CAITLIN

By Light/Ladd/Emberton. Commissioned by National Library of Wales.
2014-19

A Light/Ladd/Emberton production Commissioned by National Library of Wales for DT100

Caitlin was the wife of poet Dylan Thomas. At the start of the 70’s, 20 years after he died, she started going to Alcoholics Anonymous.

In a circle of chairs, set out for an AA meeting Caitlin makes a determined effort to deal with her tempestuous past. The audience sits in the circle with Caitlin as she re- visits her life with Dylan. It is a relationship fuelled by love, addiction, jealousy and infidelity. As Caitlin and Dylan drink, fight, love and leave each other the unoccupied chairs become part of the action in this physical and powerful duet.

Caitlin premiered at the National Library of Wales in July 2014 as part of DT100. It toured village halls and arts centres in Wales, UK and Internationally between 2014-2019 including A Nations theatre’ at BAC 2017, British Council Showcase and Wales Dance Strand at Edinburgh Fringe 2017 & Edinburgh Fringe 2015. British Council tour to India as part of Wales in Calcutta 2019. Filmed for BBC Dance Passion 2019.

Programmer Notes

“It is a wonderful, movingly truthful ending to a peerless and revelatory performance.”

— Cath Barton, Wales Arts Review

“This show defied anyone from not being captivated, totally engrossed and at times shocked with its veracity”

— , Wales Theatre Awards 2015

“One of my Chapter highlights for 2014! Brilliant depiction of Caitlin’s struggle with alcoholism. Physical, challenging and at times uncomfortable with superb performances from Eddie and Gwyn.”

— Andy Eagle, Director, Chapter

“It is terse, intricate and, at times, frightening with the interaction between Ladd and Emberton capturing the relationship in a way that so many drama biopics fail…a multi-textured roller-coaster of humour and pathos, sexuality and innocence, violence and interdependency.”

— Mike Smith, Theatre in Wales

“One of the most difficult things to do with a piece of movement theatre is to effectively communicate a narrative, but Ladd, Emberton and Light do this expertly. A truly fantastic piece which gives a rare insight into the life of Caitlin Thomas.”

— Elin Williams, Young Critics Wales

“Deborah Light’s production is riveting from start to finish. It was one of those rare evenings when one comes away, not talking about “the show”, “the performance” or even “the story” but engaged in and with the issues and pain portrayed... With an audience of only twenty this deserves to travel from venue to venue for a very long time to come.”

— Mark J Michaels, Young Critics Wales

“Caitlin (★★★★) is harrowing physical theatre/dance, a brilliant and overwhelming enactment by Eddie Ladd and Gwyn Emerton of the effects of alcoholism, the life-in-death of Dylan Thomas and his wife, Caitlin. A Must See show, but only if you are feeling strong enough to take it.”

— Stephanie Green & Mark Harding, The Skinny

“(★★★★★) Light, Ladd and Emberton interpret Caitlin as a powerful, passionate and embittered woman. The two-handed performance is played out with great physicality. It is raw, visceral and at times, downright vulgar... There is a frenzied energy about this production that is utterly gripping. I look forward to seeing more from this first class dance duo”

— Sarah Dosomah, Female Arts

“(★★★★) Both Ladd and Emberton convey the wild, passionate brutality of this famous couple’s relationship with obvious empathy... Caitlin is a fine example of storytelling through dance.”

— Robert James Peacock, TV Bomb