NATIONAL THEATRE WALES
Watch the year two trailer

In village halls across Wales

THE VILLAGE SOCIAL

October/November 2011

Created by
DAFYDD JAMES and BEN LEWIS

Designed by
CAI DYFAN

Lighting Design by
COLIN GRENFELL

Sound Design by
ELENA PENA

Cast
CARYS ELERI, REBECCA HARRIES, DARREN LAWRENCE, GWYDION RHYS, SUE RODERICK, OLIVER WOOD

About the Production

In October and November 2011, National Theatre Wales took its first musical on the road to village halls across Wales.

After unfortunate recent events, the village hall played host to a much-needed fundraising evening of fun and jollity as the winter nights drew in. Music and entertainment from local talent preceded the main attraction - a clairvoyant who promised to put the villagers in touch with spirits from beyond the grave.

Loosely inspired by Euripides' The Bacchae, and created by Ben Lewis and Dafydd James, the evening's delights included entry into the raffle, a refreshment of your choice and a depraved orgy of blood.

Photographs of the audience were taken across the whole tour. You can view the albums on our Facebook page.

What the critics said

The Guardian
“joyously bonkers… so daft, it's almost sane”
“the theatrical equivalent of Tourette syndrome”
“good dirty fun, smartly delivered”
Read the full review here

BBC Radio Cymru (Catrin Beard ar Dewi Llwyd ar Fore Sul)
“Noson o adloniant llawn hwyl annisgwyl dros ben”

The Stage
“a deliciously dark oddball hit”
“[a] truly inventive, enjoyable piece of musical theatre from two of our rising stars”
Read the full review here

The Big Issue *****
Read the full review here

The Sunday Times
"In its short history, National Theatre Wales has acquired a talent for coming up with the unexpected, and this bizarre entertainment by Dafydd James and Ben Lewis... is no exception."

“a highly original piece of work… demented”

The Observer
“a rampaging musical”

“Startling and enjoyable and a counterblast to high art. Isn't this what a national theatre should do: scoop you up and surprise you with the variety of its productions?”
Read the full review here

Production images

Photographer: Farrows Creative

Loosely inspired by Euripides' The Bacchae, and created by Ben Lewis and Dafydd James, the evening's delights included entry into the raffle, a refreshment of your choice and a depraved orgy of blood.