The audience for a Welsh play to be performed in a London theatre next month will be boosted by coach load of drama enthusiasts organised by a Gwynedd farmwife.Megan Lloyd Williams from Cwm Ystradllyn near Porthmadog hit on the idea of travelling to London to see Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru – the Welsh National Touring Company’s production of Cysgod y Cryman after missing out on performances during the play’s recent six week tour of Wales’ main theatre venues. “There just weren’t any tickets left for Bangor, Mold, Aberystwyth, Cardigan or Carmarthen,” she said. “It left me little choice but book a coach and invite similarly disappointed theatre goers to travel and see the production in London,” she added. Cysgod y Cryman will be staged in London’s 560-seat Bloomsbury Theatre on Thursday, April 5, 2007, at 7.30pm. The theatre is located in Gordon Street near Euston, Euston Square, Goodge Street and Warren Street tube stations. The nearest mainline railway station is Euston.This is the first ever production to be performed outside Wales by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru “Although our priorities will always lie in Wales the initial sales of 200 tickets is a strong indication of an audience for Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru productions in London,” said Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s General Manager, Sion Hughes “It also gives our actors, playwrights and directors an opportunity to further display their talents,” he added. Cysgod y Cryman (trans.Shadow of the Sickle) is based on a novel of the same name by the late Islwyn Ffowc Elis. The plot, set during the height of the Cold War, involves the changes which face a north Powys farming family as age-long traditions are replaced by new political, ideological and social experimentation. Naturally a collision of culture of epic proportions is inevitable. The stage adaptation is by novelist, dramatist and poet, Siôn Eirian, and is based on his English translation of the novel aired on BBC Radio Four’s “The Classic Play” series, which he completed with the full co-operation of the author. “No other Welsh novel has been as widely read as Cysgod y Cryman,” said Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Artistic Director, Cefin Roberts. ”It’s been studied by generations of pupils, has sold more copies than any other Welsh publication, and was voted the greatest Welsh book of the twentieth century,” he added. A recent six-week tour of Wales’ main theatre venues was an overwhelming success with up to 6,000 ticket sold over 17 performances – nine of them with 100% capacity audiences. “It’s seems incredible how a story set in the height of the Cold War remains so popular,” added Cefin Roberts. “That’s undoubtedly a sign of great literature,” he said. Those who failed to secure tickets in Wales and wish to travel to London to see Cysgod y Cryman should contact Megan Lloyd Williams on 01766 530319. |
| Theatr Genedleathol Cymru web site: www.theatr.com |
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Wednesday, March 21, 2007 |
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