National Theatre Wales with / gyda Wales Millennium Centre /Chanolfan Mileniwm Cymru

Written by / ysgrifennwyd gan Patrick Jones

Directed by / cyfarwyddwyd gan Matthew Dunster

 

Production dates:

Rehearsals start 25 April 2016 (Cardiff)

Previews 27 - 30 May 2016

Press night 31 May 2016

Last performance 11 June 2016

Dyddiadau’r Cynhyrchiad:

Ymarferion yn dechrau 25 Ebrill 2016 (Caerdydd)

Rhagddangosiadau 27 - 30 Mai 2016

Noson y wasg 31 Mai 2016

Perfformiad olaf 11 Mehefin 2016

 

Venue / Lleoliad: Sherman Theatre, Cardiff / Theatr y Sherman, Caerdydd 

 

A big, brand new and memorable play with music, written by Tredegar-born poet and playwright Patrick Jones.

 

Collective memory battles with personal struggles as a choir of men and women living with dementia clash and bond over some of south Wales’ defining stories (including the 1984 miners’ strike) Can the choir provide hope, meaning and solidarity in a society facing food banks, social welfare cuts and inequality?

A funny, moving and ultimately uplifting production featuring covers of well-known songs by artists ranging from Tom Jones to the Sex Pistols.

With new music by Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers.

Drama a sioe gfawr, newydd a chofiadwy gyda cherddoriaeth, wedi’i ysgrifennu gan y bardd a’r dramodydd o Dredegar, Patrick Jones.

Atgofion torfol yn brwydro ag ymdrechion personol wrth i gôr o ddynion a menywod sy’n byw gyda dementia wrthdaro ac agosáu dros rai o straeon pwysicaf de Cymru – yn cynnwys streic y glowyr yn 1984. A all y côr gynnig gobaith, ystyr ac undod mewn cymdeithas sy’n wynebu banciau bwyd, toriadau mewn lles cymdeithasol ac anghydraddoldeb?

Cynhyrchiad doniol, teimladwy a chalonogol newydd yn cynnwys fersiynau o ganeuon adnabyddus gan Tom Jones a’r Sex Pistols.

Gyda cherddoriaeth newydd gan Nicky Wire a James Dean Bradfield o’r Manic Street Preachers.

 

“I'm sat in on a choir rehearsal on a cold, wet, winter Thursday in Merthyr Rugby Club. A hubbub of talk. Noise. Teacups. The news is full of suicide bombings, child abduction, the extreme religious right, David Cameron and George Osborne. I am losing the will to live. The choir leader, guitarist and singer strike up ‘You'll Never Walk Alone'. The choir inhales and start to sing. Members know every word.

 

I am overwhelmed. Uncontrollably, I feel tears well in my eyes. I gulp. As I look around I see feet tapping, shoulders swaying, hands holding, eyes shining.

This is Cwm Taf Choir, made up of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia and their carers. No, it can't be. People with Alzheimer's fade away in nursing homes, are incapable of moving, cannot speak let alone sing, don't they?

 

I look around. See the stories flicker before my eyes. Feel the spirits lift. Hear the words live.

This is a story that desperately needs to be told. So I’m telling it…”

Patrick Jones

 

Writer Patrick Jones’ plays include Everything Must Go, Unprotected Sex, Revelation and Deliver Us From Evil. His books include The Guerilla Tapestry, Fuse and Darkness is Where the Stars Are. His CDs include Commemoration and Amnesia and Tongues for a Stammering Time. Patrick toured with Billy Bragg in 2009 for his 25th anniversary tour of The Miner's Strike, and wrote an updated version of Idris Davies' The Bells of Rhymney for Radio 4/Radio Wales' The Sad Bells of Rhymney. He has been poet in residence at Velindre Hospital in Cardiff and was recently involved in poetry projects at Greenhill Manor Nursing Home (Specialist Care for Dementia patients) and Talygarn Mental Health Unit as well as working in Swansea, Usk and Parc Prisons. Patrick has also worked alongside Hafan Cymru, The Alzheimer's Society and St David's Foundation Hospice Care.

