Iphigenia In Splott opened on the 29th January at the National Theatre’s Temporary Theatre and has received resounding audience and critical acclaim. It now heads out on a tour of some of the leading U.K. venues from 24th February – 16th April 2016, including a run at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.
Following its world premiere at the Sherman Theatre and a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015, Iphigenia in Splott went on to receive the U.K. Theatre Award for Best New Play, The Stage Award for Acting Excellence and the Theatre in Wales Award for Best Actress.
Inspired by the enduring Greek myth, Gary Owen’s powerful drama drives home the high price people pay for society’s shortcomings. This one-woman play, directed by Rachel O’Riordan, looks at the world through the eyes of Effie, a hard-nosed, unemployed young woman who spends her days in a careless spiral of drink, drugs and drama. The production has been called Gary Owen’s protest letter to a hard-hearted state and a call to arms for revolution and whilst it is set in the suburbs of Splott, in Cardiff it is hugely relevant and poignant to any city across the U.K.
This is the first time a Welsh producing house has transferred to The National Theatre and it heralds another important milestone for the Sherman Theatre under Rachel O’ Riordan’s Artistic Directorship. The production’s success further cements the company’s drive and combined commitment to the development of new writing, alongside a programme of classic text.
The National Theatre’s Director, Rufus Norris said, “Audiences need the chance to see this vivid, intense and devastating piece. It’s exactly the type of programming the Temporary Theatre was created for and a powerful reminder of the essential new writing being produced by theatres across the country.”
Speaking about the tour, Director Rachel O’ Riordan said, “We are thrilled with the response we have had to this production so far, in Cardiff, Edinburgh and London. This is a powerful play that explores what it is to be a young woman on the outskirts of society. Although the piece is set in a suburb of Cardiff, we see young women like Effie every day wherever we are, it is relevant to audiences all across the U.K. Iphigenia in Splott explores the current state of our society, communities, and the National Health Service. Effie will break your heart.”
The Sherman is one of the main producing houses in Wales and is touring to leading regional theatres across the UK, representing the best of Welsh talent. The Sherman Theatre is committed to developing and nurturing the work of Welsh and Wales based artists, and this is certainly true of this production. Swansea born, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate, Sophie Melville is outstanding in her performance as Effie; Sam Jones from Cardiganshire, created the haunting and driven sound design and trained at the University of South Wales in Sound Design; Designer Hayley Grindle trained at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and works regularly in Wales and Sherman based Lighting Designer Rachel Mortimer completes the creative team..
Tickets for Iphigenia In Splott are available from the Everyman Theatre Box office and are priced £12-£20.