Odyssey ’84: ‘Pay what you like’ at Sherman Theatre from next week

Stephen Price

Anticipation is building for Tim Price’s Odyssey ‘84 – a re-telling of the 1984 Miners’ Strike inspired by Homer’s Odyssey starring Rhodri Meilir and Sara Gregory, which comes to Sherman Theatre next week.

In the 40th anniversary year of the Miners’ Strike, this brand new play, which theatre-goers can pay whatever they can afford, tells the story of one of the most explosive chapters of Wales’ history, shining a new light on the international support the miners received as well as the role women played in the stand-off with the British government.

The personal and political collide in Odyssey ‘84, which follows the story of a married couple caught up in the conflict, played by acclaimed actors Rhodri Meilir (Pren ar y Bryn/Tree on a Hill, How My Light Is Spent and Nye) and Sara Gregory (Romeo and Juliet and Home, I’m Darling).

Stellar cast

Rhodri and Sara will be joined on stage by Matthew Bulgo, François Pandolfo, Sion Pritchard, Dean Rehman and Lisa Zahra.

As the strike begins, miner John O’Donnell finds himself thrust into a fight for survival, taking him far from south Wales. Meanwhile, at home, his wife Penny goes on her own epic personal journey whilst striving to support her community.

When they are finally reunited, they find that their very different journeys have transformed their lives forever.

Domestic meets epic and local meets global in this ambitious work, told through the lens of Homer’s Odyssey and written by one of Wales’ most successful playwrights, whose most recent work was the critically-acclaimed Nye (National Theatre & Wales Millennium Centre).

Importance

Writer Tim Price said: “I’ve wanted to write about the Miners’ Strike for nearly 20 years, but never felt ready or had the right story. Then I read about all the international fundraising that went on and I realised the strike was important not just for us in south Wales but for people all around the world.

“The efforts miners went to, to collect this money and build solidarity, made me think of my favourite Greek epic story; The Odyssey. And then I realised I finally knew how to tell this epic battle between Gods and mortals in the longest and most brutal industrial dispute in our modern history.”

Odyssey ‘84 is directed by Sherman Theatre’s Artistic Director, Joe Murphy and designed by Carl Davies.

The production runs from 11-26 October 2024 at Sherman Theatre Senghennydd Road, Cardiff, CF24 4YE

Box Office: www.shermantheatre.co.uk/event/odyssey-84

Tickets for the 11-14 October performances will be sold on a Pay What You Want basis

BSL interpretation by Tony Evans: Thurs 17 Oct, 7.30pm and Thurs 24 Oct, 7.30pm

Captioning: Thurs 17 Oct, 7.30pm and Sat 26 Oct, 2.30pm

Audio Description: Tues 22 Oct, 7.30pm