It must have been one of the greatest piece of political expediency in medieval times. Because In December 1203 the effective ruler of most of Wales, Llywelyn ab Iorwerth or Llywelyn the Great, persuaded King John of England to accept his offer to marry the king’s 15-year-old daughter, Joan. Historically the union heralded a 10-year respite in hostilities between the ever increasing Norman invaders and their besieged Welsh counterparts. The marriage also gave rise to a scandal of majestic proportions with Joan’s adulterous affair with Llywelyn’s nominal Norman prisoner, Gwilym Brewys or William de Braose – the 10th Baron Abergavenny. Gwilym Brewys was summarily hanged for his trouble and Siwan (the Welsh form of Joan) was placed under house arrest for a whole year until her husband found it in his heart and political astuteness to forgive her deceit. “It’s this enthralling tale of love and passion and of the power of forgiveness that provides the backdrop to Saunders Lewis’ renowned play, Siwan, which sets off on a tour of Wales’ main theatre venues, as well as two performances in London, next month,” says Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru – the Welsh National Touring Company’s Marketing Manager, Elwyn Williams. “This is very much a contemporary production of probably Saunders Lewis’ best known historical plays,” he added. Siwan herself is played by Ffion Dafis, with Dyfan Roberts as Llywelyn, Rhys ap Hywel as Gwilym Brewys and Lisa Jên Brown as the ever supportive maid, Alys. The play is directed by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Deputy Artistic Director, Judith Roberts. The tour will start in Bangor’s Theatr Gwynedd (01248 351798) on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, 7–10 May, 2008, before going in to: • The Aberystwyth Arts’ Centre (01970 623232) on Thursday and Friday evenings, 15–16 May. 2008; • Sherman Theatre, Cardiff (029 2064 6900), on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, 20–23 May, 2008; • Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London (020 8237 1111), on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, 27–28 May, 2008; • Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold (0845 330 3565), on Saturday 31 May, and Monday 2 June, 2008; • Taliesin Arts’ Centre, Swansea (01792 60 20 60), on Thursday and Friday evenings, 5-6 June, 2008; • Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen (0845 226 3509/8), on Monday and Tuesday evenings, 9-10 June, 2008; and • Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan (01239 621200), on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, 12-14 of June, 2008. All performances start at 7.30pm. One performance at each of the tour venues will feature a post-show discussion with the play's director and cast members. In addition to this, the company will also be offering workshops on acting techniques to 'A' Level drama students studying the play. Further details are available from the individual theatres. Set at Easter 1230 at the Royal Home of Garth Celyn on the north coast of Gwynedd, near the present day village of Abergwyngregyn near Bangor, Siwan was first produced in 1956. The first English language translation of the play (sometimes known by the alternative title The King of England’s Daughter) appearing four years later. Siwan herself died in 1237 and Llywelyn founded a Franciscan Friary at Llan-faes in Anglesey in her honour. Her stone coffin can be seen in nearby Beaumaris Parish Church. Twice nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature Dr Saunders Lewis was a prolific Welsh poet, dramatist, historian and literary critic and political activist. His most notable plays are based on storylines with either political, mytholigical or historical contexts. He also translated Samuel Beckett's En attendant Godot (Waiting for Godot) into Welsh. Merseyside-born Dr Lewis died in 1985 aged 91 years. |
| Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru web site: www.theatr.com |
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Thursday, April 17, 2008 |
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