Sherman Cymru, Cardiff
Thurs 17-Fri 18 May
Alongside the great and the good Hollywood stars, the shy Welsh minister’s daughter that was Rachel Roberts, became a Bafta winning, Oscar nominated actress. Who’s Afraid Of Rachel Roberts is the latest production from Torch Theatre Company.
Written by another award winning actress, Helen Griffin, who explains that the play sets out to remind us that “Rachel was her own worst enemy… but her biggest redeeming feature [was] her sense of humour. Even in her darkest, bleakest moments, she could make you laugh” Helen promises the show will be a “wild and bumpy ride” as she tackle’s this fascinating story.
Rachel Roberts could have remained a Hollywood star but instead she spiralled into a life fuelled by booze and drugs, a far cry from her humble upbringing as the daughter of a Baptist Minister in Llanelli. She studied acting at RADA, going on to win two Evening Standard Best Actress Awards, three BAFTAs and to be Oscar-nominated twice, making her name in the black and white ‘kitchen-sink’, ground-breaking British films such as This Sporting Life and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Just why did she leave such a trail of broken relationships, awards and problems behind?
The audience won’t need to know who Roberts was to enjoy the show as Helen explains further: “the themes in her life and in our play – an obsession with celebrity, an addiction to alcohol, an inability to let go of a lost love – are eternal and perhaps more relevant than ever today.” Drawing from her past however, Roberts took a deep sense of discipline from her upbringing, enabling her to function as a serious actress.
Tickets: £12-£20 Info: 029 2064 6900 / www.shermancymru.co.uk.