A lyrical new production of Bruce Chatwin’s magical novel On the Black Hill, adapted by award-winning Gwent playwright Charles Way, is to be staged for one night only at the Melville Theatre, Abergavenny, on Friday, October 12.Set on the Welsh border, the work spans most of the last century and centres on the lives of identical twins. For 42 years, Lewis and Benjamin Jones slept side by side, in their parent’s bed, at their farm which was known as The Vision. So begins the winning story of twinship, love and belonging which won both the Whitbread Book and the James Tait Black awards Charles Way, who lives in Abergavenny, is praised for his beautiful adaptation which captures the harsh realities and humour of farming life and the unique struggle of the twins who have one identity but two realities. On the Black Hill is a co-production between ajtc Theatre Company and Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, directed by Geoff Bullen with original music by Lewis Gibson and performed by Ian Armstrong, Mick Jasper and Harriet Bennet (cello). It is on a three-month national tour and is suitable for those 16-plus. The Melville Theatre is based in Gwent Theatre’s Drama Centre where administrative director Julia Davies says: “It’s perfect to be able to bring On the Black Hill to Abergavenny with all it’s local associations. It will appeal to everyone who likes a good story told well and I hope people take this opportunity. It’s a totally alive production with some lovely music. ” The Melville Theatre has just 75 seats so you are advised to book early for the 7.30pm show. Tickets (£6 and £4) are from the Borough Theatre box office in Abergavenny, tel 01873 850805. Charles Way has over 40 plays to his credit and is performed all over the world. He is published by Seren, Harper Collins and Aurora Metro Press and is a member of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain and the Welsh Academy of Authors. He has won numerous awards including the 2004 ACE Children’s Award for Red Red Shoes. He also writes for radio and television. Bruce Chatwin was the foremost travel writer of modern times whose works include The Songlines (about Aboriginal songs), The Viceroy of Ouidah (slave trade) and Utz (which deals with an obsession with collecting. He was only 48 when he died . Ajtc Theatre Company was established in Guildford 10 years ago and specialises in new writing and new productions of established scripts. It plays in national and international venues as well as theatre studios and takes part in many festivals through the UK and attracts the praise of national theatre critics. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is one of the country’s leading regional producing theatres with a reputation for top quality entertainment. Director Geoff Bullen is an adventurous practitioner who teaches Shakespeare at RADA and for New York University. His career encompasses all areas of theatre and includes the Olivier-award winning Of Mice and Men in the West End, Murder in the Cathedral in Japanese in Tokyo and Oliver! in HMP Wormwood Scrubs (just visiting!). |
| gwent theatre web site: www.gwenttheatre.com |
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Thursday, September 20, 2007 |
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