Settle in at home for some midsummer madness as Span arts present not one but two versions of Dylan Thomas’ classic play for voices Under Milk Wood with two community casts one performing in English and one performing T James Jones’ Welsh translation Dan Y Wenallt.

The idea of doing the play was born when the span team held their first video conference team meeting having closed their offices at in Narberth to continue working from home. How would it be to perform a play in these conditions?

Under Milk Wood seemed the ideal choice to try it out. A classic piece which has a kind of hysterical claustrophobia to it in its depiction of the joys and woes of a small community.

This pioneering new digital venture showcases the many talents of Span Arts volunteers and the wider community and has come about through Span’s Digidol project which has been piloting ways in which digital technology can be used creatively to help with issues such as social well-being and rural isolation through innovative ideas such as remote theatre Theatr Soffa performed through video conferencing software.

Span Arts are also working collaboratively with Menter Iaith Sir Benfro and Cered on this project to present the Welsh language version with participants logging on from St Davids, Tenby, Talgarreg and Crymych. 

Under Milk Wood is set in the fictionalised seaside town of Llareggub - which spells buggerall backwards! - there characters such as blind Captain Cat, Polly Garter and the Rev Eli Jenkins reflect on their lives and worldly affairs.  It is an impressionistic drama recounting a day in the life of the town from the wee small hours of dreamtime to sunrise and sundown. 

Conceived as a play for voices the drama lends itself to the more intimate medium that a digital space can create.  Indeed, we can’t think of a better play to produce under lock down conditions – as its author Dylan Thomas was locked into a room to ensure that he finished the first draft of his play only hours before its first staged reading!  

Dan Y Wenallt will be performed live on June 19, at 8 pm.

Under Milk Wood will be performed the following evening June 20) at 8 pm.

The performance will last about an hour.

For more information about how to book your viewing please see the Span Arts website: http://www.span-arts.org.uk/whats-on/

This project is supported by the Enhancing Pembrokeshire second home owners tax fund facilitated by Pembrokeshire County Council, the Arts Council of Wales and the Leader fund Arwain Sir Benfro administered through Planed.