Wartime brought to life by local Iola

Jun 24 2010 by Sarah Batley, North Wales Weekly News

FORMER Penrhyn Bay schoolgirl Iola Hughes is helping bring history to life for hundreds of North Wales pupils.

She’s one of the four-strong cast in Flora’s War, Tim Baker’s production at Mold’s Clwyd Theatr Cymru about family life in North Wales during World War II.

Iola, who grew up in Abergele, plays Gwen, big sister of Flora (Amy Morgan), whose diary forms the play’s narrative.

They live with mum Edie (Crisian Emanuel) and Archie (Joshua McCord), a London evacuee who comes to stay with just a small suitcase and a tin, the contents of which he never shows anybody.

Junior school pupils spend a day at the theatre, with history workshops followed by a performance, and there’s also some public evening shows, open to adults as well.

The youngsters also get the chance to quiz the cast, leading to some intriguing questions, reveals Iola, 28.

“They always want to see what’s in Archie’s tin,” she laughs in a break between shows.”

It’s a chance for the former pupil of Ysgol y Creuddyn to spend time with her parents, dad Aled, a woodwork teacher, and mum Ceri, a nurse, plus her two older sisters.

She’s appeared in S4C’s Caerdydd, plus Y Pris and Talcen Caled.

Flora’s War, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, June 24 and July 1, 7pm, tickets 0845 330 3565 or clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk