A play based on religious and legal intolerance in the American colonialstate of Massachusetts over 300 years ago will set off on a tour of Wales’ main theatre venues in a month’s time. The 1953 play ‘The Crucible’ is by one of the 20th Century’n leading American playwights, Arthur Miller. It’s follows events surrounding the infamous Salem trails when 150 were accused of witchcraft. Fourteen women and five men were eventually convicted and hanged for the offence. Another defendant, who refused to enter a plea, was ordered to be crushed to death. The Welsh translation of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru – the Welsh National Touring Company’s production of ‘Y Pair’ (The Crucible) is by the renowned dramatist and author, Gareth Miles. “In the play Arthur Miller used the Salem trails as an allegory for the intense anti-Communist sentiment which preoccupied elements in the United States’ political and social institutions during the 1950s when many thousands were wrongly accused, blacklisted and victimised,” said Gareth Miles. “But evidence of similar witch-hunts is visible to-day, not only in America, were individuals are ostracized at will for their convictions,” he added. With a cast of 17 ‘Y Pair’ is one of the largest stage production ever seen in the Welsh language. The cast includes well known stage and TV actors like Llion Williams, Dyfan Roberts, Christine Pritchard and Trefor Selway, with Catrin Powell playing the part of the young and manipulative unofficial leader of the so-called witches of Salem, Abigail Williams. “This is emotional and startling play combining love, conscience and religious salvation,” said ‘Y Pair’ director, Judith Roberts. “It’s a gripping story which will undoubtedly shock, stimulate and captivate audiences,” she added. “The play also has positive elements and is very much in the classical tradition,” added Gareth Miles. “It illustrates how the individual ia able to face up to forces hell bent on his or her destruction,” he said. ‘Y Pair’ will open in Bangor’s Theatr Gwynedd (01248 351708) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, 7-9 February, 2008, before going on to: • the Aberystwyth Arts Centre (01970 623232) on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, 12-13 February, 2008; • Cardigan’s Theatr Mwldan (01239 621200) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, 20-22 February, 2008; • Swansea’s Taliesin Arts Centre (01792 602060) on Thursday and Friday evenings, 28-29 February, 2008; • Mold’s Clwyd Theatr Cymru (0845 330 3565) on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 5-6 March, 2008; • Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre (0845 226 3509/8) on Monday, 10 March, 2008; and • Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre (029 2064 6900) on Thursday and Friday evenings, 13-14 March, 2008. All performances start at 7.30pm. ‘Y Pair’ is the first of three Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru productions for 2008. It will be followed in the Spring by Saunders Lewis’ ‘Siwan’, and then by a controversial new play by Aled Jones-Williams, ‘Iesu!’, which will be premiered during the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff in August followed a tour of Wales’ main theatre venues in the Autumn. |
| theatr genedlaethol cymru web site: www.theatr.com |
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Monday, January 7, 2008 |
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