a love story

by Wyn Bowen Harries

Characters :

Rosalind Franklin, X ray crystallographer

Adrienne Weill, Physicist, French,

Raymond Gosling : Phd student

Maurice Wilkins: Biophysician at King’s College, London

Francis Crick: Scientist at Cavendish Labs, Cambridge

Scene 1.

James Watson: Scientist, American

TIME : 1950’s

The musician plays while Rosalind listens remembering her time in Paris and London after the war. Adrienne joins saying how much she has missed her. We come to realise that Adrienne is reminiscing with her now dead friend. Rosalind died 6 years previously, but they converse about the Nobel prize that was not to be hers. Adrienne takes her by the hand and leads her on the path to rediscover her life in Science.

Scene 2. King’s College, London. We meet Gosling and Wilkins who is apologising to Gosling that his new supervisor will be a woman. Rosalind enters. An argument ensues where Rosalind says she was to work on proteins but now finds she is to work on DNA.  Wilkins tries to escape by saying he is going to lunch. She says she will come with him, but he replies that women are not allowed in the Senior Common Room.

Scene 3. Roslind’s Flat. She arrives home through the smog and wasteland which is Parts of London after the War declaring why on earth did she leave Paris where life was lived to the full whereas in England the men like Wilkins are so straight and formal. We find out they are both Jewish and that there is always pressure on the Women to marry and have children. “How do I tell mother that my love is Science and not men”

Scene 4. King’s. Another argument erupts when we understand that Roslind is now expected to be Wilkins’ assistant and not be responsible for her own work. Would she be prepared to form a partnership then? The answer is that she will not share any data or results with anyone until she is sure they are correct. Wilkins says she should have stayed in Paris with her work on the structure of coal! She says he should have stayed in America with his Manhattan project and Atom bomb. Wilkins leaves but Gosling stays and supports Roslind since he believes in the new rights for women and social justice in post war socialist policies.

Scene 5. Roslind’s flat. The two women have a discussion on Entropy and Schrodinger’s ideas on biology, before moving on to describe Roslind’s work on what is a nucleotide. The chemical symbols are seen on the screens. This is the beginning of the detective story of what is the structure of DNA  

Scene 6. Naples. We meet James Watson at a conference in Naples. He tries to persuade Wilkins to take him on at King’s.

Scene 7.  King’s. Wilkins introduces Watson to Roslind. He wants her to help him with his work in Cambridge. It is obvious that he is there to get ahead in the race for DNA structure and the Nobel prize. Another argument ensues when Roslind accuses Wilkins of saying that he took an X-ray photo that suggests a helix structure when in fact it was Gosling. She says there is no proof yet and accuses Wilkins of bad science. She sends them both packing.

Scene 8. The Alps in France. Relief and a tonic to go walking in the mountains away from smoggy London and men like Wilkins and Watson. They chat about school days and what it was like for a little Jewish girl in a Christian school. Boys and sex. We realise here how naive Roslind is and how disinterested she is in anything but Science.

Scene 9. The Eagles Pub, Cambridge. We meet Francis Crick who has been to a conference in Stockholm. Linus Pauling, one of the greatest chemists has proved that proteins are helixes, demonstrated with the aid of a model. The race is on if Pauling gets involved with DNA. They attempt a version of a model themselves but need better photos. Who has the photos – yes Rosy as they keep calling her.

Scene 10. King’s. Ros is in her own world holding a new photo and slowly dancing around the room. Gosling surprises her. She tells him the exciting news that there are 2 forms of DNA –A and B. Wilkins enters, Gosling stupidly tells him the news. Wilkins insists they cooperate, but she refuses and shockingly swears at him. Wilkins has never heard such a thing from a woman before, calls her Rosy before she sends him packing again.

Scene 11. Flat. Ros screams with frustration and becomes very upset, saying how everyone hates her and wants to pack it all in. Adrienne comforts her saying it’s very dificult being a woman in such a macho egotistical world.

Scene 12. Crick/Watson lab Cambridge. They have built a model. Roslind has been invited to view it. She completely destroys their theory, the nitrogen base, sugar and phosphate groups are in the wrong order. X-Ray crystallography is the answer not little boys playing with models.

Scene 13. Flat. Schadenfreude is a wonderful thing sometimes as Ros describes Watson/Crick’s reaction. However, Adrienne asks why she doesn’t believe DNA is a Helix when she has done all the hard work? Rosy replies she has no proof, and proof is the only way good science can develop. Models are not enough.

Scene 14. King’s. Watson visits Ros to try to get more info and to get her to join the race for the Nobel. She refuses and throws him out

Scene 15. Corridor King’s. Watson and Wilkins complain about Rosy. Wilkins shows the latest photo given to him by Gosling. Waw, oh waw, it is the famous photo 51!

Scene 16. King’s lab. Ros is wearily working the maths. Adrienne enters, says she has to leave for France. They start dancing. The last Waltz?

Scene 17. Eagles pub. Photo 51 clearly shows a double helix. Watson has also acquired Rosy’s paper from Wilkins, which is not the way Crick wants to work. This gives them all the info they need to build their model. Watson explains how nucleotides fit together with the aid of cardboard cutouts. Eureka! Crick stands in the pub to exclaim they have solved the secret of life.

