National Theatre Wales Stages Work Of Gwyn Thomas, Kicks off November 11

National Theatre Wales and Told by an Idiot celebrate Gwyn Thomas, the great Welsh storyteller and dark, hilarious chronicler of the Valleys - one of the most distinctive Welsh voices of the last century.

Taking as its inspiration Thomas' ink-black comic tales, The Dark Philosophers - National Theatre Wales' eighth production - is a funny, violent and passionate depiction of a community teetering on the brink of humanity. Using Told by an Idiot's trademark anarchic physicality and inventive storytelling, this adaptation brings out the bleak, wild humour in tales laced with sex, murder and Thomas' devastating Valleys wit.

Alex Beckett's theatre credits include: Joseph, Natural Selection (Theatre 503); Rosencrantz/Marcellus, Hamlet (Creation Theatre)and various roles in The Brothers Grimm (Creation Theatre); Alex, Letters (Union Theatre); Sid, Starbucks 24hr Plays (Old Vic New Voices). His television credits include: Carol Singer, A Child's Christmases in Wales (BBC Wales); Sword Swallower, Married, Single, Other (ITV); and Owen, The Scum Also Rises (BBC).

David Charles' theatre credits include: Howard, Otieno (Metta Theatre/Southwark Playhouse); Mr Farthing/Prof. Pevsner, All Our Hellos and Goodbyes (LCR/The Gymnasium); Uncle Mort, Pedlar (Lead); and The Invisible Monkey (New End Theatre).

Nia Davies' theatre credits include: BBC Children's Prom (Royal Albert Hall); Nana, Changing Rooms and Mrs. Baker, Come Blow Your Horn (Frinton Summer Theatre); Gladys/Baroness/Nun, The Lady Vanishes (National Tour); and Narrator/Marley/Ghosts/Boy/Bob Cratchit, A Christmas Carol.

Ryan Hacker's film credits include: Hunky Dory (dir. Marc Evans); and his theatre credits include Don Jose, Carmen (Leicester Square Theatre); Mr Petit, Midnight at the Hotel Beuregard (Rose Bruford College/Paines Plough).

Daniel HawksFord's Theatre credits include: Ferdinand, Judgement Day (Almeida Theatre); Edmund the Bastard, King Lear (Globe Theatre); Felix, Memory (Clwyd Theatr Cymru/Pleasance Theatre); Various, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other (Royal National Theatre); Spiegel, Acqua Nero (Sgript Cymru).

Bettrys Jones' theatre credits include: Mary Warren, The Crucible (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Emilie, Warhorse (National Theatre West End); Juliet, Measure For Measure (Theatr Clwyd); Emily, Cariad (Theatr Clwyd); Taz, Box (Birmingham Rep) Scout, To Kill a Mockingbird (West Yorkshire Playhouse).

Glyn Pritchard's theatre credits include: Strapper/Councilor Rudder, Black Album (Tara Arts National Tour); Lodovico/Gratiano, Othello (RSC); Police Chief/Game Show Host/Masked Lover, The Diver (Soho Theatre/Tokyo Theatre); Willy Nilly/Lord Cut Glass/Organ Morgan, Under Milk Wood (Tricycle Theatre/London Stage Company); Anchoko/Ogoro/Child, The Bee (Noda Map Japan); Rispolo, A Family Affair (Arcola Theatre).

Laura Rogers' theatre credits include: Helen Thomas, Gloucestershire (Arcola); Lady Macbeth, Macbeth; Marthe, A New World, a life of Thomas Paine; Celia, As You Like It; and Helena, A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Globe); Sorel Bliss, Hay Fever (Chichester Festival Theatre); Penelope Toop, See How They Run (Manchester Royal Exchange).
Gwyn Thomas (1913-1981) was born and brought up in Cymmer, in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales. Growing up in poverty, he won a scholarship to Oxford University, and returned to Wales to teach. The Dark Philosophers - a collection of short stories - was published in 1946, while his novels include The Alone to the Alone, All Things Betray Thee, The World Cannot Hear You, and Now Lead Us Home. His play The Keep opened at The Royal Court Theatre in 1961, to great acclaim.
Paul Hunter is co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Told by an Idiot with Hayley Carmichael. He has been involved as director/devisor/performer in all their work to date, including The Comedy of Errors, The Fahrenheit Twins, and Beauty and the Beast. Other acting credits include: Troilus and Cressida and A Midsummer Night's Dream (both Shakepseare's Globe), Rapunzel (Kneehigh), and Les Enfants du Paradis (RSC). He was an Associate Director at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, where he directed The Venetian Twins, The Beauty Queen of Leenane (winner of MEN Award - Best Production), and Accidental Death of An Anarchist. His other directing credits include: Low Pay, Don't Pay (Salisbury Playhouse), and Senora Carrar's Rifles (Young Vic).

Carl Grose worked with Told by an Idiot on Beauty and the Beast (Lyric, Hammersmith). Other writing includes Gargantua (National Theatre New Connections Festival), Cymbeline (Kneehigh/RSC), and Tristan and Yseult (Kneehigh/National Theatre). He co-founded the Cornish theatre and film Production Company o-region, and also works as an actor and director.
Angela Davies designed National Theatre Wales' very first production, A Good Night Out in the Valleys. Her previous work includes Life Is A Dream (Donmar Warehouse). She has designed for companies including the RSC, and for several operas. Her current projects include Rigoletto for Grange Park Opera.

THE DARK PHILOSOPHERS
A new theatre production based on the stories of Gwyn Thomas
In association with Told by an Idiot
Adapted by Carl Grose and Told by an Idiot
Directed by Paul Hunter
Designed by Angela Davies
Cast includes Alex Beckett, David Charles, Nia Davies, Ryan Hacker, Daniel Hawksford, Bettrys Jones, Glyn Pritchard and Laura Rogers

Thursday 11th - Saturday 13th November 2010
The Riverfront Theatre, Newport
Friday 19th - Saturday 20th November 2010
Y Stiwt Theatre, Wrexham