Thomas and Rachel Howells visit Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre to review Imrie by Nia Morais. As the play is in the Welsh medium with subtitles, we have provided a Welsh review (with an English translation below).
Cymraeg
Mae Imrie yn stori am hud a rhyfeddod i unrhyw un. Mae’n archwilio themâu gobaith, hunaniaeth, a brwydrau bod yn rhywun o’r tu allan. Mae cynllun y set yn olygfa i’w weld, yn eich cludo i fyd arall lle byddwch chi’n ymuno â dwy chwaer ar daith o hunan ddarganfyddiad. Gyda cherddoriaeth bwerus, mae Imrie yn bortread amrwd a gonest o’r profiad dynol, wedi’i edrych trwy lens hudolus.
Mae’r ysgrifenni yn bwerus gyda neges gyfareddol am deulu, hunaniaeth, a grym hud. Mae Nia Morais, Awdur Preswyl Theatr y Sherman, wedi ysgrifennu ei drama lawn gyntaf erioed, ac mae’n dyst i’w blynyddoedd o brofiad. Stori wedi’i llenwi â dyfyniadau rhyfeddol ddi-ri, rwy’n wirioneddol ddymuno pe bai gennyf gopi o’r sgript i allu llawenhau fy nghof a’i dyfynnu’n ddiddiwedd.
Mae’r ddrama yn hynod o ddramatig a phwerus, gyda chymeriadau y gellir eu cyfnewid a fydd yn atseinio gyda chynulleidfaoedd o bob oed, cyfeiriadedd rhywiol, hunaniaeth rhywedd ac ethnigrwydd. Mae Imrie yn stori gyda rhywbeth at ddant pawb, ac mae ei neges mor ingol fel y bydd yn aros gyda chi ymhell ar ôl i’r ddrama ddod i ben.
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet
Mae’r perfformiad yn dechrau gyda Laura (Elan Davies) yn siarad am sut mae wedi cael gwahoddiad i’r parti mawr sydd lawr ar y traeth. Josie (Rebecca Wilson) yw chwaer Laura sy’n dilyn hi i’r parti a’r ferch sy’n mynd ar y taith hunan darganfyddiad. Mae’r ddau actor yn cyfleu’r cymeriadau di-fai ac yn mynd a’r gynulleidfa ar daith emosiynol trwy’r perfformiad.
Yn ogystal, mae’r set Imrie yn olygfa i’w gweld. Mae thema’r traeth yn cael ei gweithredu’n ddi-ffael, gyda’r seiclorama yn cael ei ddefnyddio i greu golygfeydd di-ri hardd yn y dŵr sy’n cludo’r gynulleidfa i le tawel a llonydd. Ond yr hyn sy’n gosod y set yn wirioneddol ar wahân yw’r fframiau o LEDs sy’n ffinio â holl elfennau gwahanol y set. Mae’r fflachiadau golau hyn yn ychwanegu pwyslais ac yn creu effaith wirioneddol ac effeithiol sy’n wirioneddol drochi’r gynulleidfa ym myd y ddrama. Mae’r cyfuniad o thema’r traeth, seiclorama, a fframiau LED yn creu set wirioneddol fythgofiadwy sy’n sicr o adael argraff barhaol ar bawb sy’n ei weld.
I ychwanegu, mae’r gwisgoedd yn y sioe nid yn unig yn drawiadol yn weledol ond hefyd yn ychwanegu dyfnder ac ystyr i’r cymeriadau. Mae Josie yn cychwyn ar ei thaith yn gwisgo crys llewys hir streipiog, siaced, a throwsus brown baggy. Fodd bynnag, wrth iddi ddechrau canfod ei hun a chanolbwyntio arni ei hun, mae’n trawsnewid yn seiren gyda thop cnwd gwyrdd fflwroleuol yn symbol o’i cennau seiren. Mae’r wisg hon nid yn unig yn edrych yn drawiadol ond hefyd yn dangos i’r gynulleidfa nad yw Josie bellach yn ofni bod yn hi ei hun.
