Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Sherman Theatre are delighted to announce further details about their staging of the play that won the Drama Medal competition at the Anglesey National Eisteddfod 2017, at this year’s National Eisteddfod in Cardiff.

Milwr yn y Meddwl by Heiddwen Tomos will be presented by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Sherman Theatre in partnership with the National Eisteddfod of Wales and with support from the Gwenlyn Parry Literary Estate and the Hugh Griffith Memorial Fund. Performances will take place Monday 6 August – Friday 10 August at 6pm in Theatr y Maes, a sub-pavilion of the Eisteddfod, which will be located at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay.

 

Heiddwen Tomos is the playwright behind Milwr yn y Meddwl. Originally from Cwrtnewydd, Heiddwen now lives in Penygarreg, Carmarthenshire and is Head of the Creative Arts Faculty at Ysgol Bro Teifi, Llandysul. In 2017 she published her first novel, Dŵr yn yr Afon (Gomer), and she has also published short stories with Gwasg y Bwthyn.

 

The play will be directed by Jac Ifan Moore. In 2015, Jac was assistant director on {150}, Theatr Genedlaethol’s co-production with National Theatre Wales, and he has been one of the participants of the Sherman’s JMK/Sherman Directors Group supported by The Carne Trust. He is also the co-artistic director of PowderHouse, the current resident company at the Sherman. The cast includes Aled Bidder, Ceri Murphy, Elin Phillips and Phylip Harries.

 

Milwr yn y Meddwl explores matters arising from PTSD, and tells the story of Ned, who has returned home to west Wales after a tour of duty in Iraq. His recent experiences in the Iraq war have left deep scars; some visible, and others – the deepest – invisible. This is a new, heart-rending play examining the effects of traumatic events on a Welsh soldier, as he and his family try to come to terms with horrors from his past and the new challenges facing him. In an eternal story about love and belonging, will the bonds of love and family overcome the bullet and the bomb?

 

Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru presents this production as part of its new initiative, called Theatr Gen Creu, which seeks to develop new work and promote talent development. In addition to this production, there will be a programme of activities during the festival that will give a platform to some of the new works that are currently in development by the company, called Theatr Gen Creu yn y Steddfod.

 

In 1978, Y Tŵr by Gwenlyn Parry was the National Eisteddfod’s specially commissioned play, and was staged for the first time by Cwmni Theatr Cymru at the New Theatre during the Cardiff National Eisteddfod that year. To note 40 years since this memorable event, the Gwenlyn Parry Literary Estate is supporting this production of the play that won the 2017 Drama Medal. This is the beginning of a three-year partnership between the Gwenlyn Parry Literary Estate and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru.

 

Arwel Gruffydd, Artistic Director of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, said:
“We are delighted that our partnership with the National Eisteddfod of Wales continues to go from strength to strength, as we work together to develop the role and presence of drama at the annual festival. This partnership means that the winning play from the Drama Medal competition will be staged for the fifth consecutive year. It is also a pleasure to work with one of the capital’s leading theatre companies, Sherman Theatre, as we stage ‘Milwr yn y Meddwl’ at this year’s Eisteddfod.

 

With this year being the 40^th anniversary of the first performance (at the Cardiff National Eisteddfod, 1978) of ‘Y Tŵr’ by Gwenlyn Parry, one of the most iconic plays in the Welsh language, we warmly welcome the support given by the late writer’s Literary Estate to this year’s production. This support notes not only the significant 40^th anniversary, but also celebrates the contribution of Gwenlyn Parry to Welsh-language theatre, especially in the context of the National Eisteddfod. We are also delighted that this partnership between the Gwenlyn Parry Literary Estate and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru will continue for three years.”

 

Julia Barry, Executive Director of Sherman Theatre said:

 

“Sherman Theatre is proud to be working with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru on this co-production which brings together two of Wales’ major theatre companies. We are especially proud that this production will be a part of Wales’s most important festival and cultural celebration as it comes to our city this summer.”

 

To find out more about this production and to book tickets click here.