Richard Elfyn and  Eiry Thomas are in rehearsals for D.J.Britton’s new play Silverglass which has its pilot premiere at the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea on 13 September.

It’s drawn from the unlikely friendship between writers Rhys Davies and Anna Kavan. Davies was a master-craftsman of Welsh fiction, combining pin-point observation of Valleys life with a twinkling sense of comedy. Kavan wrote dark and troubled novels described by J.G. Ballard as “somewhere between poetry and madness”.

Each lived a life of self-invention, in which secrets, sexuality and deep questions of personal identity lurked constantly in the shadows. 

D.J. Britton’s high-energy play is set in the late 1960s when Davies’ late literary recognition and Kavan’s final tragedy came together like a thunderclap.

The production brings writer/directorDavid  Britton and BAFTA-winning actor Richard Elfyn back together following their success in 2012 with The Wizard the Goat and the Man Who Won the War.

This is a one-night only showing of the play, which will go into further development before a planned tour next year. The performance will be followed by a short discussion.

Note: It is not intended for children.

Silverglass is presented by Theatr Cadair in association with The Rhys Davies Trust and Literature Wales, and forms part of The Rhys Davies Short Story Conference (13-15 Sept). For further details visit: www.rhysdaviestrust.org