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Under Milk Wood
6th August 2019 - 9th August 2019
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Malvern Theatres Young Company, directed by Nic Lloyd, returns with Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood. This funny and poignant portrait of a Welsh seaside town has always resonated with readers and audiences, thanks to the universality of its characters, exquisitely lyrical language and vivid sense of location.
In a first for the company, the production will be staged entirely ‘in the round’ with seating on all sides.
Established in 2012, Malvern Theatres Young Company gives aspiring young actors the opportunity to perform in a professional environment.
Under Milk Wood will open in Malvern before transferring to the Edinburgh Fringe for six further performances.
This production has been kindly supported by Malvern Theatres Association.
Running time: approx. 75 minutes, no interval.
This amateur production of “Under Milk Wood (The Definitive Edition)” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH LTD.
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Event Reviews
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Choice Radio Worcester
Originally written as a play for radio (commissioned by the BBC no less) and completed just before his death in 1953, it may seem a little strange to perform Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood on the stage as it is indeed a "play for voices". One thing which director (and Malvern Theatres Chief Executive) Nic Lloyd had to consider was how best to do this to make the most of the talents of the Malvern Theatres Young Company whilst giving the audience an experience which was more than a reading of the script.
The answer? Do it "in the round" (or, in reality, on a relatively small square surrounded on four sides by the audience with just a lobster pot as a prop). And what about the fact the play delves into the lives of the individual inhabitants of the small Welsh town, meaning only one or two would be active at any one time whilst all are on stage with nowhere to hide? Simple - their conversation complete, the actors fall to the ground only to re-awaken when their character is needed again. Clever stuff and it certainly keeps the cast on their toes having to perform to an audience on all sides.
The story - via three narrators - tells the story of a day in the life of the inhabitants of the fictional Welsh town of Llareggub (go on, read it backwards - you know you want to!). The names Thomas has given to these people are funny in themselves - Mrs Dai Bread 1 (and 2), Mr Willy Nilly, Captain Cat, No Good Boyo - with others simply described by their activity or fate - first drinker, second drowned, etc. There's the typical gossip which runs through every town and village, the inevitable involvement of the clergy and even a schoolmaster, Mr Pugh, who dreams of poisoning his domineering wife and reads a book entitled "Lives of the Great Poisoners" whilst eating his evening meal with Mrs. Pugh...
In fact, there are well over 50 characters waiting to be portrayed by the young cast of twelve. And without exception, they performed their parts with confidence and the complexity of the mix of different characters was easy to follow.
Like their successful presentation of Antigone last summer, after the run at Malvern (it finishes on Friday and is free to see, with donations suggested), they will be taking it up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, bringing it and the actors to the attention of a very cosmopolitan and international audience.
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Robin
Superb production, great voices well presented once again been coming since 2013 and enjoy every show Brilliant and good luck for Edinburgh
