The Red Rogue of Bala

Chris Ashworth-Bennion

Theatr Clwyd production

Theatr Weston (Theatr Clwyd)

November 4-22, 2025; 2 hrs 20 mins

Simon Holland Roberts as the "Red Rogue" in Chris Ashworth-Bennion's new play at Theatr Clwyd.

Was John Jones a lovable rogue, thief and poacher, taking back from landowning interlopers what belonged to him and his people? Was he a dangerous criminal, who died at the hands of the police in a shootout? Or was he a superhero, who could charm birds into song and drag huge cauldrons across from Ireland with his bare hands? 

The answer is somewhere in the middle - and this is what this Theatr Clwyd production of Chris Ashworth-Bennion's The Red Rogue of Bala seeks to portray.

There is much to admire about the work and Dan Jones's direction. The set has a ring of authenticity, capturing the atmosphere of an early 20th Century bar, and is used effectively as the crowd mixes freely with the audience before the show. There is plenty of playful banter as John Jones - the Red Rogue (Simon Holland Roberts) - enters centre stage and dominates proceedings with his aggrandising storytelling. 

The second act sees some burlesque humour, centred on the trial of a badger for crimes against cattle, and the subsequent beating of the local constable, who is mystifyingly confused with the badger. This is in keeping with Welsh storytelling, myth and lore.

Simon Holland Roberts is a commanding performer, but sometimes his words are lost in his tendency to shout. The supporting cast members are excellent, working well together as a team, but Rhys ap Trevor as an inept constable and Maxine Evans as a put-upon landlady stand out.

Several themes emerge as the play progresses. Of course there is a polemic against entitled English invaders who have stolen land from the indigenous Welsh; and there are frequent references to the forthcoming Great War. There is the retelling of the myths surrounding Coch Bach y Bala, the "Little Redhead of Bala". The arrival of the Red Rogue following his latest escape from prison places the villagers in a dilemma. Do they betray him to the local authorities, or do they go to prison? John Jones junior is given a choice by the daughter of the local landowner: give up his father, or lose any chance of a relationship with her.

With such contrasting ideas, played out side by side, it is hard to pick out what the major point of the play is and the story gets a little lost somewhere in the middle. This, along with the length of the second act, is a significant drawback. Nonetheless, the second act builds towards a dramatic climax that on this night earned the cast a standing ovation and left audience members fairly silent and thoughtful as they left the arena. This warm reception merely confirms the fact that the show's run is already sold out. The play has left people talking; quite a compliment in itself.

More info and tickets here