales to international stardom demonstrates how Welsh culture and talent continues to resonate worldwide.” * * * * On 16th November the Welsh National Theatre debuted at the Old Vic with a performance of “Playing Burton” by Mark Jenkins. * * * * The December programme at the British Film Institute included ‘Richard Burton: Muse of Fire’, curated by James Bell, Jo Bottling and Simon McCallum of the BFI National Archive. |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
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