REVIEW: Odyssey '84 at Sherman Theatre
An extraordinary new play receiving its world premiere in Cardiff takes us back to one of the most divisive episodes in recent British history.
Odyssey '84 - whose press night was last night (Tuesday 15 October) - tells the story of the 1984 miners' strike in the form of Homer's Odyssey - a tale of wandering far from home, facing unexpected trials, before finally returning and having to adjust to a new life.
As we follow our Odysseus, John O'Donnell (Rhodri Meilir), we experience violence, betrayal, death, and despair, but in the end, much stronger forces prevail - compassion, friendship, love, and community.
John is at first a reluctant striker. He just wants to get on with his job and support his family, but the decision is taken out of his hands by the union hierarchy. And so begins the strike and his journey. Or journeys.
There's his physical journey that takes him to picket lines, including the notorious 'battle of Orgreave', and then raising funds, at first in Britain and then around the world, initially from trade unions but then from more militant and violent sources.
There's another journey too, which changes John from grudging participant to enthusiastic picketer, from nervous fundraiser to persuasive orator, from a family man to an armed would-be revolutionary.
After mixing with the likes of Colonel Gadaffi and the IRA, there's finally a homecoming, and a further transformation.
And while our Odysseus has been away, our Penelope/ Penny (Sara Gregory) has been on a journey of her own: providing food and other essentials for the families, coping with a heartbreaking tragedy, and all without knowing if John will ever return.
While Homer's Odysseus is at the mercy of the Gods, for John there are more Earthly figures driving the narrative - Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) president Arthur Scargill.
As one character summarises it: "You know the Government are arseholes, but the NUM are arseholes as well. It's like our lives are turned upside down because they can't do their jobs. It'd be sorted by tea time if you took them out and stuck a couple of our mams in there."
It's typical of the genius of this play to present us with a big idea, then cleverly balance it with a laugh about mundane, Welsh working-class life.
But there's truth in it. You just know that the mams really would sort this out. The women here get things done. While the men like John act on their emotions, the women like Penny focus on what matters and make sure everyone gets fed and keeps clean.
And that description of both sides as 'arseholes' encapsulates the complexities of the whole dispute - something frequently highlighted throughout the play. This wasn't as black and white as some of us perceived it at the time.
As writer Tim Price notes in the programme, South Wales miners had mostly voted against striking. It was picketing by militant pits that turned the tide. And when the strike got under way, South Wales held out more solidly than any other coalfield - a testament to the solidarity and community spirit, conveyed so convincly in this production.
He captures a moment which is hard to imagine being repeated - one that affected us all, dividing the country, changing some communities forever, and heralding a huge economic and social shift that saw our utilities move from public ownership back into private hands.
Price has a supreme talent for presenting challenging social and personal issues in an intelligent, yet accessible and entertaining way. His recent triumph with Nye, starring Michael Sheen (who was in last night's audience) is testament to that.
And those with a greater knowledge of Homer's work than I have will no doubt enjoy the clever way episodes from the poem are reimagined here - the Cyclops, the Lotus Eaters, and the journey to the Underworld.
Sherman Theatre artistic director Joe Murphy directs a highly talented cast, which also includes Matthew Bulgo, Francois Pandolfo, Sion Pritchard, Dean Rehman, and Lisa Zahra.
And the professional cast is joined by members of Sherman Players, the theatre's ensemble: Willow Craig, Trystan Davies, Morgan Dawkins, Daniel De Gruchy, Cata Lindergaard, Osian Lloyd, Nuala Lomax, Charlie McCollom-Cartwright, Cerys Morgan, Michael Morgan, Zak Peterffy, and Jed Sheahan.
The imposing set design by Carl Davies provides an incredibly versatile backdrop to the action, and a toe-tapping '80s soundtrack of memorable hits adds an extra nostalgic dimension for those of us old enough to remember these extraordinary times.
This is a stunning piece of theatre - thought-provoking, entertaining, challenging, but ultimately uplifting. It will make you laugh, it will make you sad, and it will make you think.
Odyssey '84 plays at the Sherman Theatre until 26 October. You can get tickets via the website or by phoning the box office on 029 2064 6900.
Review by Andy Weltch
Photos by Mark Douet
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