Tylwyth, Daf James hit play returns! 

Daf James hit play returns! 

Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Sherman Theatre are proud to announce that Tylwyth will be returning to the stage this autumn. Tylwyth, by award-winning playwright Daf James, will open at Sherman Theatre before touring to theatres across Wales, including Theatr Brycheiniog. 

*Please note that this is a Welsh language production that is suitable for fluent Welsh speakers and learners, with the Sibrwd app being compatible with this performance.  Sibrwd acts as a whisper in your ear – giving audiences the ability to appreciate a performance in any language, whatever language they speak. Sibrwd is being researched and developed by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Galactig with the support of the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts in Wales, Nesta, Arts & Humanities Research Council and public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council of Wales. 

Tylwyth tells the story of Aneurin, who has been running away from his past, but – thanks to Grindr – he unexpectedly finds love. When he and Dan decided to adopt, it seems their world is complete. But as he adjusts to being a dad and tries to move on from his reckless past, Aneurin is forced to confront his demons.

A decade on from the trail blazing and award-winning Llwyth, Aneurin, Rhys, Gareth and Dada are back in this witty and compelling new play by Daf James. Taking an irreverent look at love, family, and friendship. Tylwythis a provocative commentary on contemporary Welsh life.  

This show contains strong language, scenes of a sexual nature and adult themes, therefore the age guidance is strictly 16+

Before the performance there will be a pre-show talk investigating the themes within Tylwyth, but also targeted towards Welsh learners within the audience as frequently used words and phrases are explained and translated so the show is more accessible for those whose first language is not Welsh. 

Daf James is a multidisciplinary queer artist, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, performer, and composer. He works across television, film, radio, and theatre in both English and Welsh. After gaining a first-class degree in English Literature at Edinburgh University, he trained in the Lecoq method at the London International School of Performing Arts, he explained in an interview with Wales Online that he ‘had always wanted to be an actor and went to theatre school intending to create my own theatre company and perform. But as part of the course, we had to write a one-act play and I realised that I really loved doing it. I felt that all of the training I’d had up to that point was really good grounding to be a playwright”. He received his doctorate in Theatr Studies from the University of Warwick and themes exploring and celebrating marginalised voices, identity politics, queerness, Welshness and notions of family are frequent in his work. 

Daf is currently associate artist at the Sherman Theatre and his original drama series Lost Boys and Fairies, produced by Duck Soup, starts filming in March 2023 for BBC One. 

Tylwyth comes to Theatr Brycheiniog on October 11^th, 2022. The pre-show talk is free; however, booking is essential. For further information (including our full list of concessions), and to book tickets, please contact our Box Office on 01874 611 622 where a member of our Visitor Experience Team will be more than happy to help, or visit us at www.brycheiniog.co.uk

Praise for TYLWYTH

“The lyricism of the text reaffirms James’s status as one of Wales most exciting playwrights… undeniably reassuring about community, progress and the future” - ★★★★ The Guardian 

“A provocative and compelling play that made me laugh, made me cry and made me think. Shifting between English and Cymraeg without missing a linguistic beat, it was also the most inclusive Welsh-language work I have ever experienced” – WalesOnline

“Audiences who remember the original will not be disappointed – the gang’s all here! – and yet… Tylwyth feels like a new journey with startling narrative arcs” – Nation. Cymru 

“Beautifully drawn characters are brought to life by an outstanding cast” – Buzz Magazine 

“Tylwyth is a sequel to Llwyth (2010), which explored the ‘tribe’ of the title as a group of twenty-something gay friends in Cardiff. In James’s new play, most of the original cast return to play older versions of the characters who are now facing middle-age and pressure to assimilate into the predominately ‘straight’ institutions of marriage and child-rearing.” – Wales Arts Review

“… it is this careful balancing act, of depicting serious issues while appearing not to take life too seriously, which makes Tylwyth such an enjoyable examination of modern, Welsh, gay identity” – Wales Arts Reviews

“Tylwyth is the sequel to Daf James’ scintillating 2010 play, Llwyth. Like the original, it is directed by Arwel Gruffydd and co-produced by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Sherman Theatre. Lywyth was an epoch-defining movement in Welsh drama – the story of four gay men navigating Cardiff’s nightlife to contemporised rhythms of Aneurin’s ancient poem Y Gododdin, it was a shot of adrenaline through the veins of Theatr Cymraeg” – National Cymru