Carmarthenshire goes
Theatrau Sir Gâr’s first inhouse production promises a darkly funny look at the Black Death that holds a mirror up to the Covid pandemic, writes Jenny White...
HAving grown up on a comedy diet of Monty Python, Mel Brooks and The League Of gentlemen, it was probably inevitable that writer Chris Harris would find himself penning a slapstick show about the Black Death featuring singing goats and bags of sarcastic humour.
The new Welsh language play, golygfeydd o’r Pla Du, is the first ever in-house production by Theatrau Sir gâr (Carmarthenshire Theatres) and marks the 10th anniversary of Ffwrnes theatre in Llanelli.
it’s been a long time in the making and it was in part inspired by the Covid pandemic.
“Three years ago, i decided to write a play that was basically a silly comedy for four people sharing about 40 different characters,” says Chris.
“it started off as something that was in response to what was happening around us at the beginning of the pandemic, but seeing it through a historical lens and trying to look at the changing behaviour politically and socially, on a kind of micro and macro level, and at the bad and good things that happen to our behaviour when things change.
“i wanted to make something that was very much in touch with my roots and something in the Welsh language, because it’s very rare that we create something this chaotic and farcical in Welsh.”
The play developed over three years, first with research and development meetings on Zoom and then the team secured an Arts Council Wales grant to stage the production.
Theatrau Sir gâr have embraced the chance to move into the producing sphere and showcase a wealth of local talent, both on and off stage.
“We utilise in-house teams, our sound designer, our stage manager, our lighting designer, all work for the theatre and also one of our actors is from Llanelli, so it feels very much like a family-grown production,” says Chris.
The cast of four comprises Berwyn Pearce, originally from Pontypridd, known for his role in Sherman Cymru’s Woof and from his Tv role in Pobol Y Cwm, Alis Wyn Davies, who recently appeared alongside Sir ian Mckellen in the Theatre Royal Windsor’s production of Hamlet, iwan Charles, who has performed in many plays by Theatr Bara Caws, and Ffani Anni, who recently appeared in Arad goch’s Clera.
Between them, they play 40 characters caught up in a Black Death drama in a fictional Welsh village. The play is set in 1348. it’s the first year that was recorded when the plague landed in Britain. Amid the chaos, an opportunist and con artist called Twm arrives in the village, looking to climb the social ladder.
“He realises that with the death of so many people in this local village, he can actually claim power and claim land,” says Chris. “So he very much uses this plague to his advantage until he comes across Mari Anni, a revolutionary manure seller who stands in his way of claiming power.
“it’s very much a kind of rise-to-power story
– he’s very Richard iii in the way that he operates. But, overall, it’s an incredibly comedic piece in 80 minutes, where we meet all the villagers and all the people associated with this world. With four actors sharing those 40 roles, it’s a pretty chaotic task.”
Chris is delighted with the cast and with the way rehearsals are progressing.
“They are just absolutely wonderful. We did an open casting call and from the get-go the cast had the confidence and boldness to offer decisions, to create characters and to be just really ambitious with their character development.
“i’m really happy that we’ve got a cast of four people who are incredibly kind and hardworking and generous and i’m thrilled that they’ve all agreed to joining the chaos.
“The audience can expect a riotous evening of singing, comedy, comic gore, sarcastic humour and a little bit of foul language as well. The themes are not 100% for children – it’s recommended for audiences aged 14 plus.
“Ultimately, it’s just an incredibly funny night in the theatre.”
■ For full tour details, visit the website at www.theatrausirgar.co.uk. The show is suitable for Welsh learners and Sibrwd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s language access app, will be available at all performances to ensure that the play is accessible for Welsh learners. There will be three special BSL performances by Cathryn Mcshane– Kouyatè during the tour on the May 5 at the Ffwrnes, Llanelli, at Blackwood Miners’ Institute on May 18, and at Pontio on May 23