The word ‘Aberfan’ may not mean too much to the world nowadays, but nearly 60 years ago in October 1966, it was the scene of one of the most tragic events in post-war British history. On that day 144 people – 112 of them children – died when a 150,000-tonne coal heap engulfed a school in that small Welsh mining village. Liam Holmes wrote and stars in this superb new piece of writing which avoids polemic political statements around blame and cause, choosing to focus on the effect that the disaster had on two young people intimately associated with the event.
Steven Jones (Liam Holmes) and Angharad Price (Mabli Gwynne) are both on the cusp of life beginning, their late teens bursting with unfocused dreams; rugby stardom as fly half in the local team for Steven; escape to the bright lights of …. well anywhere else, for Angharad. The first half of the allotted hour is a slow burner with naturalistic conversation flowing into memory of their meeting, friendship and nascent romance. The build is beautifully developed, both touching and very funny with Steven bursting with youthful energy and constantly preening before the more serious and intelligent Angharad.
She works as a nurse in the local hospital and witnesses first-hand the death and devastation wrought on the community, Steven’s loss is more personal as his young brother Dav is a victim. The subsequent trauma to both characters is played out in brutal truthfulness, their trauma ripping their relationship apart before tentative reconciliation by the conclusion. There are no histrionics in either performance, but it left every audience member visibly moved. Audio of survivor accounts is used by Director Michael Nero to flesh out the events beyond those portrayed to strong effect.
Original writing, excellent performances and powerful subject matter make this a highlight of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Review: Paul Wilcox
Reviewed:13th August 2025
North West End UK Rating: