The Wild Tenant in Aberystwyth + Wales Tour

A new play inspired by The Tenant of Wildfell Hall opens today, September 5, in Aberystwyth:

The Wild Tenant

by Lucy Gough

Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DE, UK

September 5-7, 2024

Directed by Angharad Lee & Lucy Gough

Produced by Deryncoch

Design by Pete Lochery

Costume by Llinos Griffiths Gough

What does it mean to love someone struggling with addiction and chaotic behaviour?

In this visceral and deeply personal play by award-winning writer Lucy Gough, we delve into the coercive and violent interactions between married couple Heledd & Hunter (played by Bella Merlin & Jams Thomas), exploring their tempestuous relationship as Hunter battles with his inner demons.

Inspired by Anne Brontë’s novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Bronte’s understanding of the complex relationship experienced by someone who lives with an addict, The Wild Tenant draws on conflicting personal feelings of love and loyalty to a father who encompasses all the difficult and complex attributes of a person with addiction in this darkly funny story.

Later the production will go on a Wales Tour:

Newport, Thursday 12 Sep at 8pm,  The Riverfront

Swansea, Saturday 14 Sep at  7:30pm, Swansea Grand Theatre

Caernarfon, Wednesday 25 Sep at 7pm, Galeri Caernarfon

Cardiff, Friday 27 Sep- Saturday 28 Sep, Wales Millennium Centre

Cambrian News interviews Lucy Gough:

Theatre, radio and TV writer Lucy said: “This play was like a stranger in the night, taking up residence and refusing to leave, bringing with it many unexplored buried feelings. It was a wild tenant, but also a joy to write, and has become - I hope - a darkly funny and honest play.

“It started when a TV producer told me to read ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Brontë's novel.

“She was aware I had adapted ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Brontë for radio and stage, and written about Charlotte Brontë. I was only vaguely aware of Anne Brontë and had not read this novel.

“In bed with flu I read it and was captivated; it is as good as her sister's novels and the honesty and accuracy with which she wrote about the complex relationship between a woman and her alcoholic husband (behaviour Anne experienced daily with her brother Branwell) stirred memories of childhood and of complex conflicting feelings towards someone you love and admire but who leads such a chaotic destructive life. I do not think I had ever read such a truthful courageous account of this sort of experience.

“I started an adaptation of the novel but quickly abandoned this to write my own play. Inspired by what it was that had touched a chord so profoundly, the play fell out! It is an intense, dark, sometimes violent but often funny two hander. (...)

On 29 August in Waterstones, I will be talking about inspiration and adaptation in conversation with Bella Merlin who has written books on actor training.” (Julia McNicholls Vale)