The Revlon Girl will be one of those fringe productions that will stay in my memory forever. First staged ten years to mark the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan mining village disaster.
The story is set after the Aberfan disaster where a coal spoil tip collapsed on 21 October 1966 in the Welsh mining village of Aberfan, killing 116 primary school children and 5 teachers Marking its 60th anniversary of the tragedy The Revlon Girl is a fitting play to bring back to the stage and mark this anniversary and to continue to remember all those who died and the parents and community left shattered by grief.
The Revlon Girl is based on the remarkable true story of the mothers who met above the Aberfan Hotel every Tuesday night. This was a space where they could talk, cry, and laugh together in a safe space without feeling guilty. However, one evening, one of them secretly invited a representative from Revlon to give them beauty tips and bring a touch of normality and colour back into their shattered world’s.
The cast of five all give outstanding performances, you feel that by the end of the play that you know each one personally as they share their stories with each other through tears, anger, nervous energy and humour. Nobody knows how they will navigate grief until they are faced with it.
Llinos Daniel, Hedydd Dylan, Charlotte Gray and Mirain Haf Roberts play the four grieving mothers each of them having their own reasons to why they go and although there is tension between some of them they all share the deep loss and emptiness that’s been left behind and are desperately searching for a glimpse of normality.
The representative from Revlon is played by Antonia Kinlay. She had volunteered to come to Aberfan to do her bit and try and bring colour back into these ladies life. However, we discover there’s more to her story than simply wanting to support them.
Please take tissues with you. As a seasoned theatre goer, I rarely find myself as moved as I was watching The Revlon Girl, and from the sniffs in the auditorium I wasn’t alone. An incredible true story of unmeasurable grief and the strength of the women and families who lost their children in Aberfan on October 21st, 1966, they should never be forgotten in the history archives.
Fringe Theatre can be challenging and emotionally charged at times. The Revlon Girl is a fantastic example of the fantastic work that takes place in these venues.
For more information about The Revlon Girl and future productions at Park Theatre, Park 90, please use the link below.
Five Stars.
Photo credit: Maxine Evans
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