Mae dramâu’r awdur Patrick Jones yn cynnwys Everything Must Go, Unprotected Sex, Revelation and Deliver Us From Evil. Mae ei lyfrau yn cynnwysThe Guerilla Tapestry, Fuse and Darkness is Where the Stars Are. Mae ei CDs yn cynnwysCommemoration and Amnesia a Tongues for a Stammering Time. Teithiodd Patrick gyda Billy Bragg yn 2009 ar gyfer ei daith 25 mlwyddiant o The Miner's Strike, ac ysgrifennodd fersiwn wedi’i diweddaru o waith Idris Davies The Bells of Rhymney  i Radio 4/The Sad Bells of Rhymney Radio Wales. Mae wedi bod yn fardd preswyl yn Ysbyty Felindre yng Nghaerdydd ac yn ddiweddar bu’n cymryd rhan mewn prosiectau barddoniaeth yng Nghartref Nyrsio Greenhill Manor (Gofal Arbenigol i gleifion â Gorffwylltra) ac Uned Iechyd Meddwl Talygarn yn ogystal â gweithio yng Ngharchardai Abertawe, Brynbuga a Pharc. Mae Patrick hefyd wedi gweithio ochr yn ochr â Hafan Cymru, Cymdeithas Alzheimer a St David’s Foundation Hospice Care.

 

PLEASE NOTE: As per NTW’s Casting Policy, all actors must be either Welsh, Wales based or trained professionally in Wales.

SYLWER: YN UNOL Â PHOLISI CASTIO NTW, RHAID I’R HOLL ACTORION FOD NAILL AI YN GYMRY, YN BYW YNG NGHYMRU NEU WEDI’U HYFFORDDI’N BROFFESIYNOL YNG NGHYMRU.

 

Roles / Rolau:

SCOTT (Male / Dyn)

Age 30. Young, idealistic social services support worker based in the community. Runs the choir group for people with dementia and Alzheimers at the Rugby Club. Long suffering, sardonic. Singing, guitar and keyboards needed. Will supplement the choir.

Oed 30. Gweithiwr cymorth gwasanaethau cymdeithasol ifanc delfrydyddol yn gweithio yn y gymuned. Yn rhedeg y grŵp côr i bobl â dementia ac Alzheimers yn y Clwb Rygbi.  Blinedig, gwawdlyd. Angen canu, gitâr ac allweddellau. Yn ategu’r côr.

 

ISABELLE (Female / Menyw)

Age 70. Needs to be a very good singer. Suffers from dementia. Easily knocked off course. Bird like, timid, nervous. Part of the choir.

Oed 70. Angen bod yn gantores dda iawn. Dioddef o ddementia. Cael ei bwrw oddi ar ei hechel yn hawdd iawn. Fel aderyn, ofnus, nerfus. Aelod o’r côr.

 

ROCKY (Male / Dyn)

Age 70. Stout, stocky man. Needs to be a good singer - part of the choir. An organiser, likes to take charge. Lively, sexy. Left wing ex-miner, suffering from Alzheimers and thinks it’s still 1980s. Asthmatic.

Oed 70. Dyn cadarn, tew. Angen iddo fod yn ganwr da – aelod o’r côr. Trefnydd, hoffi arwain pethau. Bywiog, rhywiol. Cyn löwr adain chwith, yn dioddef o Alzheimers ac yn meddwl mai’r 1990au yw hi o hyd. Dioddef o asthma.

 

EVAN (Male / Dyn)

Age 70. Has a lovely voice, needs to be a very good singer - part of the choir. Retired policeman. Knows Rocky from the miners strike in the 80s. Has dementia/ Alzheimers. Has to do some quite heavy swearing at one point! Stalwart, sympathetic. Father of Gemma.

Oed 70. Ganddo lais hyfryd, angen bod yn ganwr da iawn - aelod o’r côr. Plisman wedi ymddeol.
Yn adnabod Rocky o streic y glowyr yn yr 80au. Ganddo ddementia/ Alzheimers. Gorfod rhegi llawer ar un pwynt! Cadarn, llawn cydymdeimlad. Tad Gemma.

