Conceived by Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas as a piece for performance on radio.
Richard Burton leads a huge cast in the tale about the lives and dreams of a Welsh seaside village called Llareggub.
Tragically, Dylan never heard it broadcast.
He died aged 38, two months before, on 9th November 1953.
First Voice ........ Richard Burton Second Voice ........ Richard Bebb Captain Cat ........ Hugh Griffith Rosie Probert ........ Rachel Thomas Polly Garter ........ Diana Maddox Mog Edwards ........ Dafydd Havard Myfanwy Price ........ Sybil Williams Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard ........ Dilys Davies Mr Ogmore ........ David Close-Thomas Mr Pritchard ........ Ben Williams Butcher Beynon ........ Meredith Edwards Gossamer ........ Gwenllian Owen Rev. Eli Jenkins ........ Philip Burton Lily Smalls ........ Gwyneth Petty Mr Pugh ........ John Huw Jones Mrs Pugh ........ Mary Jones Mary Ann Sailors ........ Rachel Thomas Sinbad Sailors ........ Aubrey Richards Dai Bread ........ David Close-Thomas Mrs Dai Bread One ........ Gwyneth Petty Mrs Dai Bread Two ........ Rachel Roberts Willy Nilly Postman ........ Ben Williams Mrs Willy Nilly ........ Rachel Thomas Cherry Owen ........ John Ormord Thomas Mrs Cherry Owen ........ Lorna Davies Nogood Boyo ........ Dillwyn Owen Organ Morgan ........ John Glyn Jones Mrs Organ Morgan ........ Olwen Brookes Mary Rose Cottage ........ Rachel Roberts Gwenny ........ Norma Jones The three boys: Ian Griffith, John Watts, Philip Cyster
Other parts played by the cast.
Children's songs and singing game by the pupils of Laugharne School
Music composed by Dr Daniel Jones Singer-accordionist: Barney Gilbraith
Producer: Douglas Cleverdon
First broadcast on the BBC Third Programme in January 1954.
***Broadcast to mark Richard Burton's entry to 4 Extra's 100 Club. Born on 10th November 1925, he died aged 58 on 5th August 1984 ***
Original broadcast BBC One Wales 5th May 2014. Rebroadcast BBC Four 9th November 2023.
A unique one-off television production of Dylan Thomas's famous 'play for voices' performed by a community of Welsh talent in New York, Los Angeles, London, Cardiff and Laugharne. Michael Sheen opens as First Voice with Sir Tom Jones as Captain Cat, and as each of Thomas's iconic characters joins in, the piece builds up into a collage of famous voices and faces (including Matthew Rhys, Ioan Gruffudd, Siân Phillips, Jonathan Pryce, Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins) intercut with evocative imagery inspired by the play and created as part of a live event by National Theatre Wales.
Credits: Voice .... Michael Sheen Captain Cat .... Tom Jones New York Voice .... Matthew Rhys Laugharne Voice .... Aimee-Ffion Edwards Drowned and Willy Nilly .... Tom Rhys Harries Drowned and Voice .... Karl Johnson Drowned and Evans the Death .... Iwan Rheon Drowned and Voice .... Aneurin Barnard Rosie Probert .... Nia Roberts Mog Edwards .... Ioan Gruffudd Myfanwy Price .... Kimberley Nixon Mr Waldo .... Steffan Rhodri Neighbour .... Mark Lewis Jones Neighbour .... Richard Harrington Neighbour .... Sophie Evans Neighbour .... Melanie Walters Voice .... Griff Rhys Jones Voice .... John Rhys-Davies Voice .... Andrew Howard Voice .... Rakie Ayola Mr Pugh .... Jonathan Pryce Mrs Pugh .... Siân Phillips Rev Eli Jenkins .... Bryn Terfel Polly Garter .... Katherine Jenkins Mrs Ogmore Pritchard .... Charlotte Church Mr Ogmore .... Tom Ellis Mr Pritchard .... Aneirin Hughes Butcher Beynon .... Robert Pugh Mrs Beynon .... Suzanne Packer Lily Smalls .... Eve Myles Mae Rose Cottage .... Alexandra Roach Nogood Boyo .... Craig Roberts Mary Ann Sailors .... Sharon Morgan Dai Bread .... Owen Teale Mrs Dai Bread One .... Di Botcher Mrs Dai Bread Two .... Sian Thomas Sinbad Sailors .... Jon Tregenna
Writer: Dylan Thomas Director: Pip Broughton Executive Producer: Bethan Jones
Never filmed screenplay by Dylan Thomas, adapted for radio for the centenary of his birth, and narrated as a 'Film for Voices' by Matthew Rhys.
Wiltshire arrives on an unnamed Pacific island hoping to trade in copra. But an encounter with rival trader Case leads to a macabre wedding. Shunned by the locals, Wiltshire sets out to uncover the secret behind Case's mysterious hold over the islanders, and the truth in the tales of the singing devils living deep in the bush.
Dylan Thomas adapted the short story of the same title by Robert Louis Stevenson to create this screenplay but it was never filmed, despite interest from Richard Burton. So this radio adaptation for the centenary of his birth is the world premiere of a work that blends some of the wordplay of Under Milk Wood with the brooding mystery of Heart of Darkness.
Producer Alison Hindell came across The Beach of Falesa when her stepdaughter moved into a new house in Sydney and found the published edition of the text amongst the remnants left behind by the previous owner.
Narrator ..... Matthew Rhys Wiltshire ..... Matthew Gravelle Case ..... Nicky Henson Uma ..... Fiona Marr Jenkins / Captain ..... Simon Armstrong Randall ..... Stephen Critchlow Little Jack ..... Steve Toussaint
Original music composed by Roger Goula
Sound, Nigel Lewis
Adapted for radio and directed by Alison Hindell
A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2014.
