Four years on from the launch of GRAV at Parc-Y-Scarlets, Llanelli, the remarkable one-man show has seen no shortage of milestones – However, Monday 18 February is a date that will remain in the hearts and minds of all involved for years to come.
The Torch Theatre Company transformed the away (England) changing room into a theatre for the emotional and heartfelt one-man production GRAV; a show which explores the life and times of Ray Gravell, one of Wales’ most loved sons.
Playwright Owen Thomas who wrote GRAV described the night as “the proudest night of [his] playwriting career.”
Directed by the Torch Theatre’s Artistic Director, Peter Doran, and starring Gareth J Bale, GRAV was performed to the Welsh squad and coaching staff including Warren Gatland, Alun Wyn Jones, Shaun Edwards, Neil Jenkins, Robin McBride, Leigh Halfpenny, Gareth Davies, George North and Ken Owens.
Ken Owens and Robin McBryde were reduced to tears as they watched the emotional, patriotic one-man play.
“The play was very good – it was powerful, the boys that went certainly enjoyed it, it definitely showed the pride that Grav had and we all have in Wales,” mentioned Wales star George North.
“I could hear ‘Muckers’ (McBryde) champing at the bit in the end. Muckers and Ken were both crying”
Former Llanelli captain Robin McBryde was a close friend of Ray Gravell had been particularly touched by the performance. He went on to say
“…It put us in a really good place mentally wise and we should have played straight after it. “If we can in any way match Gareth Bale’s performance on Saturday, it doesn’t matter if the roof is open or closed, there will only be one result.”
Gareth J Bale with Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens.
The Torch Theatre’s Artistic Director, Peter Doran describes the experience:
“It was truly a great honour to perform in front of such an illustrious audience – heroes all!
In the play, Gareth as Grav, talks about what it’s like to put on a Welsh Jersey and perform in front of the home crowd, not many of the 10,000 people who have seen our production to date could relate to that but here we were playing to a whole audience who knew exactly what we were talking about. Incredible.”
For actor Gareth J Bale, the show, while always an emotional performance, had special significance and is an experience he will never forget. Inspired by his Father to ‘always chase lost causes’, Gareth had taken a different direction early on in life, becoming an actor, despite dreams of playing Rugby for Wales – “I was decent…Decent isn’t good enough. I was crushed.”
“Yesterday I played Ray Gravell in front of Mari (Ray’s Widow), Manon, Gwenan (Ray’s Daughters), my family and the Welsh Rugby squad in a changing room at the National Stadium. It’s the closest I will ever get to playing for Wales. I played a hero. Told his story. Pulled on his shirt. It was an honour and it’ll stay with me forever.”
The Torch Theatre Company Production GRAV tours into March across Wales before a run at London’s Hope Theatre on 17, 18, 24 & 25 March.
GRAV – Production Tour 2019
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff
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Thursday 28 February & Friday 1 March
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rwcmd.ac.uk | 02920 391391
The Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot
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Wednesday 6 March
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princessroyaltheatre.com | 01639 763214
Lyric, Carmarthen
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Thursday 7 March
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theatrausirgar.co.uk | 03452 263510
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
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Tuesday 12 March
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aberystwythartscentre.co.uk | 01970 623232
The Welfare, Ystradgynlais
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Wednesday 13 March
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thewelfare.co.uk | 01639 843163
The Riverfront, Newport
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Thursday 14 March
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newportlive.co.uk | 01633 656757
Theatr Felinfach
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Friday 15 March
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theatrfelinfach.cymru | 01570 470697
The Hope Theatre, Islington – London
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Sunday 17, Monday 18, Sunday 24 & Monday 25 March
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thehopetheatre.com | 0333 666 3366
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For more information and to book tickets visit http://torchtheatre.co.uk/ or call the Box Office on 01646 695267.