LAND OF OUR FATHERS | STAGE REVIEW
Chris Urch’s Land of Our Fathers wrapped up the first leg of its Welsh tour at the end of last month at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. The captivating play, set in the South Wales valleys during the rise of Thatcher’s government, delves into the intertwined lives of six men who are brought together by their mining backgrounds.
Echoing voices of the past, the production offers a glimpse of Welsh mining heritage, exploring the raw emotions and personal difficulties of each of the six characters as they’re faced with the prospect of being trapped below ground.
Whilst waiting to be rescued, amongst the laddish jokes about the country’s current predicament, the men ponder on their personal lives. Chewy (Taylor Jay-Davies) is convinced he’s going to start a new life in London whilst deputy, Chopper (Cornelius Booth) is determined to leave behind a mining legacy. Meanwhile, unlikely relationships blossom, particularly when legendary old-timer Bomber (John Cording) takes Mummy’s-boy Mostyn (Joshua Price) under his wing in a bid to turn him into a ‘real man’.
The second half of the play explores the more intricate relationships between the miners. Curly (Tomos Eames) and Chewy’s brotherhood is tested whilst Hovis (Robert Jezek) steps forward as the groups mediator. As their situation becomes increasingly more serious, each of the men are forced to decide between putting their differences aside and working together or facing their impending fears alone.
From the laugh-out-loud to the life-threateningly serious, each moment succeeds in evoking deep emotion from the audience who are drawn into the performance from the outset. Long periods of silence, extended blackouts and the claustrophobic, coal covered set aid in creating a painful sense of isolation that bonds the audience and characters whilst quality direction of an outstanding cast from Paul Robinson means that every scene is executed to perfection.
By combining questions of identity, raw emotion and personal predicaments, Land of Our Fathers undoubtedly succeeds as a heartfelt production which captures a beautiful piece of Welsh history and explores the magical sensation of what it means to be Welsh.
words HOLLY MORGAN
photos POLLY THOMAS