Death shall have no dominion

Simply combining the talents of one of the 20th century’s greatest poets with one of its greatest actors need not necessarily be a guarantee of success but Bob Kingdom’s “Return Journey” would not be celebrating its 21st anniversary if it were a flop.

The monologue recreates Dylan Thomas’s last great lecture tour en route to the by now legendary binge at the White Horse Tavern, which precipitated his death at the age of 39.

The Welsh wizard had published his universally acclaimed “Deaths and Entrances” in 1946, which contained some of his finest poetry and resulted in his being invited to lecture in the USA. Thomas eventually visited the USA on four separate tours which paid handsomely, enabling the upkeep of his family back in Wales. His heavy drinking, however, had seriously weakened his health and on 9th November 1953, after the aforementioned drinking session in the White Horse, he died, ostensibly of alcoholic poisoning - although it has since been suggested that, being diabetic, he had entered a fatal diabetic coma induced by excessive alcohol.

Bob Kingdom, also a Welshman provides his audience with the opportunity to be moved by the power of Dylan Thomas’s words through Bob Kingdom’s tour-de-force performance. This critically acclaimed production has been seen throughout the world including two sell out London seasons, Off-Broadway and across America. The 21st anniversary revisited production now plays its farewell UK and Irish tour ahead of touring internationally. It is developed from the stories, poems and anecdotes of Thomas, whose lifestyle became almost as legendary as his beautiful lush poetry.

He was performing his show in London many years ago when he was told that Sir Anthony Hopkins –yet another Welshman - wanted to meet him. He told Hopkins he was thinking of touring with the show and was delighted to hear that the great actor was interested in directing the piece or “opening it up a bit,” as Hopkins later put it. The rest is history.

“I think people will always want to be moved by words that hit the spot on such an elemental level as Dylan's,” Kingdom told Community Voice. “I don’t see him as a heroic figure and I don’t see him as a tragic figure. I've always seen him as a humanitarian, with a unique insight into the truths of human nature, both good and bad.

“I'm similarly moved by Auden, Larkin and MacNiece.”

A film “Dylan Thomas: Return Journey” was made in July 1990 just after Hopkins had completed principle photography on the film The Silence of the Lambs. “"Naturally, being a Welshman, I wanted to play Dylan myself, but the odd thing is, directing Bob, I did not feel any resentment,” he said at the time. “He's just so good at it. It's his show, so why should I feel resentful? I have done so many great parts in my time, I am just so glad to be of help.

“Working with him has been a revelation, because I realise how passionately he feels and identifies with Thomas. Bob Kingdom not only identifies with Dylan Thomas but sometimes, and often, the two personalities seem to merge. It is a remarkable performance.”

“Dylan Thomas: Return Journey” with Bob Kingdom plays Draiocht Studio on Saturday 9th February at 8.15pm.

Tickets are €18 / €16.

Community Voice, Media House, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
Phone +353 1 822 1432 -  Fax +353 1 640 4444
info@communityvoice.ie

All content and images are © Perceptions[Publicity and Event Management] Limited. All rights reserved
Site developed by Vincent Cahill