National Theatre Wales is rekindling the embers of possibly its greatest success by returning to Port Talbot.
Following on from the critical acclaim that Michael Sheen brought to the company with The Passion six years ago, NTW is hoping Valleys’ playwright Rachel Trezise will generate as much heat with a work about the campaign to protect the steel making industry in Wales alive.
The company says that the play, We’re Still Here, is inspired by conversations with steelworkers, union members and the wider community, as a theatrical response to the campaign to keep open the Indian-owned steel company.
Evie Manning, Rhiannon White of Common Wealth and Rachel Trezise
Image: Helen Griffith
NTW has teamed up with a site-specific theatre company Common Wealth for the work which will include evocative sound and visual effects when staged in a warehouse, Byass Works, Old Dock Road, Port Talbot between September 15 and 30.
National Theatre Wales’ Artistic Director Kully Thiarai said, “The community of Port Talbot embraced us wholeheartedly and participated fully in the extraordinary event that was The Passion. We are delighted to be returning to the town this year, with a brand new production tackling a hugely important local, national and global issue, as told to us by that same community.”
The company is also marking Wales’ contribution to the creation of the National Health Service with NHS70 events at locations across Wales in 2018 which they describe as a “birthday card” to the organisation.
Welsh MP Aneurin Bevan spearheaded Clement Attlee’s social reforming post Second World War government’s creation of the NHS.
Kully Thiarai
NTW plans to work with communities and artists with a series of seven multi-platform productions, made and performed live across the country and online. Digital storyteller Lisa Heledd Jones, director Marcus Romer and NTW are asking people to get in touch to share stories about their own experiences with the NHS in Wales to form as inspiration for the seven artistic works. Kully Thiarai, will direct at least one of the seven productions.
The stories can be shared with NTW by completing and online form on nationaltheatrewales.org/nhs70 writing to National Theatre Wales, 30 Castle Arcade, Cardiff CF10 1BW, on Facebook at facebook.com/nationaltheatrewales, or by leaving the company a message on your preferred social media platform using the hashtag #MyNHS70
Other season productions are to be announced.
Booking online: www.nationaltheatrewales.org/were-still-here
By phone: 029 2037 1689