“All rise!”
In The Trial Of Elgan Jones, you are the jury in the case of 14-year-old Elgan, a young man accused of poaching, theft and murder. Aimed at audiences across the Key Stages, the show allows children and young people the opportunity to learn about Victorian history, the justice system, and emotional and interpersonal intelligence. Theatr na nÓg gave Buzz the opportunity to attend a showing of the play for industry professionals and educators, so I didn’t get the opportunity to see young people’s responses to the show, but I did get a chance to enjoy the show for myself.
Entering the theatre, you move back in time – Kitty Callister’s set is not just beautiful but immersive, with the audience sitting on pews and the design even extending to the smells inside the room. Two jurors stand to greet you, and then the judge enters, and the trial has begun.
The play itself is the ideal balance of humour and serious inquiry for a young audience. You’re introduced to the way audience participation works through the hilarious trial of a young man accused of stealing a sheep. This allows the audience to understand how they will function as the jury (through a group discussion, fed back by one member of the audience in each section) and introduces you to the way the play works as a whole.
The set functions as many different things within the play – a court, a jail cell, and the gardens and rooms of the manor where Elgan is supposed to have committed his crimes. Light, sound and costume, as well as effective multi-roling takes the audience to many different places and allows them to meet many different characters, sometimes from multiple points of view. From a less skilled team, this may be confusing for adults, let alone children, but Geinor Styles’ effective writing and direction moves us deftly through the narrative. The thing I find most impressive about Styles’ work is that it never patronises; bolstering complex and technical language with clear concepts and instructions so that young audiences feel like they are being challenged while also remaining entertained and engaged.
Morgan Llewellyn Jones is excellent and empathetic as Elgan Jones, and hilarious as the doddery Mrs Protheroe. Llinos Daniels’ skilful multi-roling transports the audience, guiding them through Elgan’s many encounters, and offering key moments of light and shade in the work. Richard Nichols is a deft host, managing the audience through his role as judge and providing some wickedly funny moments.
Designed with educators to compliment the curriculum, the show itself extends far beyond the hour in the theatre. The company provides an app with resources and lesson plan ideas for children and teachers to access, and visits to museums in the local area. Teachers are offered the opportunity to use the show to cover many different aspects of the curriculum, from literacy and drama to history and science.
Na nÓg’s commitment to accessibility is also admirable. The show is available in both English and Welsh, children are offered a cool down area with activities and a read-along version of the play should they need to leave the performance, and previews are available so teachers can understand the content and prepare classes ahead of attending the show.
The Trial Of Elgan Jones does something that is very hard to achieve: be both entertaining and educational at the same time. All of Welsh theatre could learn something from Theatr na nÓg, particularly when it comes to making the theatrical experience last after you leave the room (something essential should the trend of creating difficult, issue-based work continue). If your child is going to see this show, you should be very, very jealous.
The Trial Of Elgan Jones, Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea, Wed 19 Oct
On until Fri 28 Oct (performed in English) and from Wed 9-Fri 18 Nov (in Welsh). Info: here
words HARI BERROW