Off the back of Theatr Cymru, Wales’ number one Welsh-language theatre makers, doing the unprecedented and scooping an award for their hit spring play Parti Priodas, Hari Berrow salutes the work done by this Carmarthen-based company as they announce a full programme for 2025.
Here she is, president of Theatr Cymru’s fan club, back to talk about why they’re so amazing – with particular reference to their hit production from earlier this year, Parti Priodas. The play (‘Wedding Party’ in English) follows Idris and Lowri as they coped with the wedding day of Dafydd – Idris’ best friend and Lowri’s brother – and Samantha, his English fiancée.
Hilarious, honest and heartfelt, Parti Priodas manages to cover everything from alcoholism to gentrification without ever coming off as preachy. In October, it won a UK Theatre Award, for Excellence In Touring: a play whose dialogue is almost exclusively in Welsh winning on a UK-wide, which is to say English-language, level is kind of a huge deal.
Welsh is a minority language in the UK, with roughly 1% of British people speaking it to some degree – by no means all of those will be fluent or native speakers. Before I started learning it two years ago, I’ll admit to harbouring scepticism about elements of the language: how gatekeep-y some of its proponents can be; how certain jobs are locked behind what resembles a postcode lottery; an elitism inherent to the cost, in terms of both finance and time, of learning Welsh. Lots of young people just don’t get enough education to speak it fluently from school alone.
Yet, if there are flaws with how Wales navigates its own language, particularly in the south where I live, accessing it has opened up a part of our collective culture to this writer. Theatr Cymru – founded in 2003, and known as Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru until announcing a change of name in November – has been essential in opening the door to Welsh language culture for thousands of audience members like me.
One important development is Sibrwd, the company’s own translation app which theatregoers can access via speech or text as the play is taking place. It offers non-speakers, or learners like me, an opportunity to enjoy Welsh-language theatre without feeling isolated or left out. It certainly seems likely that Sibrwd was a factor in Parti Priodas’ UK Theatre Awards success.
Of course, the show had myriad merits of its own, regardless of language. Gruffudd Owen’s script was as bold as it was empathetic, and Mark Henry Davies and Mared Llewelyn’s performances were outstanding: energetic, emotive and engaging. However, Theatr Cymru’s work overall – with Welsh and English speakers alike – has culminated in a moment as significant (if not as full of fanfare) as the success of Gary Owen’s Iphigenia In Splott, which won Best New Play at the same awards in 2015.
Something in the Welsh language has been recognised as offering something of wider cultural significance. After years of being the afterthought, or the butt of the joke, the Welsh are finally taking ownership of the way they are represented. What’s more, Welsh language theatre is no longer just for Welsh-speakers. Our culture doesn’t need to be divided by understanding: a national company is making theatre for all of us.
Theatr Cymru: the year ahead
The company’s maiden production since changing their name from Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru will be Mared Jarman’s Byth Bythoedd Amen. A play written from the disabled perspective, with its protagonists navigating life in a world geared towards the able-bodied, it tours Wales from Sat 25 Jan to Thurs 13 Feb (see here for the full dates).
In May, a familiar face on the Welsh standup circuit makes his playwright bow with Tudur Owen’s Huw Fyw. Bethan Marlow’s recent Brên. Calon. Fi is revived in June, before the company present new comedy work at August’s Eisteddfod in Wrexham. In autumn, Romeo & Juliet will be adapted by J.T. Jones, its action now taking place in Wales with bilingual dialogue, and Theatr Cymru will work with Sherman Theatre on a Christmas show to launch around this time in 2025.
Before that, on Sun 8 Dec
Info: theatr.cymru
words HARI BERROW
On Sun 8 Dec at 9pm, S4C will broadcast a performance of Parti Priodas. It’ll be avaialble on demand from this date via S4C Clic, iPlayer and other platforms, as will a performance of Rhinoseros, a Theatr Cymru production from 2023. Find out more here.
