From appearing alongside Hollywood superstars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in a 1960s film to becoming a world expert on Abraham Lincoln as Professor of American History at Oxford, Richard Carwardine's career milestones are as diverse as they are intriguing.

"My professional career has been as an academic, specialising in American history," explains Richard, between rehearsals. "I was a historian at Sheffield University and then Oxford, where I became Rhodes Professor of American History and then President of Corpus Christi College. But alongside this, I have always been acting, just for the love of it. One memorable highlight was appearing in Marlowe's Dr Faustus with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor when I was a student at Oxford. I have also been fortunate to have the chance to play so many wonderful roles in Shakespeare over the years: from Benedick in Much Ado, to Malvolio, Shylock, Richard III, Prospero, Bottom, Falstaff, Lear, and Toby Belch."

With such an impressive collection of academic and performance accolades already to his name, Richard might be forgiven for bowing out of either one of these career paths - but there's no danger of that, it seems. Indeed, as well as researching his next book and preparing to collect his recent award of The Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) "for services to the study of American history" - announced in the latest Queen's Birthday Honours - he will soon be travelling to Malta as part of a new touring production of Under Milk Wood.

This celebrated and much-loved play by iconic Welsh poet and playwright Dylan Thomas has been dubbed a 'comic masterpiece' by the great Welsh actor, Richard Burton. Set in a fictional Welsh seaside town, Under Milk Wood tells the story of its colourful mix of quirky and eccentric residents, with its enduring themes of love, loss and gossip as resonant today as when the play was first performed in 1953.

"The lyrical writing style of Dylan Thomas I find fascinating," Richard continues. "His cleverness in creating place and mood through vivid imagery, delivered through using alliteration and other flourishes in his choice of language is extraordinary. Welsh-speakers in the cast say that features of his highly poetic prose clearly draw on the characteristics of the ancient Welsh language, although Dylan Thomas was writing solely in English. He would have heard Welsh spoken at home, of course."

Apart from its humour, unique use of language and universal themes, the play's longevity could also be attributed to the wide range of characters it showcases in the story, with an incredible 69 speaking parts in total. This has taxed the ingenuity of directors down the years. "Like all the actors in this cast of 11, I play a variety of roles, since there are so many speaking parts!" explains Richard.

"First there is Reverend Eli Jenkins, who is one of the play's most humane characters, a minister of religion, poet, and chronicler of the town's history, who loves the place and sees the best in its inhabitants. Then there is Mog Edwards, a draper who declares himself rapturously in love with the sweetshop owner, Myfanwy Price, but will they ever get to meet face to face, and - for all their expressions of undying love - will they ever marry? Finally, there is Cherry Owen, happily married to a very tolerant wife, and she has to be, because he is defined by his infinite capacity for warm beer."

In this, his first venture with Moonlight Theatre, Richard will be joining a cast of other highly-experienced actors on tour - including his equally-accomplished wife and fellow historian, Linda Kirk - in what is also the company's first visit to Malta Like most of the cast, Richard hails from South Wales while the play's director, John Rhys Thomas, lives in the poet's home town of Swansea and is a former chairman of the Dylan Thomas Society. He has already received critical acclaim for his touring productions of the play in New York, Harvard and Canada.

Under Milk Wood will mark Richard's first visit to Malta, which he says is long overdue. He suggests some notable similarities between the island and Wales, and believes the play's characters will be as recognisable and real for local audiences as they are at home in Wales. "Under Milk Wood is set in a seaside fishing village or small town, and we hope people will see its particular resonance for Malta. Like Wales, you are a small proud maritime nation with a strong bilingual culture and the play's themes and many of its characters are universal," he points out.

"The play's first performance, rapturously received, was not in Wales, but in New York - a striking indication of its broad and timeless appeal, and it has been delighting audiences all around the world for decades now. It should be hugely enjoyable, and our production will be performed with live music including Welsh folk songs and sea shanties which we think will add a lot to the experience for the audience. I am delighted to have the chance to help showcase the work of Wales' most celebrated modern writer to new audiences and Dylan Thomas fans alike."

 

Moonlight Theatre's production of Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas will be performed at Valletta Campus Theatre (ex MITP), Valletta, on 17, 18, 19, 20 October 2019, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets from €10 and are available online at www.ticketline.com.mt  or  www.facebook.com/moonlightheatre