A superbly written tribute to one of the worst tragedies in Welsh history.
On the 21st of October, 1966, an unthinkable tragedy struck the close-knit Welsh mining village of Aberfan when a colliery spoil tip collapsed, sending 150,000 tonnes of coal barrelling down the mountain and claiming the lives of 116 children and 28 adults. In the aftermath of what is still regarded as the worst mining-related disaster in British history, the Aberfan disaster not only left its physical marks on the village but permanently and irrevocably scarred its inhabitants. With ‘Mr Jones: An Aberfan Story’, its writer, Liam Holmes, not only pays tribute to those 144 lives lost in the disaster but creates an incredibly emotional and compelling narrative centering on the lives of Stephen Jones (played by Liam Holmes) and Angharad Price (played by Rhiannydd Andrews).
Stephen Jones is introduced to us as a talented young football player with dreams of one day playing for Wales. Holmes is a truly phenomenal talent, delivering an incredibly nuanced and raw performance that indicates the future successes awaiting him in the performance industry. He embodied the character with such effortless authenticity that it was sometimes easy to forget that I was watching an actor and not a real person. The progression of the character throughout the play is written and acted beautifully and only furthered the impact of the devastation, as a bereft Stephen attempts to navigate loss and change as his whole world is permanently and irrevocably altered in a matter of hours. Playing Angharad Price, the compassionate and driven nurse that consistently features as one of the most central characters in Stephen’s life, Rhiannydd Andrews is an acting powerhouse in her own right and presented an equally lifelike character, executing the performance with remarkable skill.
The writing itself was superb, and the humour sprinkled throughout is a wonderful reflection of Welsh humour and spirit. While humour does pose a risk of diminishing a tragedy, that wasn’t at all the case in this instance, and so much thought had been put into making this production as true a representation of the Aberfan community as possible. The set was minimal but effective in communicating important elements of the story, such as the wall painted with the title of the Welsh song ‘Yma o Hyd’, meaning “Still Here”, a powerful message offering hope in the darkness of it all.
The only slight change I think should be considered was with pacing, as some of the scenes did feel like they began to lag at certain points, but that could be down to personal interpretation!
Overall, ‘Mr Jones: An Aberfan Story’ was an incredibly moving tribute to one of the worst tragedies in Welsh history, and I would love to see this show be given the opportunity for a longer run in the future!
