National Theatre Wales

In Newport and Wrexham

The Dark Philosophers

November 2010

Based on the works of Gwyn Thomas
and TOLD BY AN IDIOT
with THE RIVERFRONT

Directed by
PAUL HUNTER

Written by
CARL GROSE & TOLD BY AN IDIOT

Designed by
ANGELA DAVIES

Lighting by
CERI JAMES

Music composed and directed by
IAIN JOHNSTONE

About the production

In November 2010, National Theatre Wales brought the dark comedic style of Gwyn Thomas back to the stage.

In partnership with Told by an Idiot and with the support of The Riverfront Newport, a cast of eight actors celebrated on of Wales' most distinctive voices of the last century.

What the critics said

The Guardian ****
"[a] theatrical patchwork quilt"
"an impressive piece"
Read the full review here

The Times ****

The Telegraph
"a fluid, dreamlike, communal experience"
"conjures the madcap energies and competing melancholies of a rain-sodden, downtrodden, hard-bitten folk."
Read the full review here

Western Mail ****
"a clever and original production"
Read the full review here

Buzz ****
"a vivid, visual, vital production"
Read the full review here

Video archive

From a sixty six year old man from the Rhondda wanting to be the new James Bond, to one minute videos with the cast and creative team, an online archive accompanied 'The Dark Philosophers, including interviews, trailers and more. Use the video player here to view more.

The Dark Philosopher

A 12 page newspaper was produced to accompany the show covering everything you need to know about Gwyn Thomas and The Dark Philosophers. You can read the digital edition here

A 'Late Edition' programme was also produced to accompany the show, with cast and creative team biographies, thank you's and more.
You can view this here

Gwyn Thomas, Fo a Fi

Llyfrgell fawr, a llyfrgell barchus
A’i chatalogau arferol hi’n
Rhai manwl, manwl a gofalus.
Ond cyfaill yno’n dangos imi
Fod ‘Gwyn Thomas y rhondda’,
Un nad oedd iaith gynhenid Gwalia
Y peth nesa at ei galon, wedi atgyfodi
A’i fod o, o gyfodi, wedi cyfansoddi
Dau lyfr cymraeg yr oedd eu hagweddau sylfaenol
Yn fflamgoch Gymreig ac yn genedlaethol.

I mi roedd hyn yn galonogol,
A gobeithiwn, rywdro yn y dyfodol,
Weld fy mod innau wedi ’nghatalogio
Fel un ffraeth, tafodrydd, doniol,
Ac yn awdur saesneg llon a gwefreiddiol.

Gwyn Thomas (Bardd)
Tachwedd 2010

Told by an Idiot

Founded in 1993, Told by an Idiot has established an international reputation for its startlingly original productions. The company produces work that is moving, comic and utterly theatrical and revels in a style of performance that is bigger than life. Using a wealth of imagery and a rich theatrical language they aim to tell stories that are accessible to all. Recent productions : The Fahrenheit Twins (co-produced with Drum Theatre Plymouth and commissioned by barbicanbite09 and unitytheatre), The Comedy of Errors (RSC), Beauty and the Beast (Lyric Hammersmith and Warwick Arts Centre) and Casanova, a collaboration with Carol Ann Duffy (co-produced with West Yorkshire Playhouse and Lyric Hammersmith).

toldbyanidiot.org

The Dark Philosophers Cast
(In alphabetical order.)

Alex Beckett
David Charles
Nia Davies
Ryan Hacker
Daniel Hawksford
Bettrys Jones
Glyn Pritchard
Laura Rogers