A moving journey of self-discovery

Nov 7 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

A play which has been a sensation in North American comes to Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold today (Friday, November 7).

First produced in Toronto and a box office hit at theatres throughout America, The Drawer Boy runs until November 29 in the Emlyn Williams Theatre.

Robert Blythe returns to Mold following his acclaimed performance in Deep Cut, the multi award-winning hit drama of this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

The Drawer Boy is a moving journey of self-discovery and an unforgettable exploration of friendship and the power of storytelling.

Angus and Morgan are two middle aged subsistence farmers making a living on a smallholding. Morgan makes the decisions and cares for his artistically gifted friend - the drawer boy – who suffered an injury in World War Two and can’t remember anything.

When Miles, a young actor, arrives at the farm, to research a play, their lives are transformed as buried secrets of love and tragedy are powerfully revealed.

Casting includes Ifan Huw Dafydd, seen in Mold, New York and London in the Clwyd Theatr Cymru production of Memory, directed by Terry Hands.

Robert Blythe’s recent Clwyd productions include An Inspector Calls and The Cherry Orchard. He is a familiar face from TV shows, including six series of the BBC Wales TV comedy High Hopes, in which he plays Fagin.

Guy Lewis plays Miles. His recent work for Clwyd Theatr Cymru includes Memory, Welsh tour and Pleasance Theatre, London and Measure for Measure in Mold. Guy’s other theatre work includes One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and The Graduate at The Gielgud Theatre in the West End.

The Drawer Boy is directed by Barry Kyle following his production of The Suicide by Nikolai Erdman earlier this season, his acclaimed Clwyd production of An Inspector Calls and his nomination as Daily Mail Director of the Year for the Belgrade Theatre production of The Mysteries at Coventry Cathedral in 2006.

Michael Healey is a Canadian playwright who graduated in 1985 and whose first play Kicked premiered at the Toronto Festival in 1996.

The Drawer Boy won four major Canadian awards and has been produced throughout North America, in Europe and Australia as well as being translated into Japanese, German and French.

For booking details, ring the box office on 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.