GRAV REMEMBERED
ACTOR Gareth John Bale will play the lead role in a special S4C film which pays tribute to one of the giants of Welsh rugby, Ray Gravell. To mark the day that Ray would have turned 70 years old, on Sunday, September 12,at 9pm, S4C will show Grav,
It’s a film, based on a play, which tells the story of his life and looks back on the events that shaped Grav’s unique personality.
The drama, adapted from Owen Thomas, Peter Doran and Gareth John Bale’s acclaimed stage show, has been directed by award-winning director Marc Evans, whose previous work includes The Pembrokeshire Murders, Manhunt and Y Bomiwr a’r Tywysog.
Having performed the one-man show more than 100 times across Wales, the UK and the US, a cast of actors will join Gareth John Bale for the screen adaptation.
Gareth said: “There are elements of happiness and sadness in the drama, that is what makes it so special.
“You could imagine Grav saying it himself, that there were some players who wore the red jersey who were better than him – not many, but a few.
“But, in terms of their life stories, there isn’t as much to tell, and Grav was certainly someone who wore his heart on his sleeve.
“The drama does look at some sad moments, moments which had a huge impact on him.
“But we also celebrate his life and there is a lot of comedy there, too.
“There were peaks and troughs in his life, but that’s who ‘Ray o’r Mynydd’ (his Bardic name) was.
“Instead of me trying to make some kind of caricature, I have always tried to capture his spirit.
“That is what’s important to me, that Grav’s spirit comes through.
“I don’t think anyone would watch me and think, ‘he looks exactly like Grav’. “But what people have said is, ‘you have captured him, you have captured his spirit.’
“The most important thing for me is that we pay tribute to Ray and remember him in the right way, but also that his family is happy with it. “That is so important to me and to everyone else, and I am so grateful for their support over the years.” Despite his extraordinary contribution to Llanelli Rugby Club, Wales and the British and Irish Lions, Grav was also famed for his work off the pitch during a successful career as a commentator, broadcaster and actor. As a young actor, Gareth was fortunate enough to work with Ray on S4C series, A470.
Gareth added: “By then, Grav had worked with the famous director Louis Malle, and actors like Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Irons and Peter O’Toole.
“His acting CV was much bigger than mine. But he always said, ‘You’re the expert, you tell me what to do’.
“I remember during one break, we were sat around a table. Some of the young actors knew who he was, but they tried to get it out of him. I remember him saying to them, ‘Well, I used to play a bit of rugby.’
“Alun ap Brinley shot out of his chair! ‘A little bit of rugby? Boys, this is a British Lion!’ he said.
But Grav didn’t want to say that himself and he never talked himself up. I only worked with him for three days, but like everyone who met him has said, it was just a pleasure.”
Gareth, who is from Ynysmeudwy in the Swansea valley, often gets confused with ‘the other’ Gareth Bale, who plays for Real Madrid and Wales.
The actor has previously joked: “The closest I’ve got is watching him play for Wales from the stands. I do get some random followers on Twitter now and again. I think they quickly unfollow when they see tweets about plays!
“I think people are sometimes a bit disappointed when I turn up at a restaurant or golf course and they’re expecting the “real” Gareth Bale! It could be worse, though – he’s a proud Welshman and handles himself very well.”
Gareth trained as an actor at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating in 2002. His first directing job was with Cwmni Theatr 3-D Theatre Company.
He has worked extensively with BlackRAT Productions Theatre Company, as an assistant director and actor.
He has worked as a director / guest lecturer in Trinity Saint David university and Coleg Sir Gar.
■ Grav is on S4C next Sunday at 9pm.
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