Wales Theatre Awards / "Henry VI"

Last weekend saw the latest Wales Theatre Awards ceremony at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre, which I was delighted to attend as part of the judging panel and a representative of the British Theatre Guide. A very well-attended and jolly affair it was too. The Other Room was a big winner, coming away with four awards, but the plaudits were spread quite widely, indicating, once more, the depth of talent in Wales. My write-up of last year’s event was mentioned on-stage, which was rather embarrassing, but no harm done.

Hannah O'Leary as Henry VI (photo:Kirsten McTernan)

Doubtless the production I attended a couple of days ago will receive a lot of votes this year – Shakespeare’s “Henry VI” as abridged and directed by Yvonne Murphy, presented by her Omidaze company, and staged in the usually inaccessible space below the roof of the Wales Millennium Centre. It is a promenade production with a very strong all-female cast, and the lead played by an actress trained in aerialism, thus almost constantly suspended on ropes, reflecting the character’s other-worldliness. Very impressive, if somewhat taxing on both brain and knees.