Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru are pleased to announce the tour details for Nansi, following on from the success and popularity of the production in the National Eisteddfod 2015.
The production will tour to five community venues across Wales during June and July 2016. Melangell Dolma will return to play the role of Nansi and Gwyn Vaughan Jones the role of her father. They will be joined by Betsan Llwyd and Martin Thomas.
Angharad Price is the author of the script, based on an original idea by Sarah Bickerton, with Sarah Bickerton directing the play. The set and costumes are designed by Carl Davies, with Sound Design and Composition by Dyfan Jones , and Lighting Design by Joe Fletcher.
The play gives us a new perspective on the colourful life of the harpist from Montgomeryshire, Nansi Richards, focusing mainly on her childhood, her early career as a world famous harpist in the 1920s and her various love interests during that time. At the pinnacle of her career, Wales’s most famous harpist is at a crossroad; is there room in her life for another love – a love other than for the harp?
Director, Sarah Bickerton, originally from Montgomeryshire said;
“I’m really pleased that Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru is taking Nansi on tour this year, especially staying true to the ethos of the original production by visiting community venues. It’s great that we’ll be revisiting Llanfair Caereinion too as the response there last year was overwhelming. As someone who is originally from the area and related to Nansi, I have been intrigued by her extraordinary life and the numerous stories about her since I was a young girl. Angharad Price has created a script that brings young Nansi’s story to life – there is fun and adventure but also an exploration of a woman’s battle to become an artist in her own right. We are looking forward now to start rehearsing again!”
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Further information:
Nansi
Criccieth Memorial Hall
8 – 9 June: 19:30
10 June: 13:30 a 19:30
The Institute, Llanfair Caereinion
15 June: 19:30
16 June: 13:30 a 19:30
17 June: 19:30
The Paget Rooms, Penarth
22 June: 19:30
23 June: 13:30 a 19:30
24 June: 19:30
Aberaeron Memorial Hall
28 – 29 June: 19:30
30 June: 13:30 a 19:30
Tymbl Village Hall
5 – 6 July: 19:30
7 July: 13:30 a 19:30
Tickets: £15 / £12 (students) / £10 (groups)
Not on sale yet.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Doors will open half an hour before the performance begins, and a bar will be selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in the venue.
Information about the cast
Melangell Dolma appeared in the television Parch on S4C in 2015. She recently graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and her role as Nansi in 2015 was the first time she performed with the company. Gwyn Vaughan Jones is an actor, director, singer and associate actor for Theatr Clwyd and has appeared in 28 of their productions. Betsan Llwyd is Cwmni Theatr Bara Caws’ Artistic Director, and is a director and actress. As an actress, she has performed in Cysgod y Cryman,Tŷ Bernarda Alba and Y Pair for Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, and various other plays on stage and screen. Martin Thomas was the Associate Director on Chwalfa (2016 – Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), and he also appeared as an actor in La Primera Cena in 2015 and Blodeuwedd in 2013 for the company. He was a member of the original cast of Rownd a Rownd.
Angharad Price – Author
Angharad Price is the author of two novels, O, Tyn y Gorchudd, that won the Prose Medal in the National Eisteddfod 2002 and the Book of the Year award, Her novel, Caersaint reached the short-list for the Book of the Year award in 2011. She has published many academic volumes, including Ffarwel i Freiburg, a study based on T.H.Parry-Williams’ work that won the Ellis Griffith Award in 2014. She was responsible for the Welsh text for Rhwydo/Vangst, a production by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and the artist from the Netherlands, Roos Van Geffen in 2013. She lives in Caernarfon, and is a Senior Lecturer in the Welsh Department at Bangor University.
Sarah Bickerton – Director
Sarah graduated from Aberystwyth University in 2008, before training as a director with Living Pictures and Sherman Cymru. She was Literary Assistant at Sherman Cymru between 2011-2012.
Her directing work includes: A Place with the Pigs (Sherman Cymru); Llain Galed (Gwŷl Egin Sherman Cymru); Unprotected (Millennium Centre and Velvet Ensemble); Kindling (Mess up the Mess Theatre Company).
Her work as Associate Director includes: Y Bont, C’laen ta (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru); The Elves and the Shoemaker (Sherman Cymru). Her work as Assistant Director includes: Desire Lines, A Christmas Carol, Amgen : Broken, The Watching, Yr Argae, A Christmas Carol, Cinders (Sherman Cymru), Miss Julie (Living Pictures), Outdoors (National Theatre Wales and Rimini Protokoll). Short film: Buddha Boy (It’s my Shout and BBC Cymru)
Carl Davies – Designer
Carl Davies trained at the Royal University of Music and Drama in Wales. His recent work includes; Blodeuwedd (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru); Finding joy, Nursing Lives, The Best Thing (Vamos); Honk, Sweeney Todd, IMMUNE, Oh No Not Snow, Oliver (Royal and Derngate); Peter Pan, Treasure Island, Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Match Girl (The Point); Still Life, Much ado About Nothing, Canterbury Tales (Mappa Mundi); Jungle Book, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Sleeping Beauty (The Castle Theatre).
Dyfan Jones – Composer, Music Director and Sound Designer
Dyfan trained at the University of Kingston and the University of Music and Drama in Guildhall. He begaun to work professionally in 1995 and since then he’s worked as a Composer, Music Director and a Sound Designer for over 150 theatre productions. As a composer for the television, he has composed music for several television series and cartoons, as well entertainment programmes. His recent work for the theatre include Blodeuwedd, Dyled Eileen, Deffro’r Gwanwyn (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), Sky Hawk, Season’s Greetings, Rape of the Fair Country, Humbug! (Clwyd Theatr Cymru), Love and Money (Waking Exploits), Contractions (Ian Goosey/Chapter) –Wales Theatre Awards Winner 2015 (Best Sound).
Joe Fletcher – Lighting Designer
Joe was trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (MA Designing Theatre). He worked as a residential designer for Sydney Dance Company, and National Dance Company Wales, and toured internationally to China, India, New Zealand and across Europe. His recent lighting work includes Mrs Reynolds a’r Cena Bach (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru); In Water I’m Weightless (National Theatre Wales); Folk, Purlieus, They Seek To Find The Happiness They Seem, Virtual Descent (Cwmni Dawns Cenedlaethol Cymru); Parallel Lines (Dirty Protest); Swansea Three Night Blitz (Swansea Grand); Pause And Effect (Maiden Voyage Dance); aM (Cwmni Dawns Ieuenctid Cymru).
For futher information and to arrange press tickets, please contact Lowri Johnston, Head of Marketing and Communications, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, lowri.johnston@theatr.com / 01267 245617