#merthyrRising MyLandsShore RoseandCrown Theatre Review

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MY LAND'S SHORE Music and Lyrics by Christopher J Orton Book and Lyrics by Robert Gould Presented by All Star Productions Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre 7 – 26 February Deserves a transfer to the West End ★★★★★ Director Brendan Matthew recalls in his programme notes that My Land’s Shore was described during its workshop stage as ‘The Welsh Les Mis.’ And that’s exactly what it is. The music and overall theme certainly have much likeness to Boublil and Schonberg’s work, with the rebellion and moral conflict of Les Miserables and the love and heartbreak of Miss Saigon. Yet My Land’s Shore stands alone as a powerful, passionate musical in its own right. Christopher J Orton and Robert Gould have created a show that speaks volumes and touches the heart, and the tear ducts, of the entire audience. One thing is for sure; it is far too big for its current venue at Ye Olde Rose and Crown and deserves a transfer as soon as possible. My Land’s Shore is based on the true story of the Merthyr Uprising of 1831. Matthew writes in his notes that ‘we sugar coat nothing…it has been a wonderful thing to experience the amount of pride and adoration that the Welsh have for their country.’ One member of the uprising Dic Penderyn, also known as Richard Lewis, was executed, (charged with wounding a highlander). This musical shows that despite the harsh penalties, it was the community that won at heart, by remaining strong and maintaining their dignity together amongst horrific events. The strong, relatively young cast of eighteen really do bring the passion and community feel to life throughout the entire show. The emotion is raw and the strength bursts out of each of them, filling the entire room. It would be too much to list what each performer brings, but they should all keep up the wonderful attack and continue to be proud of this show. Special mentions should be given to the main characters. Aidan Banyard plays Richard Lewis, and makes the audience sit up in their seats from his very first note. His voice has a magnificent resonance, and did not falter. The emotional journey that Banyard plays throughout was flawless, and he absolutely does the real Richard Lewis justice. Rebecca Gilliland as his new wife, Angharad, has an effortlessly beautiful voice, and she is a very strong actress. Gilliland has some emotionally difficult scenes which she portrays with faultless raw emotion. Michael Rees as Lewis Lewis and Kira Morsley are both strong performers also. Rees gives an avid performance but at times shut the audience out with a lot of upstage direction. This could be due to such deep immersion in the character and the story however, which was well executed. Morsley has a lovely tone to her voice and captures the feisty part of her character well. There are some lovely moments in the show: A beautiful trio performed by Gilliland, Morsley and Emma Hickey as Elizabeth; The unassuming calmness of Aled Powys Williams as Morgan; The innocence captured by Hollie Evans and Samuel Bailey; Great comedic relief by Lucy Elson, and powerful guilt ridden self-doubt shown by Taite-Elliot Drew as Jenkins – the main named antagonist in the show. As mentioned previously, this show has such a strong cast and creative team behind it and comes highly recommended. The set and lighting are well designed to make the most of the tricky space. The entrances and exits are in view, as is the band, which is noticeable but not distracting. With many of the cast hailing from Wales themselves, the pride of the Dragon and of the country really does shine through. The Merthyr Rising was to lead the way for many more revolts throughout Britain, and the anguish that people have experienced throughout history is shocking and yet is still relevant today. This world premiere of My Land’s Shore is certainly not one to be missed and worth following when it no doubt transfers to its rightful place in the West End – hopefully with the same cast. Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, 53 Hoe Street, London, E17 4SA Dates: 7th - 26th February 2017 Box Office: 020 8520 8674/ www.ticketsource.co.uk/allstarproductions Reviewer H. Hemming is a professional actress writing under a pseudonym. Twitter @H_HemmingWrites