Innovative, imaginative and wonderfully inclusive: Theatr Clwyd’s Under Milk Wood at the Sherman Theatre Cardiff (review)

Thanks to the Sherman Theatre for providing complimentary review tickets for Under Milk Wood

Every so often as a theatre reviewer you have the privilege of witnessing a production which is genuinely ground-breaking, innovative and just a little bit special.

Such is the case with Under Milk Wood, the whimsical and dreamy new stage adaptation of Dylan Thomas’s 1954 classic, currently at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre until Saturday 9 May.

Created by North Wales’ leading producing theatre, Theatr Clwyd, this is the first production from Craidd, a new partnership which sees Theatr Clwyd, Sherman Theatre, Pontio Arts, The Torch Theatre, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama uniting with Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people to improve representation across Welsh stages and behind the scenes.  

To be clear, we’re not talking about a few more disabled seats or a sign-language interpreter stood stage-side (although that’s not to underestimate how important these provisions are in making theatre accessible). What we’re talking about here is every element of this production having been created with inclusivity, representation and diversity at its core; whether you are watching or performing, it is integral throughout and, importantly, is entirely in keeping with the production, and not at all gratuitous.

Dylan Thomas might have created Under Milk Wood as ‘a play for voices’ (it was originally a radio drama before it made it to the stage), but Theatr Clwyd have gone one step further to transform it into ‘an immersive theatrical experience for the senses’ and a wonderfully evocative production.

The original play is gloriously melodic for those who able to listen to it, with rhythm, alliteration, and other delightful word sounds. But it can also be chaotic, fast-paced and a little confusing at times as we jump from character to character. Here, artistic director Kate Wasserberg ensures that Thomas’ words are amplified with imagination, physical humour, clever choreography, folksy melodies and a dreamlike atmosphere, bringing it to life so vividly and distinctively. As one very senior theatre professional who happened to be watching at last night’s press performance told me, “I finally understand Under Milk Wood”.

Much of this comes down to the brilliantly talented cast of 11, which includes Deaf, disabled and non-disabled performers, and all of whom work closely together to play more than 40 characters as we glimpse into a day in the lives of the residents of the fictional Welsh village of Llareggub (famously, you need to say it backwards, although this production uses the more Welsh-sounding Llaregyb). Pretty much the entire performance is signed by the performers, and every word they say is visible, appearing on the moody backdrops which sit above the collections of tiny boxed houses of Hayley Grindle’s set, the words looking like they’ve come straight from a child’s story picture book.

Following this first production in the Craidd partnership, both the Sherman and Torch theatres will be creating their own productions. But perhaps the biggest testament to the project will be how it impacts other theatre productions going forward. The storybook captions, for example, would work wonderfully as part of the Sherman’s Christmas family shows, and I would love to see some of tonight’s performers appear in performances away from the Craidd remit. Because when you think a little differently, and embrace difference, amazing things happen, as this innovative and imaginative production demonstrates.

Under Milk Wood is at the Sherman Theatre Cardiff until Saturday 9 May and although it’s selling fast, tickets are still available, priced from £18-£32. Book online here.

Under Milk Wood photographs by Richard Lakos

Also coming up at the Sherman:

Forgiveness of a Monster, 8-23 May

Twelfth Night, 21-23 May (also from Theatr Clwyd)

New ’26: XL Bully, 6-12 June