Weymouth group to bring Dylan Thomas masterpiece to life (From Dorset Echo)

Weymouth group to bring Dylan Thomas masterpiece to life

3:00pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

IT IS described as a play for voices but now a Weymouth group is attempting to bring a more physical version of Dylan Thomas’s masterpiece Under Milk Wood to the stage.

And local people are being given the chance to get involved to help bring the magical story to life at the Old Town Hall.

The production will be the first to involve the Guardians of the Old Town Hall, the group which took over the historic building last year with the view of transforming it into an arts and heritage centre.

The building, opposite the Boot Inn, has been the focus for re-enactment events to commemorate the Battle of Weymouth.

A carnival club meets there regularly and a band of volunteers come together every Wednesday and Thursday to continue refurbishing the building.

For the Under Milk Wood project they have teamed up with Dorset-born actor Jackie Avery.

The production will be an ‘experiment in physical theatre’ featuring music and video.

In Jackie’s interpretation the barriers are removed between audience and actors.

She believes the play’s poetic language lends itself perfectly to physical theatre – an innovative theatre form in which the body helps to tell the story.

Jackie, who teaches at Weymouth College, feels ‘excited and nervous’ in her directorial debut.

She said: “We’ve welcomed theatre companies and events to Weymouth and I thought it would be great to have something home-grown.

“Bringing stories to life is a passion of mine and we’re lucky to be able to use the incredible space at the Old Town Hall.”

For one of the town hall guardians, Martin Hedley, Under Milk Wood is an appropriate choice as he grew up near Laugharne, the Welsh town which was probably the inspiration for the people in the play.

Mr Hedley said: “I love Jackie’s take on the play because it’s inclusive and pertinent.

“The play explores the everyday lives of people but in a voyeuristic way. It exposes character and psyche in a way people would rather keep to themselves.”

An open workshop will be held at the Old Town Hall on Saturday, March 27, from noon-3pm and people with an interest in different styles of theatre are welcome to attend.

The production requires a cast of six actors with a range of ages who will play multiple characters.

Volunteers interested in helping with set and costume are also welcome.

Rehearsals will start in April and the show is in September.

For more information contact Jackie on 07588 721374 or email jaxdelite@hotmail.co.uk