 

MARJORIE (Female / Menyw)

Age 70. Fantastic mezzo soprano, but struggles to find her singing voice until the end of the play. Retired Librarian. Middle class. Intelligent, perceptive. Part of the choir

Oed 70. Mezzo soprano ardderchog, ond cael trafferth darganfod ei llais canu tan ddiwedd y ddrama. Llyfrgellydd wedi ymddeol. Dosbarth canol.  Deallus, craff. Aelod o’r côr.

 

JOE  (Male / Dyn)

Age 55. Suffering from early onset Alzheimers. Nervous, timid. Very much in love with his wife, Dyanne. Needs to be a brilliant singer. Part of the choir.

Oed 55. Dioddef o Alzheimers cynnar. Nerfus, ofnus. Caru ei wraig, Dyanne. Angen iddo fod yn ganwr gwych. Aelod o’r côr.

 

DYANNE (Female / Menyw)

Age 55, Joe’s loving wife. Needs to be a very good singer. Part of the choir.

Oed 55, gwraig gariadus Joe. Agen iddi fod yn gantores dda iawn. Aelod o’r côr.

 

SIOBHAN (Female / Menyw)

Mid 50s. Social services manager for the elderly. She is very business like and carries an air of authority. Needs to be a good singer. Will supplement the choir.

50au canol. Rheolwr gwasanaethau cymdeithasol i’r oedrannus. Person busnes, awdurdodol. Angen iddi fod yn gantores dda. Bydd yn ategu’r côr. 

 

GEMMA / POLICE OFFICER / SWYDDOG YR HEDDLU (Female / Menyw)

Gemma is Evan’s 40 year old daughter. Sees Evan as a burden and is trying to prove he can’t cope at home so she can move him to a nursing home. Takes advantage of his dementia and steals money from him. Hits Evan. Needs to be a good singer. Will supplement the choir.

Gemma yw merch Evan. Mae hi’n 40 oed. Yn gweld Evan fel baich ac yn ceisio profi nad yw e’n gallu ymdopi gartref er mwyn iddi allu ei symud i mewn i gartref nyrsio. Manteisio ar ei ddementia ac yn dwyn arian oddi wrtho. Yn taro Evan. Angen iddi fod yn gantores gref. Yn ategu’r côr.

 

SOCIAL WORKER / GWEITHIWR CYMDEITHASOL / ASHLEY/ BAILIFF / BEILI (Male / Dyn)

Age 50. Ashley is middle aged, smartly dressed, show director. Needs to be a good singer. Will supplement the choir.

Oed 50. Mae Ashley yn ganol oed, wedi’i wisgo’n smart, cyfarwyddwr sioeau. Angen iddo fod yn ganwr da. Bydd yn ategu’r côr. 

 

FATIMAH/ ISABELLE’S CARER / BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT RUNNER / POLICE OFFICER (Female / Menyw)

FATIMAH/ GOFALWR ISABELLE / RHEDWR AR BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT / SWYDDOG YR HEDDLU

Age 20s. Fatimah works for the Equalities Unit at the local council. Upset and offended by Evan’s swearing. Needs to be a good singer. Will supplement the choir.

Oed 20au. Mae Fatimah yn gweithio i’r Uned Cydraddoldebau yn y cyngor lleol. Ddim yn hoffi rhegi Evan. Angen iddi fod yn gantores dda. Bydd yn ategu’r côr. 

ISABELLE'S DISINTERESTED CARE ASSISTANT  / BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT FLOOR MANAGER / POLICE OFFICER / BAILIFF 
CYNORTHWYYDD GOFAL DI-HID ISABELLE  / RHEOLWR LLAW BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT / SWYDDOG YR HEDDLU / BEILI (Male / Dyn)

Age 40s. Needs to be a good singer. Will supplement the choir.

Oed 40au. Angen iddo fod yn ganwr da. Bydd yn ategu’r côr. 

Please send your CV and headshot (and tell us a bit about you) to:

casting@nationaltheatrewales.org

 

Anfonwch eich CV a llun o’r pen/ysgwyddau (a dywedwch rywbeth amdanoch chi’ch chi wrthon ni) i:

casting@nationaltheatrewales.org