Finborough Theatre – until 22 November 2025
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
5*****
Friday 21st October 1966 is a date that is seared into the collective memory of the mining communities of Wales. Hundreds of men and boys had died in terrible pit disasters since the coalfields had been mined, but the collapse of one of the colliery spoil tips above Aberfan, sweeping down the hillside and engulfing Pantglas Junior School and a row of houses killing 116 children and 28 adults was a devastating event that changed the village forever.
In the land of song and poetry, there have been many artistic works about the disaster, most notably Owen Shears’ The Green Hollow and Karl Jenkins’ Cantata Memoria (with the damning words of a grieving father “Buried Alive by the National Coal Board”) commemorating the 50th anniversary, and Neil Anthony Docking’s The Revlon Girl focussing on the grieving mothers of the village. Liam Holmes’ stunning debut Mr Jones concentrates on two young people and the effect of the disaster on their lives.
Juliette Demoulin’s atmospheric set evokes rock strata and ledges lit beautifully by Alastair Tombs to mark the periods before (vivid green) and after (bleak blue) the disaster while James “Bucky” Barnes’ sound design expertly conveys Stephen’s initial innocence and passion and the horrific rumble of the slip. Michael Neri directs with empathy and a light touch, weaving the humour of Holmes’ play gently through the devastating trauma.
Stephen (Liam Holmes) and Angharad (Mabli Gwynne) have a close relationship – she lived with his family and practically raised his younger brother Daf after his mother died. But while she views Stephen as a kid brother, he has developed a huge crush on her. Their sibling-like teasing and arguing, and Stephen’s awkward attempts at suave flirting, are wonderfully written in the rhythm and cadence of Merthyr. This was a time when you could tell which valley and village someone came from by their different accents, and social mobility was non-existent. Moving down to Cardiff was an adventure, and Swansea was a step too far! Holmes’ grasp of the gossip and village nicknames the two share is fantastic – to be fair, nothing much has changed in the valleys in that respect – and the sense of a close-knit community is vividly drawn through their conversations. Stephen is happy playing rugby, his chance to really make a name for himself in the village, but Angharad wants more, even dreaming of Australia.
The psychological impact on the two is portrayed with great insight. Gwynne delivers a gloriously nuanced performance as Angharad shuts down and wants to leave Aberfan behind, while Stephen desperately wants to connect with his father after losing Daf. Holmes captures Stephen’s loss of innocence, fear, guilt and devastating grief with every gesture and expression in a heartbreaking performance as it becomes clear how his father’s grief is manifesting.
An unmissable, intimate examination of trauma and grief, Mr Jones is an emotional, heartbreaking play. As the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster approaches, this play serves as a beautiful tribute to those lost, and those left behind.