Play about rugby invites sports fans to give theatre a TRY
Fly Half tells the story of the trials and tribulations of a rugby player from South Wales. Set in an industrial town, this play is a celebration of working class families who head out to the match each week, stand pitch side with pride, supporting their local team. Fly Half has just one actor, Gary Lagden, with original songs created and performed by rock musician, Gareth Moulton (Cutting Crew, Wang Chung). Directed by critically acclaimed director, Geoff Bullen.
|| Book online for Macclesfield Nov 14th ||
This is the first play penned by Gary Lagden, an actor from South Wales, who graduated from RADA in the mid 90’s. Supported by public funding via Arts Council England, Fly Half is touring rugby clubs and theatre venues nationwide. Gary says; ‘We want to reach as many rugby players and supporters who love the game, but might not consider themselves to be theatre go-ers, to come along and give it a try, which is why we are excited to bring the play to Macclesfield Rugby Club which also happens to be Gareth, our musicians, home town.’
The play was first performed at Gary’s home town rugby club, Aberavon, in Port Talbot, the town in South Wales that is just as famous for the prestigious actors it has produced, as it is for its steel. Fly Half then went onto open this year’s RADA Festival with two sold out performances at The Gielgud Theatre at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London. It is at these performances in June, where Gary received the five star review;
|| Book online for Macclesfield Nov 14th ||
Paul T Davies, begins his piece with a warning that, ‘…it contains Welsh sentimentality, with no apologies.’ He goes onto compare Gary’s playwriting to Dylan Thomas and his voice to that of the great, late, Richard Burton. He says, ‘the play is about Wales, rugby, and, in particular, the community that the sport fosters and encourages. Simple, it may be, but Lagden’s script is collieries deep…see it if you can’
Five Star Review – www.britishtheatre.com
Article by Wales Online: – Wales online