Scene 18. Kings Lab. Roslind reads her letter to Adrienne saying she is leaving Kings. Gosling says the race is lost. Ros insists there was no race. She had been to see their model and congratulated them on their achievement. Gosling leaves, Ros collapses in pain, Adrienne arrives saying how sorry she was for not being with her when she was ill. She loves Ros.

Scene 19. Eagles. Crick and Watson discuss the way forward – paper in Nature magazine etc, don’t mention Rosy because they would have to admit ‘borrowing’ her data.

Scene 20. America. Cape Cod. Ros is on a speaking tour, meets Watson. She feels so much freer in America. They appear to have forgiven their differences and discuss future work on viruses.

Scene 21. Nobel Prize. Watson reads his acceptance speech where there is no mention of Rosalind Franklin, only the splendid work of men like Wilkins and Crick.

Scene 22. Ros and Adrienne talk about cancer, the future of disease control via DNA and RNA, love and the fact she couldn’t love Adrienne properly, or anyone else either. Her love was and always would be science. She asks Adrienne for a goodnight kiss.

THE END

Jump to English

DNA Darganfod cyfrinach bywyd
Stori gariad gan Wyn Bowen Harries

Llundain yn ystod y 50au, mae Rosalind Franklin yn cyrraedd ‘coridorau cysegredig’ prifysgol. Yn ddawnus ac yn angerddol dros wyddoniaeth; dyma ferch gref mewn parth gwrywaidd.

Mae hi’n ymuno â’r ras i ddatgelu strwythur DNA, un o bosau pwysicaf y ganrif. Mae cenfigen academaidd ar waith yma ac, efallai, Gwobr Nobel yn y fantol.

Dyma stori dditectif wedi’i gosod yng nghanol hiliaeth a rhywiaeth y cyfnod. Clywch am gyfraniad Rosalind i un o ganfyddiadau gwyddonol pwysicaf ein hoes, rôl na dderbyniodd cydnabyddiaeth lawn amdano.

Gallwch ddisgwyl drama, gwrthdaro, cariad a cherddoriaeth fyw yn nwylo Cwmni Pendraw. 

Cast

Rosalind Franklin: Manon Wilkinson
Mae credydau sgrin Manon yn cynnwys y dramâu trosedd Craith/Hidden ac Y Gwyll/Hinterland ar gyfer S4C/ BBC, y ddrama llys Dim ond y Gwir, y ddrama sebon, Stad fel y cymeriad ‘Tracy Fish a Chips’, Rownd a Rownd, a’r comedi i blant Cei Bach ar gyfer S4C.

Mae ei chredydau theatr yn cynnwys cynyrchiadau gyda Theatr y Sherman, Theatr Clwyd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Volcano Theatre Company, Frân Wen, Cwmni Pendraw a Theatr Bara Caws.

Mae hi’n gyfrannwr rheolaidd i ddramâu radio ar BBC Radio Cymru.

Bu hefyd yn chwarae rhan y cymeriad Eleri yn y gyfres Rownd a Rownd ac mae’n ymddangos yn achlysurol fel Val yn Pobol y Cwm.

Mae ei gwaith theatr yn cynnwys Cyfaill/ Te yn y Grug – Bara Caws, Chwalfa – Theatr Genedlaethol, Sgint – Theatr Genedlaethol ac Fel Anifail gan Meic Povey i Theatr y Sherman. Bu hefyd yn cymryd rhan mewn gweithdai’r ddrama NOT gan Lisa Parry, ar gyfer yr RSC. Ei rhan ddiweddaraf oedd Siani yn nrama Jerry Hunter, sef Ledi’r Wyrcws.

Yn ddiweddar fe welwyd Llŷr mewn cynyrchiadau teledu fel Stad, mae hefyd yn arwr i nifer o blant Cymru oherwydd Hari Help Llaw. ‘Dolig diwethaf fe greodd raglen Nadoligaidd arbennig o’r enw Allan o Sync. Yn ddiweddar, mae wedi troi ei law at ysgrifennu ac wedi creu gwaith ar gyfer nifer o gwmnïau, fel Bara Caws, Theatr Clwyd a’r Theatr Genedlaethol.

Yn ystod 2025 mi fuodd o’n rhan o ddau gynhyrchiad gwahanol gan Bara Caws, Tair Drama a hefyd Llanast – dau gynhyrchiad aeth ar daith ledled Cymru.

Yn ogystal â gwaith theatr, mae llais Siôn i’w glywed ar nifer o gartwnau gwahanol megis Criw’r Cwt, Y Smyrffs a He-Man ac yn ddiweddar buodd yn portreadu Dr Dan Morris mewn cyfres o benodau yn Pobl y Cwm. Mae’n edrych ymlaen yn arw at gael portreadu Ray Gosling a James Watson yn DNA, ac yn gobeithio bydd cynulleidfaoedd Cymru yn mwynhau clywed am hanes Rosalind Franklin.

