33-469: How Green Was My Valley is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn , narrated by Huw Morgan, the main character, about his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed that he based the book on his own experiences, but this was found after his death to be untrue; Llewellyn was English-born and spent little time in Wales, though he was of Welsh descent. Llewellyn gathered material for
66-575: A Royal Television Society Yorkshire Award for Best Drama. He had a two-part drama Cuckoo in development for ITV with TXTV. In 2014 and 2015 he wrote episodes of the BBC series Doctors. He wrote and researched several films in the Great West End Theatres series presented by Sir Donald Sinden . In 2020 McKenna wrote two series of Eleanor Rising , a BBC Radio 4 drama series about Eleanor of Aquitaine. With recording postponed by COVID-19,
99-424: A mining accident , Huw moves in with Ivor's young widow, Bronwen, with whom he has always secretly been in love. One of Huw's three sisters, Angharad, marries Iestyn Evans, the wealthy mine owner's son – whom she does not love – and the marriage is an unhappy one. She never overcomes her romantic relationship with Merddyn Gruffydd, a local minister, who had declined to marry her because of his poverty. Huw's father
132-514: A Leading Role ( Hayley Mills ), Best Actress in a Featured Role ( Belinda Lang )and Best Actor in a Featured Role (Robert Rees). In 2014 his stage adaptation of Peter James 's novella The Perfect Murder toured the UK, from January to April 2014 with Les Dennis and Claire Goose , and with Robert Daws and Dawn Steele from September 2014. In January 2016 a new tour went out with Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace . After The Perfect Murder , McKenna
165-531: A Welsh theme, the best-known being How Green Was My Valley (1939), which won international acclaim and was made into a classic Hollywood film . It immortalised the way of life of the South Wales Valleys coal mining communities, where Llewellyn spent a small amount of time with his grandfather. Three sequels followed. Shaun McKenna Shaun Patrick McKenna (born 5 April 1957 in Maidstone , Kent)
198-468: A comedy about Caligula's horse with Leslie Phillips , Smiles of a Summer Night (2001) with Samuel West and Nicholas Farrell , Seawyf and Biscuit (2002), The Cry of the Owl (2002), a World Service adaptation of Mrs. Warren's Profession (2002), and the radio adaptation of To Serve Them All My Days (2005). McKenna edited eight books of 'Scenes for Actors' for Oberon Books . In 2020 he published
231-496: A new musical with original music by Guy Kitchenn which will workshop in London in 2023. He has written lyrics for Celtic Warrior , a new musical by Marti Pellow and lyrics for four songs on Pellow's album Stargazer . In October 2022 the new British musical Are You As Nervous As I Am? played a short run at Greenwich Theatre in London. McKenna wrote the lyrics, with music by Leighton James House and book by Simon Spencer . The cast
264-584: A play, worked as a coal miner and produced his best-known novel. During World War II he rose to the rank of Captain in the Welsh Guards . His sister Gwladys (a Royal Red Cross commandant) and her two daughters were killed during the bombing of London, in June 1944. Following the war he worked as a journalist, covering the Nuremberg Trials , and then as a screenwriter for MGM . During his lifetime, he lived in
297-510: A rehearsed reading directed by Kathy Burke ). He began an association with Michael Napier Brown at the Royal Theatre in Northampton for whom he adapted Richard Llewellyn 's How Green Was My Valley (1990) in which Aled Jones made his acting debut, and R. F. Delderfield 's To Serve Them All My Days (1992). He subsequently wrote a drama, Ruling Passions , which was presented at
330-504: A variety of countries, including Italy, China, Brazil, Argentina, Kenya and Israel, in addition to Britain and Ireland. Llewellyn married twice: his first wife was Nona Theresa Catherine Sonsteby, whom he married in 1952 and divorced in 1968; his second wife was editor Susan Frances Heimann, whom he married in 1974. Richard Llewellyn died of a heart attack in St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin on 30 November 1983. Several of his novels dealt with
363-561: Is an English dramatist, lyricist and screenwriter. Shaun McKenna studied at Maidstone Grammar School and the University of Bristol (1975–1978). He was an actor for a few years, then taught drama, and began writing in his late 20s. He married former actress and agent Jenny Hayes in 1985; she died in 2014. Shaun McKenna lives in West London. Shaun McKenna's early theatre plays include Killing Camille ( Paines Plough , Old Red Lion 1990,
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#1732872429374396-403: Is later killed in a mine disaster. After everyone Huw has known either dies or moves away, and the village is reduced to a contaminated shell, and the house is being destroyed by a slag heap, he too decides to leave, and tells the story of his life just before going away. The Older Morgans: The Middle Brothers: These are Huw's young adult brothers. Ianto goes to London to find work early in
