The line-up for this year’s Laugharne Weekend is (yet again) an interesting and diverse one with a variety of artists set to appear, including Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Cerys Matthews, the Pogues’ James Fearnley, Simon Armitage, Howard Marks, John Cooper Clarke and Jah Wobble and Keith Levene from the iconic late 70s band, Public Image Ltd.
There is one performance on the bill, however, that has a special relevance to Laugharne.
The work of one of its most famous residents, Dylan Thomas, will be brought into the 21st century with a performance of Buggerall – which has been described as an ‘update’ of Under Milk Wood.
The play, written by local author Jon Tregenna (pictured above), is being performed by Corsham-based theatre group Three’s Company on the opening night of the weekend.
Buggerall poses the question: what if the poet was alive and well and writing about life in a West Wales seaside town today?
(For those not in the know, Buggerall is Llareggub – the setting for Under Milk Wood – backwards.) Poet Peter Thabit Jones described Buggerall as, “…a wonderful and inspiring play… I am aware of several attempts to update Under Milk Wood and this comes closest in capturing the original’s eccentricity and clotted musicality.”
Llanelli-born Jon has written for both the BBC and S4C, created YouTube ‘phenomenon’ David Garland Jones and for the last 2 years has worked at the Dylan Thomas Boathouse.
The prospect of his work being staged in the township that inspired the original, is “… a real thrill,” says Jon.
Buggerall is being performed in the Congregational Chapel, King Street, Laugharne on Friday 13th April at 8pm.
Tickets can be purchased from www.thelaugharneweekend.com or in person from Castle Stores in Laugharne on 01994-427616 Ticket price £6 To find out more about the play please visit www.buggerallplay.co.uk
