36 south wales echo THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017 @WalesOnline WWI REMEMBERED The Great War in the Valleys... and beyond He effect of war on Valleys communities and an unusual World War I had a major effect not just on life in glimpse of life in the trenches Wales’ cities, but also on towns and villages will be shown as part of a new interactive play being staged across the South Wales Valleys. A brand new Tin South Wales. Performed between January 25 and theatre piece will next month explore exactly 27, Forget Me Not will showcase World War I’s impact both on those at home what war meant for those living in such and those on the front. communities, as Tom Houghton reports... With support from the Heritage Lot- tery Fund (HLF), theatre company Avant Cymru has worked with com- that remember the contribution from munities in Pontypridd and the Valleys residents. Rhondda Valley to research and dis- “We’ve been so inspired by what cover the stories from World War I – we’ve found – letters were an impor- particularly about the effect it had on tant form of communication and this those who left for war and the people will play a big part in the storyline. who were left behind. It will take place “Real words from actual soldiers at Pontypridd Museum. have inspired the dialogue and the Alan Humphreys, creative producer, storyline has been influenced through said: “The key idea behind the play people’s experiences in trench life, the was to showcase the real effect the war chapel and at home – the audience had on the Valleys. will get to be part of this through our “It’s funded by the HLF, so as well as exciting and interactive approach.” providing our audience with an enter- The cast will include Daniel Roch- taining and engaging production, ford. we’re keen to educate and inform as Originally from Pontypridd, Daniel well, so the research we conducted starred in S4C and BBC’s Hinterland / earlier this year has fed directly into Y Gwyll and appears regularly as Ifan the writing and plot.” Harri-Parri in The Harri-Parris Show He said the play itself would look to on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio 4. take the audience on a “journey”. According to Avant Cymru, he is “They will arrive in Pontypridd looking forward to being able to per- “We’ve had plenty of support from community through acting. Artistic Museum and become part of a con- downstairs to get an insight of what it form in his hometown, a chance “not the area so far in the form of Pon- director Ms Pedley said the idea came gregation – we’re excited to be using was like in a trench – a replica of which often presented” to him. typridd Town Council, your Pon- about after talking to locals about the organ in the museum itself as part we have managed to obtain – before Mr Humphreys added: “We’re typridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council what they wanted to address. of the show,” Mr Humphreys spending more time with our charac- excited to be working with Dan for the and RCT Theatres.” “We wanted to investigate what explained. ters and understanding the conflict first time, alongside Avant regulars Avant Cymru describes itself as a audiences wanted,” she said. He added: “The audience will get an going on within them, as well as Yannick Budd and Matthew Bool.” forward-thinking theatre company “So we started talking to some of the insight of what it was like at the time – around them.” Mr Humphreys also said it was from the South Wales Valleys, produc- young people at the comprehensive our minister will be emphasising how Rachel Pedley, director of Forget Me important to stress the production was ing professional shows with and for school and groups from the WI and important it was for people to contrib- Not and artistic director of Avant taking place in Pontypridd. the community, performing them through Rhondda Radio and a local ute and fight, while a recruitment Cymru, said: “Knowing that it’s the He explained: “Ponty has been locally, nationally and internationally councillor and started asking people officer will be doing the same. centenary of the last year of World War starved of live theatre for years. to showcase inspiring, compelling and what they wanted to see.” “We’ll see how important coal min- I, we wanted to mark what the people “With the exception of the panto at relevant stories from the Valleys. Forget Me Not follows the success of ing was and how miners weren’t eligi- of the Valleys contributed at home and the Muni and occasional amateur per- Previously, it has turned life in the a previous play inspired by a World ble to sign up as their efforts at home on the frontline. formances, there is very little on offer Rhondda Valley into a soap opera that War I mail boy, with that also focusing were seen as too important, while “Research was a really important in terms of professional work. people could watch at the theatre on stories from the Home Front in the underage men were encouraged to be part of this and so working with Glam- “This is a chance for Pontypridd to once a month. Valleys. ‘creative’ when saying how old they organ Archives, Pontypridd Museum vote with their feet and show that they Rhondda Road, known as a “con- The Last Post – Yr Utgorn Olaf – was are, to ensure they could be part of it. and local people was crucial to make want more to be produced on their tinual drama”, began in September created by community organisation “The audience will then be taken sure we found the facts and stories doorstep. and aimed to tackle issues faced by the Head4Arts and told the story of Bob