429-764: Is now available on Audible . McKenna adapted four of the eight John le Carré George Smiley novels shown in BBC Radio Four's "Complete Smiley" season – A Murder of Quality , The Looking Glass War , Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Honourable Schoolboy (2009–2010), all of which have been released on BBC audiobooks. He later adapted Winston Graham 's novel Marnie for Radio 4 (2011) and Rosemary Sutcliff 's Brother Dusty Feet for Radio 4 Extra. He wrote both original and adapted radio dramas for BBC Radio : The Postman Always Rings Twice (1993), Meeting Jack (1995), The Ghost Train (1997), East of Eden (Classic Serial, 2000), Me and Little Boots (2000)
462-410: The South Wales Valleys , through the eyes of the youngest son, Huw Morgan. Huw's academic ability sets him apart from his elder brothers and enables him to consider a future away from the dangerous coal mines. He loses his opportunity because of fighting with a schoolmaster who punishes children for speaking Welsh. His five brothers and his father are miners. After his eldest brother, Ivor, is killed in
495-676: The Theatre Royal in Northampton in 1990. It marked the stage debut of Aled Jones as the teenage Huw. It was directed by Michael Napier Brown and designed by Ray Lett. In 2017, the book was also adapted as a short film, parts of which are shown in the music video for the song Pleader by the band alt-J . Richard Llewellyn Richard Dafydd Vivian Llewellyn Lloyd ( né Richard Herbert Vivian Lloyd ; 8 December 1906, London – 30 November 1983, Dublin), known by his pen name Richard Llewellyn ( / l u ˈ ɛ l ɪ n / loo- EL -in , Welsh: [ɬəˈwɛlɪn] ),
528-795: The Royal in 1995. He wrote the book for Ben Hur Live , based on the novel by Lew Wallace shown at the O2 arena in September 2009, and in a revised version at the Fiera di Roma, Rome in 2011. In spring 2012 his stage adaptation of Charles Dance 's screenplay for Ladies in Lavender , with Hayley Mills and Belinda Lang , toured the UK. The production won five BroadwayWorld UK Awards 2012, including Best Fringe or Regional Play, Best Director ( Robin Lefevre ), Best Actress in
561-789: The UK with a cast led by Joe McFadden , Rita Simons and Charlie Clements . McKenna's fifth Peter James adaptation, Looking Good Dead , began a long UK tour in Leicester in June 2021 and, ended in April 2022. It starred Adam Woodyatt and Gaynor Faye . Laurie Brett subsequently took over the female lead. The next play in the series Wish You Were Dead began a UK tour in February 2023, starring Clive Mantle , Giovanna Fletcher and George Rainsford as Roy Grace. In May 2021 his original thriller Rocky Road streamed during lockdown from Jermyn Street Theatre . Tyger Drew-Honey and Kirsten Foster played
594-662: The assistant secretary to a club, and Sarah Anne, née Thomas. Only after his death was it discovered that Llewellyn's claim that he was born in St Davids , West Wales , was false. In the U.S., Llewellyn won the National Book Award for favourite novel of 1940, voted by members of the American Booksellers Association . He lived a peripatetic existence, travelling widely throughout his life. Before World War II he spent periods working in hotels , wrote
627-420: The book, but returns unhappily; Owen and Gwilym do the same later. The Younger Morgans: Other characters: The first edition was published in 1939 by Michael Joseph Ltd , London. The first printing included a limited edition run of 200, numbered and signed by Richard Llewellyn. The original print run also included a glossary covering Welsh words and terms at the end of the book. The author continued
660-641: The date of transmission, and centres on a single character's story of life at home during the Great War. He was lead writer on seasons three, six and twelve. Home Front ran until 11 November 2018, the centenary of the end of the First World War . McKenna was commissioned by BBC Radio 4, alongside Lyn Coghlin, to adapt all nine of John Galsworthy 's Forsyte novels, to be transmitted from 2016. The cast includes Joseph Millson as Soames, Juliet Aubrey as Irene and Jessica Raine as Fleur. The complete series
693-616: The first series was broadcast in November 2020, with the second series in April 2021. A third series recorded in June 2022 and will broadcast in September/October. In July 2021 BBC Radio 4 broadcast his two-part reworking of a Henry Fielding novel, Joseph Andrews Remixed with a cast led by Max Bennett , Lyndsey Marshal , Angus Imrie and Michael Bertenshaw. McKenna spent much of 2018 writing China Towns , an eleven hour BBC Radio 4 series based on five novels by Arnold Bennett which
SECTION 20
#1732872429374726-584: The novel from conversations with local mining families in the village of Gilfach Goch , in southeast Wales. In the United States, Llewellyn won the National Book Award for favourite novel of 1940, voted by members of the American Booksellers Association . The novel is set in South Wales during the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII . It tells the story of the Morgans, a respectable mining family of
