Dark comedy with the Red Rogue

Theatr Clwyd's autumn premiere of The Red Rogue of Bala (November 3-22) tells the story of a real-life pre-war character from the North Wales town.

Directed by Dan Jones, artistic director of Cardiff’s The Other Room, The Red Rogue of Bala's subject is notorious local jail-breaker, poacher and thief nicknamed Coch Bach y Bala ("The Little Redhead of Bala"), set in 1913 as World War I looms.

Playing the central role of John Jones will be Simon Holland Roberts, whose career goes from Coronation Street to stage appearances at the Donmar Warehouse, Chichester Festival Theatre, National Theatre Wales and Northern Broadsides. 

Jones was also known as the "Welsh Houdini" for having escaped on more than once from Ruthin Jail. The

habitual criminal spent over half his life in prison.

Chris Ashworth-Bennion's fast-moving comedy is set in a dark, dingy pub, and opens with notorious local criminal Jones standing on a table top, holding regulars rapt with stories of mischief and misdemeanours.

But when his son falls for the daughter of the local landowner, trouble isn't far behind...

Joining the cast are Maxine Evans (Stella, Call The Midwife, Torchwood, Casualty, Holby City and EastEnders), alongside Anglesey’s Julian Lewis Jones, whose screen credits include Justice League, Clint Eastwood’s Invictus, HBO’s House of the Dragon, Stella, Torchwood, The Tudors, Foyle’s War and Hinterland.

Also in the cast are Rhys Ap Trefor (Pobol y Cwm), Wyn Bowen Harries (artistic director of Cwmni Pendraw), Theo Woolford and Mia Khan. Making his professional Welsh stage debut is Geraint De Carvalho, and completing the cast will be Qasim Mahmood, who has appeared at the RSC, Hampstead Theatre, Birmingham Rep and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

More info and tickets here