SHYLOCK
'The tragic, funny and often unbelievable life of fiction's most famous Jew'.
Is Shylock the Jewish moneylender from The Merchant of Venice a villain or victim?
Gareth Armstrong's award winning solo play confronts these Jewish stereotypes through the eyes of his only friend - and the only other Jewish man in the whole of Shakespeare - Tubal.
Promoted to centre stage from his minor role in The Merchant of Venice, he proves a born comic storyteller.
Celebrating the richness of Shakespeare's language and conjuring up a whole cast of characters from Portia to Pontius Pilate, from Romeo to Max Reinhardt, and from Barabbas to Richard Burbage, this dazzling, moving, often hilarious play is a fascinating exploration of Shylock and his people.
Written and Directed by Gareth Armstrong
Performed by Rhodri Miles (Seilioc (Welsh language version of Shylock), Burton and Dylan Thomas: Clown in the Moon.
DYLAN THOMAS : CLOWN IN THE MOON
- Touring Spring & Summer 2018.
BURTON
- Select availability and touring on demand only.
DYLAN THOMAS : CLOWN IN THE MOON
“My early work came out of a person who came willy-nilly out of one particular atmosphere and environment and are part and parcel, park and castle, lark and sea shell, dark and school bell, muck and entrail, cock, rock and bubble, accent and sea-lap, root and rhythm of them” Dylan Thomas
CLOWN IN THE MOON (the title of a poem written when Dylan was 14) is a dramatic portrait of the poet's chaotic, frequently hilarious, and all too brief life. Located in a BBC studio, it sets some of Dylan's famous broadcasts and iconic works alongside vivid reminiscences of his clownish antics in pubs, bars and parties, and his encounters with a host of eccentric and volatile women.
This solo show is directed by the award-winning director and actor Gareth Armstrong (Shylock, My Darling Clemmie, Rape of Lucrece, Becoming Marilyn) and is written by award-winning writer Gwynne Edwards (Burton, Dylan Thomas in America).
Rhodri Miles (Holby City, Torchwood, Richard II, Eastern Promises, Game of Thrones, Hinterland, Atlantis) returns as Dylan Thomas after his previous sell-out performances of the critically acclaimed 'Burton', winner of the 'Best International Show Award' at the Hollywood Fringe Theatre Festival in 2010. CLOWN IN THE MOON follows hot on the heels of his appearance as Lodovico in Shakespeare's 'Othello' at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre alongside 'Wire' actors Clarke Peters and Dominic West and his role as the Welsh Captain in Shakespeare’s Richard II in the BBCs Hollow Crown series.
“Captivating and deeply moving”
LONDONTHEATRE1
“Mesmeric, flawless”
BROADWAY BABY ****
“One of the best”
BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE ****
“Pure joy”
THREE WEEKS ****
BURTON
Vividly presents the life of the great Welsh actor in his own words from humble beginnings to Hollywood mega-stardom.
Beautiful women (not least Liz Taylor), alcohol, wealth, stage and screen are the threads woven into this sad, happy, exuberant often hilarious one-man show. Drink was the only real anodyne to his deteriorating health and mental state, his doomed tempestuous relationship with Taylor and his constant guilt over the abandonment of his family.
“Fantastic, the whole audience was in the palm of his hand from beginning to end” *****
Edinburgh Guide
“Charming, Elegant one-man show which struggles to remove itself from the memory” ****
The Scotsman
"Welsh actor Rhodri Miles delivers a brilliant and gripping portrait" 'Critics Choice-GO'
LA Weekly*****
"Clever, concise, alcoholically tragic and furtive storytelling"
LA Theatre Review*****
“A masterful performance”
British theatre guide
Written by: Gwynne Edwards
Directed by: Gareth Armstrong
Performed by: Rhodri Miles
BURTON runs 70 minutes and play either with, or without, an interval
BIOG: Rhodri Miles - PERFORMER
Rhodri was born in Swansea and brought up in Pontarddulais. Before deciding to be an actor, Rhodri initially chose a career in the Metropolitan police force but left to pursue a career treading the boards rather than the beat. As a boy he regularly competed at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, winning first prize at recitation on ten occasions, including the blue ribbon chief recital competition at Neath National Eisteddfod in 1994, earning him a green robe for the arts in the Bardic circle. Having appeared on the Welsh language soap ‘Pobol Y Cwm’ for five years he returned to study acting in 1999 at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Since then his career credits include David Cronenburg’s ‘Eastern Promises’, Television work include ‘Holby City’, ‘Torchwood, Richard 11 – Hollow Crown Series, Atlantis and Game of Thrones. Theatre credits include Lodovico in Othello opposite ‘Wire’ actors Dominic West and Clarke Peters and directed by fellow Welshman Daniel Evans. For the last 5 'years Rhodri has been touring his successful solo show ‘Burton’ about the life of Richard Burton which won‘ Best International show’ at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2010 and subsequently played to packed houses at the Edinburgh Fringe twice and at London's St James theatre as part of its “Icon” season in 2015.