Mewn cyferbyniad, mae Laura yn dechrau gyda throwsus plaid a chrys-t syml ond yn y pen draw mae’n newid i dop cnwd porffor sy’n cyferbynnu gwyrdd Josie. Mae’r wisg hon yn arwydd o awydd Laura i fynd ar ôl poblogrwydd a chyd-fynd â’r dorf. Mae’r cyferbyniad rhwng y ddwy wisg nid yn unig yn ddeniadol yn weledol ond mae hefyd yn amlygu’r gwahaniaethau rhwng y ddau gymeriad a’u teithiau. Nid affeithiwr yn unig yw’r gwisgoedd yn Imrie ond maent yn rhan annatod o’r ddrama, gan ychwanegu dyfnder ac ystyr i’r cymeriadau a’u straeon.
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet 
Sherman Theatre and Fran Wen Theatre’s Imrie Written by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans, Photograph by Mark Douet
Roedd yn wych i weld capsiynau Saesneg a Chymraeg yn yr perfformiad. Mae’r capsiynnau yn agor y sioe i bawb i’w weld heb feddwl am iaith
Os nad ydych yn mynd i weld Beyonce byddwn yn awgrymu mynd i weld Imrie yn Theatr y Sherman.
Mae Imrie yn Theatr y Sherman tan 20fed o Fai 2023 ac yn mynd ar daith o gwmpas Cymru am fis.
English
Imrie is a story of magic and wonder for anyone. It explores themes of hope, identity, and the struggles of being an outsider. The set design is a sight to behold, transporting you to another world where you join two sisters on a journey of self-discovery. With powerful music, Imrie is a raw and honest portrait of the human experience, viewed through a magical lens.
The writing is strong containing a captivating message about family, identity, and the power of magic. Nia Morais, Writer in Residence at Theatr y Sherman, has written her first-ever full length play, and it is a testament to her years of experience. A story filled with countless amazing quotes, I really wish I had a copy of the script, so I could jog my memory and quote it endlessly.
The play is incredibly dramatic, with relatable characters that will resonate with audiences of all ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and ethnicities. Imrie is a story with something for everyone, and its message is so poignant that it will stay with you long after the curtains close.
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet.
The performance begins with Laura (Elan Davies) talking about how she has been invited to the big party down on the beach. Josie (Rebecca Wilson) is Laura’s sister who follows her to the party and the girl who goes on the journey of self-discovery. The two actors convey the flawless characters and take the audience on an emotional journey through the performance.
Additionally, the Imrie set is a sight to behold. The beach theme is executed flawlessly, with the cyclorama being used to create countless beautiful scenes in the water that transport the audience to a calm and peaceful place. But what really sets the set apart are the frames of LEDs that border all the different elements of the set. These flashes of light add emphasis and create an effect that immerse the audience in the world of the drama. The combination of the beach theme, cyclorama, and LED frames create a truly unforgettable set that is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who see it.
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet. 
Rehearsals for Imrie by Nia Morais, Directed by Gethin Evans and playing Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 11 – 20 May before touring Wales. Photo: Mark Douet.
The costumes in the show are visually impressive, adding depth and meaning to the characters. Josie sets off on her journey wearing striped long-sleeved shirt, jacket, and baggy brown trousers. However, as she begins to find herself and focus on herself, she transforms into a siren with a fluorescent green crop top symbolizing her siren lichen. The costume not only looks impressive but also shows the audience that Josie is no longer afraid to be herself.
In contrast, Laura starts with plaid trousers and a simple t-shirt but eventually changes to a purple crop top that contrasts Josie’s green. This outfit is a sign of Laura’s desire to chase popularity and fit in with the crowd. The contrast between the two outfits is not only visually appealing, but also highlights the differences between the two characters and their journeys. The costumes in Imrie are not just an accessory, but are an integral part of the play, adding depth and meaning to the characters and their stories.
It was great to see English and Welsh captions in the performance. The captions open the show for everyone to see without thinking about language.
If you want an alternative to Beyonce, I recommend seeing Imrie at Theatr y Sherman for this impactful live performance will never leave you.
Imrie is at Theatr y Sherman until the May 20, 2023 and is going on tour around Welsh venues for a month.
- For further details visit The Sherman Theatre website.