Beth ddigwyddodd i Theatr Ddychanol Wleidyddol Gymraeg? / What happened to Welsh Language Political Satire?

Beth ddigwyddodd i Theatr Ddychanol Wleidyddol Gymraeg? / What happened to Welsh Language Political Satire?

Judith Humphreys, 7 July 2012

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Teimlo nad oes yna gymaint o theatr Gymraeg sy'n herio trwy ddychanu a chodi cwestiynau gwleidyddol/cymdeithasol.

E.e., theatr ffeministaidd - neu gydag agweddau ffeministaidd. Natur y drafodaeth gyhoeddus yw'r broblem o bosibl - rhaid cwestiynau'r cyfrynfau torfol heddiw a'r ffordd maen nhw'n llywio'r drafodeth - e,e, clywir yn aml ein bod ni'n byw mewn cyfnod ‘ol-ffeministaidd’ - ond mae ‘mond angen sbio am eiliad ar y modd y delweddir merched heddiw - a.y.y.b. - i wybod nad yw’n wir,.

Mae croniclo hanes diweddar y theatr yn bwysig, weithiau, yn enwedig os yw'r agweddau yna wedi diflanu heddiw. Meddwl, e.e., am y gwaith a wnaethpwyd gan Theatr Bara Caws yn y dyddiadu cynnar. Pethau heriol, dychanol, a.y.y.b.

Y ffaith bod y cyd-destun gwleidyddol wedi newid?? H.y., ydi o'n wir bod y theatr wleidyddol yna wedi dod allan o brotestiadau gwelidyddol y 60au a'r 70au? Pobl yn dringo mastiau darlledu er mwyn prostio dros ddiffyg sianel Gymraeg a.y.y.b. . . . a drama^u gwleidyddol heriol ar y llwyfan wedyn yn adlewyrchu'r un awydd/anian?? Ond os ydi'r oes yn wahanol heddiw - a phobl ifanc ddim yn protestio gymaint rwan - mae'n bosibl bod angen y theatr wleidyddol brotestgar yna'n fwy hyd yn oed heddiw!!

Yn gyffredinol, mae problem Cymru hefyd yn deillio o'r ffaith ei bod hi'n rhan o Brydain?? A'r ‘dumbing down’ sydd wedi digwydd efo diwylliant tabloidaidd ac ati? E.e., mae theatr ‘ddoniol’ heddiw - e.e., sioeau tafarn yng Nghymru - wedi mynd o lefel Monty Python i lefel Benny Hill.

Diddorol nodi byd D+D Newcastle wedi codi pwynt tebyg o ran pwyisgrwydd theatr y gorffennol a rhai agweddau a gollwyd o bosibl

Un syniad - o ran ceisio ailafael yn nrama heriol y gorffennol - beth am geisio cynhyrchu drama Bara Caws (dyweder) o'r 70au hwyr air am air heddiw a gweld ymateb cynulleidfa heddiw?

Teimlo ein bod ni wedi colli'r elfen yna o weld datganiad gwleidyddiol pwysig a pherthnasol yn ganolog i ddrama lwyfan Gymraeg (gyda ‘Llwyth’ yn eithriad yn ddiweddar).

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A feeling there is not much Welsh language theatre that challenges by satirizing and raising political/social questions.

E,g. feminist theatre – or theatre with feminist attitudes. The nature of the public debate is the problem of the possible – the current public media and the way they steer the debate must be questioned – e.g. it is often heard that we live in a ‘post feminist’ age – but it is only necessary to look for a moment at the way in which women are portrayed these days – etc – to know this is not true.

It is sometimes important to chronicle the recent history of the theatre, particularly as to whether these attitudes have disappeared these days. Thinking, e.g. about the work of Theatr Bara Caws in the early days – one then knows this is not true.

The fact the political context has changed?? I.e. is it true that political theatre emerged from the political protests of the 60s and 70s? People climbing transmission masts to protest at the lack of a Welsh language channel etc. ...and challenging political dramas on the stage then reflecting the same desire/nature?? But if today is a different age – and young people not protesting as much now – it is possible there is even more need today for this protestful political theatre!

In general, Wales’s problem also emanates from the fact we are part of Britain?? And the ‘dumbing down’ that has happened with tabloid culture and so on?

E.g ‘humorous’ theatre nowadays – e.g. pub shows in Wales – has gone from the level of Monty Python to that of Benny Hill.

It is interesting to note that D + D Newcastle raised a similar point in terms of the theatre in the past and some aspects that may have been lost.

One idea – in terms of trying to grasp again the challenging drama of the past – what about trying to produce a Bara Caws drama (say) from the late 70s word for word these days and seeing the response of today’s audience?

A feeling we have lost this element of seeing an important and relevant political statement as central to Welsh language stage plays (with ‘Llwyth’ being a recent exception).

Tags:

Welsh, Satirical theatre, theatre history, political theatre, feminism, chronicling theatre

history, satire, theatr ddychanol, croniclo hanes theatr, theatr wleidyddol, theatr

ffeministaidd, feminist theatre

Comments: 1

Phelim McDermott, 24 July 2012

Judith,

I've been meaning to put this link up for you as I feel it's very important that certain companies from the past get the recognition they deserve. Do Bara Caws have a listing on the unfinished histories website?

Unfinished histories. I think part of the ability to create new work that draws on the companies of the past is simply access to their story and how they did it. It would be great to know they wont be forgotten and this website has just been revamped and they should be included!

The contact there is Susan Croft and Jessica Higgs