The man who
took a prominent role and came up with many of the costumes for Llangollen’s
Operatic Society’s last smash-hit show has turned his hand to a gripping new
play at Theatr Clwyd.
Versatile
Philip Main was a key supporting actor and also created a number of the Nazi
era costumes in The Producers which finished a sell-out run at Llangollen Town
Hall last weekend.
But at the
same as being involved with the musical comedy, Philip (pictured) was also working on the
costumes for a very different kind of stage production, Deep Cut at the theatre in Mold.
The play, by
Philip Ralph, concerns the death of Private Cheryl James, of Llangollen, one of
four trainee soldiers who died of gunshot wounds at Deep Cut Barracks in Surrey
between 1995 and 2002.
Cheryl’s
parents refused to accept the official verdict of suicide, and the play’s
dialogue is based on verbatim transcriptions from the subsequent inquiry.
Philip said:
“I spent so many weeks researching, sewing, and making period correct costumes
for The Producers.
“Out of
necessity I looked at images of the Hitler Youth, Hitler himself, Bavarians and
Stalin as well as various productions of the musical to make sure that
everything looked right, with a little bit of artistic licence.
“As well as
that I was also rehearsing my own role within the production.
“All the
while I was also doing research for my next job, to provide costumes and a
specific firearm for the production of Deep Cut at Theatr Clwyd.
“I have gone
from the war and the 1960s to the 1990s and of course the new review of all
that happened at Deep Cut Barracks.
“Next I have
to have ready some Shakespearian costumes for a photo shoot for a Shakespeare
400 event also at Theatr Clwyd in June, in which I am also singing a couple of
period songs. Life is never dull as a costumier!”
Deep Cut
opens tonight (Friday) in the Emlyn Williams Theatre at 8pm and there are also
performances tomorrow at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets are £9.50 with concessions at
£7.50.
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