We’ve had some incredible home-grown work coming from the Wales Millennium Centre recently and the latest collaboration with Frân Wen is an epic Welsh language musical which brings one of our most well-known legends into the contemporary world.
Well-known TV and stage actress GILLIAN ELISA is the latest name to join the cast of BRANWEN: DADENI. The co-producers Wales Millennium Centre and Frân Wen areall set for tonights opening of this new Welsh language dramatic musical.
The contemporary reimagining of the legendary yet tragic tale of Branwen, from the ancient mythical tales of the Mabinogion, is set to tour Wales this month Extra tickets have been released in Cardiff due to high demand, while performances have already sold out in both Aberystwyth and Bangor.
Gillian will play the role of Ena, a figure who provides counsel to Matholwch, King of Ireland. She was born in Carmarthen and grew up in Lampeter, and is best known for her roles in Pobol y Cwm and Hidden.
Ahead of joining the cast for the show’s first rehearsals, she said…….
“After playing the role of Branwen in Melltith ar y Nyth, the first ever rock opera on Welsh television, I feel like I’m coming full circle to be joining a new generation’s production based on the tales of the Mabinogion.
In nearly 50 years on stage and screen, it’ll be my first chance to perform at the iconic Wales Millennium Centre too. I can’t wait!”
Gillian has enjoyed an extensive career in both Welsh and English television and theatre since 1974.
She played the role of Sabrina in Welsh television’s most famous soap opera, Pobol y Cwm, early in her career and returned to the role later on; she was Donald Houston’s daughter in ITV’s series Border Country (Heyday in the Blood), she was Detective Sergeant Alison Griffiths in A Mind to Kill (with Philip Madoc); Grace Evans in Holby City; Nana Pat in Ruth Jones’s Sky1 hit, Stella; and Nessa’s lingerie saleswoman in Gavin and Stacey.(Later on, Gillian was Ruth Jones’s road trip partner in Iaith ar Daith, an S4C series about learning Welsh.)
Award-winning musician and performer MARED WILLIAMS will play the title role in BRANWEN: DADENI, in this eagerly-anticipated new Welsh language dramatic musical.
The member of Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists Welsh of the West End will lead a talented cast in the contemporary reimagining of the legendary yet tragic tale of Branwen, from the ancient mythical tales of the Mabinogion, set to tour Wales this November.
After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Mared covered the role of Eponine in the West End’s reworked production of Les Miserables in 2019-2022. In 2021 Mared’s debut bilingual folk/pop album, ‘Y Drefn,’ was awarded Welsh Album of The Year. She recently played the role of Clara in the European premiere of Mark Blitzstein’s ‘No For An Answer’ at the Arcola Theatre.
CATLIN DRAKE (Miss Littlewood, RSC & Cunard; Pavilion, Theatr Clwyd) will play Branwen’s sister Efnisien, while Cardiff’s RITHVIK ANDUGULA (professional debut) will play Matholwch, King of Ireland – brushing up on his Welsh having not used it since school. TOMOS EAMES (BBC’s Shakespeare and Hathaway Private Investigators; S4C’s Gwaith/Cartref) will play Bendigeidfran – Branwen’s brother and King of Cedyrn – while IONA HEFIN (Netflix’s Apostle; BBC’s Steeltown Murders) will play Picell – a mysterious new presence in the story. Further casting and creatives to be announced.
Mared told us…..
“I’m both looking forward and nervous to be putting my own spin on Branwen and delving into such an iconic but complex Welsh character. Having such a big project done in the Welsh language is something I’m very passionate about and it means a lot to be part of this show.”
Branwen: Dadeni is written by Hanna Jarman, Elgan Rhys and Seiriol Davies, with lyrics and music by Seiriol Davies. It is directed by Frân Wen’s Artistic Director, Gethin Evans, with the already-announced creative team including set and costume designer Elin Steele, lighting designer Bretta Gerecke, orchestrator Owain Gruffudd Roberts and casting director Hannah Marie Williams.
A shattered kingdom. A corrupt monarchy. A new generation desperate for change. Branwen: Dadeni is an epic Welsh language musical which brings one of our most well-known legends into the contemporary world.
After a bloody civil war, the Llŷr family control Cedyrn. Branwen, the charismatic young princess who has won the people’s hearts, is eager to move her country forward, but her brother, the king, won’t listen.
During an unexpected visit by the King of Ireland, she sees her opportunity: escape to a progressive and prosperous country where her voice will count and she’ll have the power to change things. But, as her star rises, every bargain, betrayal and body leads her deeper into the darkness, until, on the brink of ruin, the price becomes clear.
What would you sacrifice to create a just world?
Branwen: Dadeni is the latest in a run of Wales Millennium Centre Productions that nurture writers and creative talent in and from Wales. Previous acclaimed productions include Jennifer Lunn’s award-winning Es & Flo (2023); Hamed Amiri’s The Boy with Two Hearts (2021), which recently transferred to the National Theatre in London; Connor Allen’s The Making of a Monster (2022); Llinos Mai’s Anthem (2022); and Kaite O’Reilly’s The Beauty Parade (2020).
Frân Wen’s recent work includes the national sell-out tour of Welsh language coming-of-age dramedy Croendena, Ynys Alys (2022) which followed the story young girl as she set out in search of her independence and Faust & Greta (2021) a co-production with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Pontio – which was a digital theatrical experience inspired by T. Gwynn Jones’ Welsh translation of Goethe’s classic ‘Faust & Greta’.
BRANWEN: DADENI opens in Wales Millennium Centre’s Donald Gordon Theatre from tonight – Wednesday 8th through to Saturday 11th November. Performances are at 7:30pm. Tickets start at £17:00 and you can get yours HERE.
It then travels to Aberystwyth Arts Centre from Wednesday 15th through to Friday 17th November, again performances are at 7:30pm. Tickets at the Arts Centre range from £12 to £18 and you can get yours HERE.
Finally the production gets to Pontio Arts Centre in Bangor from Wednesday 22nd through to Saturday 25th November with performances at 7:30pm. Tickets in Bangor range from £12 to £18 and you can get yours HERE.
