Yet again, Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold is preparing to stage a world premiere, this time of a play which describes a crucial turning point in Welsh history. Last year, at a Press conference to announce the forthcoming season, Clwyd’s assistant director, Tim Baker, said the company had been invited to submit a production to be considered for inclusion as part of Liverpool’s 2008 European City of Culture celebrations. My mind leaped back to over 50 years ago, to the time when I and thousands of other angry young people flocked to the shores of what is now known as Llyn Celyn, a picturesque reservoir near Bala, that hides beneath its waters what was once a close-knit community consisting of a number of homes, farmsteads, a school, a chapel, a cemetery and so much more. Protests were too late and held no sway, either at local or parliamentary level. The dam was built and water from the river Tryweryn and its smaller tributaries poured in. Capel Celyn was drowned in order to provide water for the city of Liverpool – water which, it transpired, was not needed and never used for that purpose. I suggested to Tim that there is only one story a Welsh theatre company can tell in Liverpool and now, thanks to his and writer Manon Eames’ tireless and thorough research, we have the result. The production of Porth Y Byddar in the Anthony Hopkins Theatre at Clwyd Theatr Cymru is timed to coincide with the holding of this year’s National Eisteddfod in Mold. The play is already booked to appear for one night at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London (September 18) but plans for it to be staged in Liverpool next year have yet to be finalised. The play’s title stems from a Welsh saying, ‘Hir bydd y mud ym mhorth y byddar’ – ‘The mute will wait a long time at the door of the deaf’. The play is based largely on fact but does contain some elements of fiction, explained Manon, adding: ‘It has been a journey of discovery for me because I have met so many wonderful people who lived at the time. I have laughed and cried with them and I hope this play will be a testimony to what they endured.’ To learn more, I spoke to actress Betsan Llwyd, who makes a welcome return to the Mold venue since her last appearance there as Mam in Full Moon, over 10 years ago. Betsan, who grew up and was educated in Mold, and whose parents still live locally, said: ‘It’s great to be back, especially in a play like this, which is sad but also has its funny moments – and there’s lots of Welsh hymn singing in it!. ‘I play the part of Elizabeth Watkin, one of the main characters in this story. She was one of the driving forces behind the protest, she wrote to everybody, even as far away as in America, to gain support for the cause. ‘When everyone else was doing nothing, she worked and worked … I visited her brother recently because I wanted to make sure I had her character right. He’s written so much about what happened but he still feels his sister has never been given enough respect and recognition for what she did, so I hope to put that right to a certain extent. ‘Elizabeth had to leave school when she was 16 to help look after the family, but she was far from being uneducated and she was able to address people of all types on their own terms. ‘There were a lot of misconceptions at the time. When one of the characters goes to London to address the Lords committee, he had to speak in English, which was not his native tongue so he was disadvantaged from the start. Then he was asked to define his community – how does one define a community in a foreign language?’ Tim said: ‘What really stuck in my mind is the complete loss of a way of life. Those people didn’t just lose their homes, they lost everything. It’s difficult to imagine how they felt when they learned of the plans to drown their valley. ‘Can you imagine how the children felt on their last day at school? They had spent weeks there watching the bulldozers going past to build the dam with rubble from already demolished homes and then, that day, the teacher wiped the backboard clear and as soon as they left the bulldozers moved in. ‘There was a total lack of respect for the community. It’s incredible to think that it was allowed to happen.’ Betsan added: ‘This is a real story about Welsh people relating their own history, a story that must never be forgotten and one which must be learned as a lesson for the future. Our message is that it must never happen again. The one good thing that came out of is the fact that people started to stand up for their rights and to make Wales’ voice heard in a supposedly democratic Britain. ‘This play maybe about something that happened in Wales 50 years ago but it is also extremely topical for today’s Britain, where minority people are still fighting for their voices to be listened to. People are saying, ‘We are us, listen to us.’ Tim said: ‘I know Liverpool apologised, last year, for what happened but there is still no visible memorial there. Even the memorial chapel is hidden off the road, there is no visible information to tell people what happened. Maybe we can use the power of this play to get something started towards building one. ‘I expect people to be moved by the play but moved more to anger than to tears.’ Porth y Byddar can be seen in the Anthony Hopkins Theatre at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold from August 7-11. Ring the box office on 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk. | 
