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Needs to play Dylan with Meryl
Streep "The Western Mail", Oct 4 2001
by Ian Hunt
RADIO presenter Chris Needs is the surprise choice to play Dylan Thomas in a
new production about the poet's hellraising life.
Needs, who hosts the late-night show on BBC Radio Wales, will star opposite
Hollywood actress Meryl Streep in Dylan in the Dock - a stage play, movie
and TV mini-series focusing on Thomas's last 72 hours.
"I'm stocky, stumpy, 5ft and a bit and from South West Wales," said Needs.
"I'm a perfect match.
"But, seriously, this is a big thing for me. I have done a lot of stage work
and quite a lot of television but never a starring role like this.
"The producers have seen some show reels and tapes of past productions of
mine. But I think the listeners to my radio programme sowed the seed and put
my name forward.
"At the moment I'm just thinking `wow!' and trying not to go overboard until
all the negotiations are completed." Needs, who also runs a family grocery
shop in Port Talbot, said he was excited about starring alongside Oscar
winner Streep, who will play Thomas's mistress Liz Reitell.
He said, "I was wondering how she might cope with a mad Welshman like me.
I've been a fan of hers for years and even the chance to meet her would be
incredible, let alone work opposite her.
"My mother died last year. She would have been very proud to see me play
Dylan Thomas."
Jeff Towns, who runs Dylan's Bookstore in Swansea, said, "The thing Chris
Needs has got going for him is he is from West Wales. It will help him
understand where Dylan Thomas was coming from in terms of geography and his
attitude to things.
"I think that is more important than having a Thomas look-alike.
"If someone told me Nicholas Cage was going to play Thomas I would say that
was weird. But if you have a good actor it doesn't make any difference -
theatre is all about the suspension of disbelief."
Producers of Dylan in the Dock - written by Swansea writer Binda Singh - are
still looking for an actress to appear alongside Needs and Streep as
Thomas's wife Caitlin.
Los Angeles-based producer Diana Charles said, "The interest in the project
has exceeded all expectations. We are receiving inquiries from all over the
world. We weren't prepared for such as buzz."
The stage production will tour the USA, Europe and Australasia during 2003,
50th anniversary of Thomas's death, with a planned premiere at Swansea's
Taliesin Theatre next year.
Streep said that she hoped to visit Swansea, "If time allows and I am given
the opportunity I would love to perform in his home town." she said.
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 Dear Chris,
Shirley Bassey - Cardiff
Castle.
I would personally like to
thank you very much for your terrific performance at Cardiff Castle on Saturday Night.
I hope that, for your part, you enjoyed the occasion as much as the audience clearly did -
what a memorable evening it was.
Kind regards,
David Heartfield
IMG Artists |
