Sheen set to star in online play
WELSH Hollywood actor Michael Sheen will be appearing in an online monologue play being premiered by a Cardiff theatre.
The Sherman Theatre are showcasing two short plays written by Gary Owen – known for his plays Killology and Iphigenia in Splott – titled MUM and DAD.
The two plays are separate pieces but thematically linked, with Sheen in the latter and Submarine and The Crown actress Lynn Hunter in the former.
The Cathays-based theatre has had to adapt as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and having been unable to go ahead with their scheduled programme of shows, they’ve moved towards producing plays online.
Speaking about the plays, Gary Owen said: “MUM and DAD are two tiny pieces, near-verbatim records of stories told me by my mum and dad about their lives growing up in Pembrokeshire. They’re too little to ever be put on as theatre pieces, so it’s a huge treat to have them performed now as part of the Sherman’s lockdown programme.
“They’re about things that happened before I was born, before my parents ever met. So to me they’re mythical, even though I know they’re real.
“Lynn and Michael are two actors who never, ever patronise the characters they play, whatever foolish or malicious things those characters might get up to. They make the characters they play real. And in these glorious performances, they turn these legends back into real life again. I’m incredibly grateful to both of them, and to the Sherman for hosting the pieces.”
Sherman artistic director Joe Murphy said the plays were an “extraordinary gift” which helped the theatre to keep surviving while the nation is in lockdown.
He said: “It is amazing to see the support and community spirit of our artists and audiences in these strange and uncertain times. And that support is vital in allowing us to survive this crisis and for us to be able to thrive once it’s over.
“Performed by two exceptional actors, I feel like these small pieces are a real treat and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.”
MUM and DAD will be available to view on the Sherman Theatre’s website and YouTube channel from 2pm on Monday, May 10