One of my favourite things about a national theatre is that they platform stories unique to the country that they are based in. National Theatre Scotland’s Black Watch and The James Plays really demonstrated the incredible richness and insight that a country’s national theatre company can bring to audiences from home and away. Gavin Porter’s production of Circle Of Fifths with National Theatre Wales also did this incredibly well. Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Parti Priodas is maybe not as ambitious as the plays I just mentioned, but it certainly captures something real and unique to Wales.
The story follows Lowri and Idris as they try to survive the wedding of Samantha and Dafydd, respectively Lowri’s brother and Idris’ childhood friend. Starting from the morning of the wedding and moving well into the night of the reception, the two have to navigate family drama, language barriers and the difficult task of coming to terms with change.
Parti Priodas is an incredibly fun night out. Gruffudd Owen’s writing is hilarious, helped by stellar performances from Mared Llewellyn and Mark Henry Davies. Director Steffan Donnelly keeps the staging simple, allowing the actors’ comedic talent to shine through. The show makes great use of the audience as space for mischief and fun without actually forcing anyone to get involved (and avoiding audience participation is something I’m always incredibly grateful for). If you’re lucky, you might get a glass of bubbly from the cast before the show.
Underneath the silliness and troublemaking, Owen also manages to hit on some hard truths. The exodus of young people from rural Wales to the cities, the over-powering influence of the English language and its speakers on Welsh culture, and the troubles that face the young, indigenous Welsh population are all explored with tenderness and pathos.
Idris’ alcoholism, brought on by loneliness and lack of a support network is a running issue throughout the play, and the space that Lowri occupies as a young woman in an agricultural landscape that values the abilities of men is explored well also. Particularly given the script’s comedic nature, it does a really good job of offering a fulfilling and emotive journey while also hitting some big belly laughs.
As I said, I think the strength of a national theatre company is that they can tell stories that no other nation can, because they have access to the people who experienced them first-hand. Theatr Genedlaethol have shown again and again that they understand that in recent years. We shouldn’t be afraid to platform our culture and experiences and, particularly as our English-language theatre scene is in some turmoil at the moment, I think we can – and should – look to our Welsh-language arts scene to teach us how to embrace who we are and the stories we have to tell.
While the Parti Priodas is predominantly in Welsh, English language translation is available throughout the tour. I think this will be a fun and energising night out for anyone who goes to see it; I can’t recommend it enough.
Parti Priodas, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, Wed 24 Apr
Also at this venue on Fri 26 Apr (tickets: £8-£16. Info: here); on tour across Wales until Sat 18 May (info: here)
words HARI BERROW
