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“I
enjoyed reading 'Portrait of Dylan'
very much
- it’s witty and well observed” |
Tim
Baker, Associate Director, Theatre
Clwyd, Mold. |
"I
have your work imprinted on my mind" |
Aeronwy
Thomas (Dylan's daughter, after seeing
a performance) |
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This
play is a result of Tony Layton's long association
with the world of Dylan Thomas. Not only did
Tony live around the corner from Dylan's house
in Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea, but for many
years he directed plays at Swansea
Little Theatre which used to be Dylan's
theatre group when he was a young man. Alun
Gibbard, who has made a television film based
on the life of Dylan, had written the lyrics
to the music for 'Dylan'
(the slightly longer version of this play,
with music and dance) and Tony was brought
in to convert Alan's research into a theatrical
delight.
The play sets out to trace Dylan's life from
his childhood in Swansea to his untimely death
in New York at an early age. There is much
controversy surrounding the reasons for Dylan's
death and the play examines the view that
he did not die from alcoholic poisoning, but
in fact entered a diabetic coma which was
not diagnosed by doctors at the time.
Anyone who has taken the time to research
Dylan's life will know that he was a complex
individual. He was a talented writer and broadcaster,
always seemingly on the scrounge, a ready
wit, a severe critic and someone who had a
varied and colourful love life. His relationship
with his wife, Caitlin, could be loving but
could also be wild. Residents of Laugharne
report seeing them fighting on the street
after a night at Brown's pub.
Some say it was America that killed Dylan.
There he was celebrated as a great writer
and it was there that his most famous play
for voices, "Under Milk Wood" was first performed.
The US lecture tour brought him some financial
security, and his status helped him to move
in celebrity circles. There is something of
a child in Dylan's nature, an inspired innocence
that seems to be at odds with the wild party
animal. A reading of "A Child's Christmas
In Wales" or "Portrait Of The Artist As A
Young Dog" (a nudge at James Joyce) reflect
keen observations of childhood and family
life with which we can all identify.
The play has attempted to weave some of these
strands together to try to give an honest
account of what we know of Dylan's life. It
is very adaptable and can be staged using
either minimalist or conventional props and
scenery. |
Warning
- Contains strong language and content.
Minimum advised age - 16 |
![](../../../images/layton/dylan/aeronwy.jpg) |
Left
: Aeronwy Thomas and Tony Layton at
a performance of 'Dylan'.
Right
: Copy of a letter written to Tony
by Aeronwy after the performance.
(Click for large version) |
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Principals |
Young Dylan - schoolboy
Dylan - from age 19 to 39
Hotel Porter - an elderly New Yorker
Caitlin - Dylan's wife, from age
24 to 38
Liz (his mistress in New York)
Dan - a schoolboy friend of Young
Dylan
Liz Reitel - Dylan's American lover,
early 30's. |
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Supporting Cast |
Minimum 4m/3f (each male playing
5 or 6 small roles, each female playing
3 or 4 small roles)
Gossips, partygoers, actors, children,
etc (non-speaking) |
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Duration |
: 100 mins |
Acts |
: 2 |
Principals |
: 4m / 3f |
Supporting |
: 4m / 3f |
Sets |
: 1 |
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![](../../../images/btns/detail_seealso.jpg) |
Two Act Drama ... |
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One Act Drama ... |
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