Posts Tagged ‘Port Talbot’

The South Wales Evening Post published an article today where Michael said the memory of the three-day outdoor theatrical should not be tampered with and that it “exemplified the spirit of the whole town”.

“The power was that it was a one-off event that no-one knew what they would be a part of or see.

“The Passion and what it was and is should not be tampered with. If it inspires other people to come together to do something to bring the community together in the same way that would be fantastic.”

The Gospel of Us is a feature film version of last year’s Passion play, and had its world premiere in Port Talbot on Sunday. If you haven’t seen my pictures of the red carpet yet, you can view them in the Gallery.  The Gospel of Us will be released in UK cinemas on 13 April.

The merchandise for The Passion anniversary celebrations, can be found at: porttalbot-passion.com.

You can read the full article here.

A video has appeared on the BBC of Michael talking at the memory event held last week at the Aberafan Shopping Centre, which culminated in a live Q&A.

A copy has been added to the Video Library, or you can watch it below

As mentioned previously, I was invited by a lovely lady from Apollo Cinemas, to the premiere of The Gospel of Us, the feature film version of last Easter’s Passion play that Michael performed throughout Port Talbot over a 72 hours.

The director, Dave McKean was given all the footage, and with some clever editing he has managed to put it together into a marvelous, and moving film.  I intend to do a full review, probably tomorrow, as I need a chance to think of how to put into words how this film made me feel.

In the meantime, please enjoy the photos I took while fighting for elbow room in the press pit.As before, feel free to distribute these images, or post them on your tumblrs, but please give me credit and a link back.

Sadly, I didn’t get to interview any of the VIPs, but I did get a quick hello and a handshake with them. I am a very very lucky girl to have had the opportunity to meet three wonderfully talented men.

Below are a few teasers, but to see the full collection and full size version, click on the Gallery link.

Appearances >> 2012 >> The Gospel of Us Premiere

Yesterday afternoon, I had the great pleasure of attending the Q&A that Michael Sheen did as part of the Passion Memory event being held at the Aberafan Shopping Centre in Port Talbot.

Michael was interviewed by BBC Radio Wales’ Phil George. They spoke about how Michel was first approached by National Theatre Wales, what inspired him to do the Passion, and the creative process involved. For someone like me who was not fortunate enough to have attended the event, it was very enlightening.

Michael told how the whole thing grew quite organically, and for a long time he was not even sure what the event was going to be. His obvious love and pride for his home town, and speaking about the people that had given up so much to help put this thing together proved very emotional for him at few times.

There were a few comments from writer Owen Sheers, and co-director Bill Mitchell as well as members of the audience who had an opportunity to tell of their most memorable moments of the play.

The interview was recorded, and is due to be aired on Thursday, BBC Radio Wales at 7:00pm.

Here are a few teasers of the picture, as taken by yours truly. One or two are a little blurry as let me tell you … the man just doesn’t sit still! His face is so expressive, and he his hands refuse to lay still, but I guess that is part of what makes him a great actor. The rest of the pictures and the full sized versions are in the Gallery, so just follow the link. The eagle-eyed amongst you may spot Rachel McAdams.

Feel free to distribute the images, but please give credit/linkback and do not remove the watermark.

Appearances >> 2012 >> Aberfan Shopping Centre Q&A

Press Release

Headlines were made around the world when Michael Sheen returned to his home of Port Talbot Wales in Easter 2011 to co-direct and star in The Passion, a one-off theatre event described by The Observer as “one of the outstanding theatrical events not only of this year, but of the decade.”

Taking inspiration from one of the defining narratives of our times, this non-stop three-day production has been made into a 2hr fiction film entitled The Gospel Of Us by Dave McKean, who has woven together the play’s key dramatic scenes with his visual artistry to bring this bold adaptation to cinemas.

A contemporary script by Owen Sheers transposes the Passion narrative to modern-day Port Talbot: a town under the control of ICU, a ruthless company exploiting the natural resources at the expense of the community. Tensions rise as ICU push ahead with their Passover project, and into this explosive atmosphere comes a mysterious man, later revealed as the Teacher (Michael Sheen). When he defuses a potentially explosive confrontation on the beachfront, the Teacher becomes the focal point for the Resistance and gathers followers, but his newfound prominence draws the attentions of ICU, who perceive him as a threat that must be removed at all costs.

The Gospel of Us will have its world premiere at the Apollo Cinema Port Talbot on Easter Sunday 8th April to mark the one-year anniversary of the play before playing at cinemas nationwide from April 13th.

If you haven’t done so already, grab your tickets now. Please visit www.apollocinemas.com or call the box office on 0871 220 6000.

The Gospel Of Us! is a Rondo Media!production in association with The Film Agency for Wales, co-produced with National Theatre Wales and WildWorks. The film will be released by Soda Pictures as part of their New British Cinema Quarterly programme.

As previously announced, Port Talbot will be hosting the world premiere of the film version of last Easter’s Passion play, called The Gospel of Us.

There will be an event that coincides with the premiere being hosted by National Theatre Wales, and Michael Sheen is looking for attendees of The Passion to help with this.

A multimedia memory exhibition is to be held in the Aberafan Shopping Centre during Easter weekend and people are invited to contribute photographs or videos of their very best memory of the performance.

“Think of the moments that have stayed with you, write them down or paint them, or come and let us record you talking about them,” said Michael, who will attend the event, along with writer Owen Sheers.

“If you’ve created anything in response to what you experienced last Easter, send it in so it can be part of this exhibition.

“And let’s remember and celebrate not only what we all helped to make happen a year ago, but also what it has created since, and what it can go on inspiring in the future.”

From Monday, April 2, the public is invited to scan photographs, record their memories, and share anecdotes from last Easter.

A shed will be put up in the shopping centre in which the public is invited to film their favourite memory.

Following the memory event, film director Dave McKean and Michael will present the world premiere of fiction feature The Gospel Of Us at the Apollo Cinema on Easter Sunday (8th April) at 8pm. Additional public screenings will take place on Easter Monday.

Other planned events include Micheal attending a Q&A session hosted by the Royal Television Society at the exhibition at 2.30pm on Easter Sunday, and Owen Sheers will read extracts from The Gospel of Us at Port Talbot Library on Saturday, April 7, at 1pm.