I was able to pursue my passion for photographing live performances with an invitation to capture a dress rehearsal of ‘Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du’. This Welsh language play was being performed at the Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli. The Ffwrnes is a favourite theatre of mine, I particularly enjoy the intimacy of the Stepni Stiwdio, which has seating for up to 100 people, with what they call ‘hovercraft technology’. However, for the performance of Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du the Crochan was employed, which fortunate for me has extensive floor to ceiling black curtains, this enabled me to attempt to create a studio-like background to some of the portraits.

As this rehearsal was in Welsh only, I only had my imagination to interpret the actors’ performance, which I found to be great fun. The full, live performance will include BSL and Sibrwd (whisper), so even I will be able to fully appreciate the storyline.

The costume wardrobe arrived during the actors’ interpretation of the writer’s plot, and it was fascinating to observe the actors’ trying-on the costumes and acting-out the character that the costume suggested to them, and then applying it to their role.

I really enjoyed my day with the cast and crew of Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du, it was a very relaxed and fun-filled atmosphere.

I would like to thank Ffion Glyn for producing the text and translation.

Prosiect Ymchwil a Datblygu oedd Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du, a gynhyrchwyd gan Theatrau Sir Gar. Yn ystod pythefnos oer yn mis Rhagfyr, bu’r tîm yn archwilio ac yn datblygu nifer o elfennau o’r gwaith, gan gynnwys cymeriadau, datblygu sgript, pypedau, cerddoriaeth, syniadau dylunio a dulliau amrywiol o ymdrin ag ymarfer cynhwysol, megis dehongli Iaith Arwyddo Prydain (BSL) a Sibrwd (app a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer y siaradwyr di-Gymraeg).

Mae’n 1348 ym Mhentreufargirec ac mae anhrefn newydd wedi dod i’r dref – y Pla. Mae Duw wedi bradychu’r bobl ac mae gwallgofrwydd o bwyntio bys, hela cathod a llosgi hereticiaid wedi boddi’r dref yn y toiled. I Twm y twyllwr, mae popeth yn gêm. Tra bod pobl yn marw, mae tir i’w brynu ac ysgol gymdeithasol i’w ddringo. Ond pan mae’n cwrdd â Chasglwr Trethi sy’n chwilio am gariad a gwerthwr tail chwyldroadol sy’n annog meddwl agored ymhlith y werin bobol, mae Twm yn sylweddoli bod y dringo i rym yn cynnwys llawer o rwystrau a fydd yn baglu hyd yn oed y twyllwyr mwyaf cyfrwys.

Dyma gomedi direidus yn y Gymraeg am y rhai sy’n elwa o argyfwng a’r rhai sy’n ysgogi newidiadau yn y system. Direidus, dadleuol, dychanol – croeso i’r Pla Du – does dim byd doniolach.

Gobaith Theatrau Sir Gar yw parhau i ddatblygu’r gwaith ac i deithio canolfannau Cymru gyda chynhyrchiad llawn o fewn y 18 mis nesaf.

Tîm Creadigol

Cast:                              Mari Beard; Carlie Enoch; Loan Gwyn; Glyn Pritchard

Awdur/Cyfarwyddwr:  Chris Harris

Dylunydd:                      Luned Gwawr Evans

Cerddoriaeth:                Lynwen Haf Roberts

Dramatwrg:                   Mary Davies

Cynhyrchydd:                Ffion Glyn

Gyda diolch i Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru am ariannu’r gwaith.

Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du (Scenes from the Plague) was a two-week Research and Development project produced by Theatrau Sir Gar. During the project, the team explored and developed numerous elements of the work, including characters, script development, puppetry, music, design ideas and various approaches to inclusive practice, such as BSL interpretation and Sibrwd (an app designed for non-Welsh speakers).

It’s 1348 in Pentreufargirec and a new chaos has come to town – Plague. God has betrayed the people and a frenzy of finger-pointing, cat-hunting, and heretic-burning has drowned the town in the toilet. For con-artist Twm, everything is ripe for the picking. Whilst people are dying, there’s land to buy and a social ladder to climb. However, when he comes across a Tax Collector searching for love and a revolutionary manure-seller spreading free-thinking amongst the working peasantry, Twm realises that the climb to power involves many obstacles that will trip up even the most conniving trickster.

This is a mischievous, black (death) comedy in Welsh about those who gain from crisis and those who empower change in the system. Mischievous, controversial, satirical – we welcome you to the Black Death – there’s nothing funnier.

Theatrau Sir Gar hopes to continue to develop the work and to bring a full production to Welsh venues within the next 18 months.

Creative Team

Cast:                            Mari Beard; Carlie Enoch; Loan Gwyn; Glyn Pritchard

Writer and Director:  Chris Harris

Designer:                    Luned Gwawr Evans

Composer:                 Lynwen Haf Roberts

Dramaturg:                Mary Davies

Producer:                   Ffion Glyn

With thanks to Arts Council Wales for funding the project.