759-611: The stage adaptation of JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (Toronto 2006, West End 2007) with Matthew Warchus . The show won seven Dora Mavor Moore Awards including Best Musical for McKenna and Warchus. McKenna's work was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Musical. In 2004 McKenna's musical adaptation of Terry Pratchett 's Only You Can Save Mankind was premiered at the Edinburgh Festival , with music by Leighton James House and lyrics by Shaun McKenna. An album of songs
792-427: The story of Huw Morgan's life in three sequels: The 1941 Hollywood film adaptation, which was highly successful, had a cast that included Walter Pidgeon , Maureen O'Hara , Anna Lee , Roddy McDowall (as Huw), Donald Crisp , and Barry Fitzgerald . None of the leading players was Welsh (though Welsh actor Rhys Williams made his screen debut in the film in a minor role). Directed by John Ford, How Green Was My Valley
825-532: The two roles, and the show was directed by Steven Kunis and designed by Ceci Calf. Musical theatre credits include Maddie (Salisbury Playhouse 1996, West End 1997) which he wrote with Steven Dexter and Stephen Keeling . He has subsequently written a book, Maddie and Us , about the experience (see below). He wrote the book for Lautrec (West End 2000), collaborating with Charles Aznavour . Also that year, he and Stephen Keeling contributed additional material for La Cava . McKenna wrote book and lyrics for
858-468: Was a British novelist of a Welsh background, who is best remembered for his 1939 novel How Green Was My Valley , which chronicles life in a coal mining village in the South Wales Valleys . Richard Herbert Vivian Lloyd (he later used the name "Richard Dafydd Vivian Llewellyn Lloyd") was born in Hendon , Middlesex in 1906, the second child and only son of William Llewellyn Lloyd, a hotel clerk and later
891-465: Was adapted as a Broadway musical, called A Time for Singing , which opened at the Broadway Theatre, New York, on 21 May 1966. The music was by John Morris; book and lyrics were by Gerald Freedman and John Morris. The production was directed by Mr. Freedman, and it starred Ivor Emmanuel, Tessie O'Shea, Shani Wallis, and Laurence Naismith. A stage version, adapted by Shaun McKenna was performed at
924-469: Was broadcast over six weekend in 2019 and is now available on Audible . McKenna and co-writer Lin Coghlan merged and entwined characters and plots from the novels to create a sweeping drama across five decades. McKenna was a core writer on the BBC's 600-episode First World War drama Home Front , which began broadcasting daily episodes on 4 August 2014. Each episode is set exactly one hundred years before
957-477: Was commissioned by producers Joshua Andrews and Peter James to adapt James's novel Dead Simple . This toured in 2015 with a cast led by Tina Hobley , Jamie Lomas and Gray O'Brien . In 2017 there was a major UK tour of McKenna's stage version of Not Dead Enough starring Shane Richie , Laura Whitmore and Stephen Billington . Bill Ward subsequently took over from Shane Richie. In 2019, Shaun's fourth Peter James adaptation The House On Cold Hill toured
990-501: Was led by Katie Elin Salt as fictional diva Peggy Starr, Bill Ward as husband Bob and Emma Thornett as her sister, Janet. For ITV Shaun McKenna wrote The Crooked Man (2003, a feature directed by David Drury for ARG), and the two part thriller Like Father, Like Son (2005, directed by Nick Laughland for Ecosse Films ). He wrote seven episodes for the last three series of TV series Heartbeat . His first episode, One Small Step won
1023-695: Was performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2009. In September 2012 the York Theater in New York premiered a workshop lab production of Last Dance , for which McKenna wrote the book. The songs are by Paul Jabara and the show was directed by Philip Wm. McKinley. He wrote the book for the arena show The Bible: In The Beginning , with lyrics by Maribeth Derry, planned to open in the US in 2020. With Chet Walker , McKenna has written Being Jack Cole: The Last Scrapbook
How Green Was My Valley - Misplaced Pages Continue
1056-522: Was released in 2009, prior to a new production. In 2005 McKenna and Stephen Keeling wrote Heidi , entwining the famous children's story and the life of its creator Johanna Spyri , which was first performed in an open-air production in Walenstadt , Switzerland. Heidi II , a sequel, followed in 2007 and 2008. The One True Thing , a prequel, has been commissioned He co-wrote Murder Mystery Musical with Alister Cameron and composer Richard Brown, which
1089-628: Was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry . How Green Was My Valley is available on DVD from 20th Century Fox as part of their 20th Century Fox Studio Classics collection. The book has twice been adapted by the BBC for television, in 1960 and 1975. The 1960 adaptation featured Eynon Evans , Rachel Thomas and Glyn Houston . The 1975 production , scripted by Elaine Morgan , starred Stanley Baker , (Dame) Siân Phillips , and Nerys Hughes . The novel
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