Widows Ariel Dorfman |
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Winter 2005 Pontardawe Arts Centre |
Widows, first produced by the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh in 1996, is about the men who “disappear” under totalitarian regimes and the women who wait. Written by Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman in response to the human rights abuses of the regime of General Pinochet. At the play's core is the character of Sofia, matriarch of the Fuentes family and the starting point for the play. Her battle for information about her lost men folk, and determination to instil the fight into the women around her, provide the emotional, almost mythological, centre of the play.
Sofia Fuentes (Alice White), Alexandra (Miranda Roszkowski), Yanina (Michaela Thomas), Fidelia (Rhiannon Jenkins), Alexis (Steffan Turner), Alonso (Huw Richards), Emiliano (Scott Lavery), The Captain (Chris Davies), The Lieutenant (Michael Aubin), Emmanuel, the Orderly (William Poyer), The Doctor (Marc Antolin), Teresa Salas (Karla Evans), Katherina (Hannah Good), Rosa (Leah Eynon), Amanda (Rachel Collier), Mariluz (Tara Page), Lucia (Rachael Rees), Ramona (Jodie Thomas), Paulina (Emily Waters), Helena (Leanne Jefferies), Imelda (Anna Bowyer), Selina (Kirsty Ayers), Cecilia Sanjines (Finola Glacken), Father Gabriel (Jason Dickerson), Phillip Kastoria (Rhys Scourfield), Beatrice Kastoria (Kirsty Ayers), Kastoria's Brother (Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins), Children of The Valley (Roxanne Elliot, Andrew Phillips, Daniel Spencer), Soldiers (Joseph Evans, Scott Lavery, Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins, Huw Richards, Rhys Scourfield, Iain Shaw, Michael Tucker).
James Dendle (Stage Manager), Jason Clay, Lewis Davies, Ale Gwillim, Sophie Jones, Jennie Quirk, Naomi Troake, Gemma Thomas, Tom Williams, Rebecca Webb-Erwin.
Direction – Nick Evans.
Tutorial Staff – Vivienne Buckley, Denise Cavalli, Kevin Matherick, Ruth Williams.
Production – Adrian Hocking, Ben Austin, Mary Pugh.
A first visit to the Pontardawe Arts Centre for the Company, this highly intense production was finally produced on a Christmas Course that lasted only 8 days. Alongside “Widows” , the company also staged a studio work at Cwmtawe Comprehensive School . Looking at the political and social influence of music on society over the last century, the piece was devised and written by students under the direction of Viv Buckley and Denise Cavalli.