REVIEW: TACHWEDD by Jon Berry at Theatre503 15 Oct – 2 Nov 2024

Image: Woodforge Studios

"Every day a toil, every day a curse." ★★★

Through four intertwined stories set in 1742, 1902, 1975, and the present day, we follow characters bound to Bethesda, North Wales as they face the brutal realities of unemployment, economic crisis and exploitation. The interwoven storylines all end savagely as the delicate balance of the character’s lives are torn asunder and they are ultimately forced to make the difficult decision of whether to stay in Bethesda or escape.

"Tachwedd" is a pertinent story of the deep connection between land and identity, and explores themes of survival, legacy and exploitation across four different generations.

At times, distinguishing between eras proved challenging, as the cast portrayed multiple roles with minimal changes to their appearance. This lack of visual differentiation often made it difficult to discern the timeline, pulling the audience out of the world of the play and creating an unintended disconnect. The characters' constant consumption of black grit - presumably symbolic of the land - and the repeated folding and unfolding of napkins also proved to be distractingly excessive.

Though the cast clearly strove to maintain authentic Welsh accents, consistency was an issue. At times the dialogue leaned towards being overly ornate and lacked genuine conviction in the delivery. The minimalist set design, however, was enhanced by the sombre lighting, adding a beautifully stark sense of melancholy and atmosphere to the production.

"Tachwedd" ambitiously undertakes an epic endeavour, and though it has its limitations, it represents a commendable effort to tackle such difficult and enduring themes.

TACHWEDD by Jon Berry at Theatre503 15 Oct – 2 Nov 2024

Presented by Phoebe Stringer Productions Ltd

Box Office - https://theatre503.com/whats-on/tachwedd/