🌧️ Review: “Pluviophiles (We Loves’ The Rain)” at Theatr Bont — A Raw Downpour of Grit, Heart, and Welsh Soul
Shed Theatre returns with a bold offering in Pluviophiles (We Loves’ The Rain) — not a polished spectacle, but a scratch-night style performance that invites its audience to be part of the creative process. Staged in a room above a pub, this low-budget, non-traditional setup strips away the usual theatrical gloss, revealing something far more intimate and urgent.
đź“ť A Living Work-in-Progress
Audience members were handed feedback sheets at the end — a clear signal that this is theatre in motion, not a finished product. But that’s the beauty of it. This is where great art begins: in the raw, unfiltered spaces where stories are tested, voices are found, and risks are taken. It’s not your usual theatre experience, and that’s exactly why it matters.
🎠Storytelling in Its Rawest Form
Set against the grey drizzle of Swansea, the play spans eight years in the lives of Bethan and Connor — two young people navigating identity, survival, and the blurry lines between love and comfort. The narrative unfolds like a memory: fragmented, poetic, and laced with humour. It’s gritty, yes, but intentionally so. In this stripped-back setting, there’s no hiding behind elaborate staging or lighting. The writing and performances must carry the weight — and for the most part, they do.
🎶 Music as Pulse
Live music, performed by Iwan Bond and playwright Evan L. Barker, adds texture and rhythm, elevating the emotional beats and giving the piece a heartbeat. Director Lauren Ellis-Stretch keeps the pacing tight and the transitions fluid, allowing the story to breathe while maintaining its momentum.
Annalise Williamson, as Bethan, delivers a standout performance — fierce, vulnerable, and magnetic. Her presence anchors the piece, proving that even in the most minimal of settings, powerful acting can shine.
As Connor, Evan Barker brings a restless, searching energy to the stage. His portrayal is layered with vulnerability and charm, capturing the ache of a young man caught between ambition and inertia. Barker’s performance is subtle yet magnetic.
🌧️ Why This Matters
This kind of theatre — raw, experimental, and deeply rooted in Welsh storytelling — is the cornerstone of our cultural landscape. It’s where the magic happens before the polish. For seasoned theatre-goers, it’s a must-see: a reminder of what theatre looks like when it’s stripped to its bones. And for emerging artists, it’s a blueprint for how meaningful stories can be told without big budgets or grand stages.
With further development and funding, Pluviophiles has the potential to grow into something truly special — a contender for larger Welsh theatres and a worthy addition to the canon of great Welsh plays.
Catch it while it’s still finding its feet — and bring your umbrella, not just for the rain, but for the storm of emotion waiting inside.
