This October, Theatrau Sir Gâr will mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster by hosting two powerful productions: The Revlon Girl at The Ffwrnes, Llanelli on Wednesday 14th October at 7:30pm and Thursday 15th October at 2:30pm, and The Silent Volunteer at The Glowyr, Ammanford on Friday 9th October at 7:30pm.
Ten years after audiences first discovered the play in Llanelli, the original Olivier Award-nominated The Revlon Girl returns, under the direction of Maxine Evans.
Winner of the Off-West End Award for Best New Play, Neil Anthony Docking’s acclaimed drama is set eight months after the Aberfan disaster and tells the story of five bereaved mothers who meet in the back room of a local hotel, having secretly invited a representative from Revlon to give them beauty tips.
Ten years after the production first took to the stage, its five women — and their remarkable mixture of grief, friendship, humour and defiance — return for a special anniversary tour of Wales and London. The 10th anniversary production stars Antonia Kinlay, Charlotte Gray, Hedydd Dylan, Llinos Daniel and Mirain Haf Roberts. Between them, the company’s extensive stage and screen credits span the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, Theatr Clwyd, Sherman Theatre, Park Theatre and theatres across the UK and internationally, alongside work for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, CBS and S4C.
Director Maxine Evans, who returns to the production she first directed ten years ago, said:
“Every single time we’ve performed this play, we’ve found something new. Just when you think you’ve found everything there is to find, you suddenly discover a new layer or an unexpected depth or a small, but profound detail. This time will be no different.”
There will be a Q&A after the performance on Wednesday 14th October with Maxine Evans and some of the cast, which will be hosted by actor, director and Theatrau Sir Gâr Lyric pantomime favourite Steve Elias.
At The Glowyr, Ammanford on Friday 9th October at 7.30pm, Avant Cymru will present The Silent Volunteer, written by Sue Bevan and performed in partnership with Coalfield Regeneration.
Based on Sue Bevan’s international award-winning play Hiraeth, The Silent Volunteer features a cast of descendants from the community who were directly impacted then and continue to be impacted years on. The play is not just about the Aberfan disaster itself; it is about memory, loss, responsibility, and the quiet heroism of the people who cared for the victims and their families in the aftermath.
Writer Sue Bevan said,
“There are shocking details of the Aberfan story here that most people still aren’t aware of, in particular the way in which bereaved families were treated with such contempt by a system that places profit above working people.”
She continued, “Regarding the present, the play warns of the inevitable consequences if we fail again to address the current coal tip threat. So, in a sense the play is a call to action – to make our voices heard, to get involved in the fight for our rights, and to demand change.”
Alongside the production will be an exhibition and Q&A, supported by the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, that explores the impact of coal tips, and how they are continuing to shape and affect mining communities today. The project is supported by Arts Council Wales and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Tickets for The Revlon Girl are priced at £24 and tickets for The Silent Volunteer are priced at £14.50 and can be booked online at www.theatrausirgar.co.uk or with the box office on 0345 2263510.
