Constellations, Theatre Clwyd Review
Constellations production image. Photo by Andrew ABConstellations is a beautiful piece of theatre that is currently being showcased at the Theatre Clwyd in North Wales. Written by British playwright, Nick Payne, and boasting successful runs in the West End and Broadway, this production is a thought-provoking, emotional and captivating piece of theatre. Directed by Daniel Lloyd, it’s a production that is undoubtedly worth seeing.
The production tells the story of a sliding doors moment, during which physicist Marianne and beekeeper Roland meet for the first time. We then watch the relationship between the two characters play out across a series of parallel universes. While some of the revisited scenes have dramatic differences, others are far more subtle and it’s in these moments that the quality of the acting is on full display.
The casting of Gwenllian Higginson (Marianne) and Aled Pugh (Roland) is utter perfection, and the chemistry between them feels rich and real. Despite them having previously been played by a stellar list of celebrities, Pugh and Higginson instil an authentic sense of ‘Welsh-ness’ into their roles. If you’d have told me that the play was written in Pontcanna, I’d have believed you.
The production itself lasts for 75 minutes but manages to fit a lifetime of emotion into its script. Every moment is utilised and not a second of the production feels wasted. The script is beautiful, the acting is seamless and while it touches on many difficult topics, it was engaging from start to finish.
The stage is minimal, with a scattering of light bulbs at various heights around the stage. From the moment these starting fizzing to life in the minutes before the play begins, they add a sense of cosmos to the production. A regional theatre that is currently undergoing a large-scale redevelopment, the temporary set-up is surprisingly well-thought out and elegantly designed. The cosiness of the theatre undoubtedly contributed to the production’s overall effect.
Constellations also benefits from using the Welsh language, with the actors seamlessly slipping into Welsh for just one scene. There’s something truly heartwarming about seeing the Welsh language being used in such a natural way. For that moment, it felt as if the entire production had been spoken in Welsh.
This production ticks all the boxes, a script that offers an emotional and captivating production with acting that takes you on a journey. A must-see.
At Theatre Clwyd until 25 May 2024.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