Cerddoriaeth: Patrick Rimes
Mae Patrick Rimes yn gerddor, cyfansoddwr ac addysgwr cerddoriaeth o Ogledd Cymru.

Fe ddysgodd y ffidil yn yr arddull draddodiadol yn sesiynau gwerin byrlymus Eryri yn ogystal â gyda Gwasanaeth Ysgolion William Mathias, cyn mynd ymlaen i astudio’r ffidil a fiola glasurol ym Mhrifysgol Leeds, Janáčkovo Akademie Muzických yn y Weriniaeth Siec a Choleg Cerdd a Drama Caerdydd.

Mae wedi teithio’n helaeth ledled Prydain, Ewrop a Gogledd America gyda grwpiau fel Calan a VRï, yn ogystal â rhyddhau sawl record stiwdio. Bu’n perfformio fel unawdydd gyda Cherddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC, City of London Sinfonia a Sinfonia Cymru.

Mae’n brysur fel cyfansoddwr/trefnwr, ac fe chwaraewyd ei weithiau yn ddiweddar gan artistiaid fel Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC, West Virginia Symphony, Braimah Kanneh-Mason a Sting.

Er ei fod yn pontio nifer o arddulliau, mae cerddoriaeth draddodiadol yn rhan annatod o’i waith i gyd, ac mae wrth ei fodd yn rhannu cerddoriaeth Gymreig gyda myfyrwyr, mewn digwyddiadau fel Ffidil Fawr ac yng Ngholeg Cerdd a Drama Caerdydd.

Tîm Creadigol a Chynhyrchu

Cyfarwyddwr: Wyn Bowen Harries

Yn actor a chyfarwyddwr hynod o brofiadol, mae Wyn yn wyneb cyfarwydd i bawb, gan iddo ymddangos mewn nifer fawr o gyfresi teledu, ffilmiau, gan gynnwys, yn fwyaf diweddar, I’r Golau – Dwr a STAD 2 yn ogystal âchynyrchiadau llwyfan ledled y wlad dros y blynyddoedd.

Bu’n cyfarwyddo Cwmni Ieuenctid Cymru, yn Gyd-sylfaenydd Cwmni Hwyl a Fflag ac mae’n gyd-sylfaenydd Cwmni Pendraw, ac yn cyfarwyddo ac ysgrifennu i’r cwmni. Bu’n gydawdur ar Pris Y Farchnad (Cyfres 3) i S4C, Mr Bulkeley o’r Brynddu oedd ei ddrama lwyfan llawn gyntaf.

Cynllunydd Goleuo a Fideo & Rheolwr Cynhyrchu: Ceri James
Hyfforddwyd Ceri James yng Ngholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru ac ym Mhrifysgol De California. Ambition.  

Mae wedi gweithio gyda Frân Wen ar naw cynhyrchiad dros yr wyth mlynedd diwethaf, gan gynnwys Praidd, Deian & Loli, Imrie a Llyfr Glas Nebo. Mae ei waith dylunio goleuo a fideo yn cynnwys cynyrchiadau i Theatr Cymru, Theatr y Sherman, Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru a Chwmni Dawns Cenedlaethol Cymru, gyda chredydau’n cynnwys Romeo a Juliet (Taith Genedlaethol a Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre) a Panig! Attack!

Mae hefyd yn gweithio fel dylunydd fideo, gan gydweithio â chwmnïau gan gynnwys Theatr na nÓg a Grand Ambition.                
             

Cynllunydd Set a Gwisgoedd: Cai Dyfan
Mae Gwaith Cai Dyfan yn cynnwys y canlynol:
Fel cynllunydd theatr: Twelfth Night (Theatr Clwyd) Violence and Son, Instructions For Correct Assembly, Imposter 22, On Bear Ridge (Royal Court); The Village Social, Joseph K and the Cost of Living, The Passion (National Theatre Wales) Paul Bunyan (WNO); Deian a Loli, Croendena, Imrie (Frân Wen); Trwy’r Ddinas Hon (Theatr y Sherman); Dosbarth Miss Pydderch, Rhinoseros, Sgint, Rhwng Dau Fyd, Chwalfa (Theatr Cymru); After the End (Dirty Protest); Your Last Breath (Curious Detective); Wasted (Paines Plough/Birmingham Rep).

Fel cyfarwyddwr celf a phrynwr, teledu a ffilm:Deadpoint, Effi o Blaenau, Madfabulous, Willow, His Dark Materials, Apostle, Dal Y Mellt, Hinterland/Y Gwyll, Y Swn, Wolf, Keeping Faith, A Discovery of Witches, Hidden/Craith, Born to Kill, Sherlock, Call the Midwife. Fel cynllunydd cynhyrchiad, teledu a ffilm:Stad 2, The Golden West.

Rheolwr Llwyfan: Martha Davies
Enillodd Martha BA (Anrh) Theatr a Drama ym Mhrifysgol De Cymru (Atriwm), Caerdydd ac mae hi wedi gweithio fel Rheolwr Llwyfan ers saith mlynedd ac wedi cael profiadau lu gydag amryw o theatrau a phobl wahanol fel Bara Caws (Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Byd Dan Eira, Un Nos Ola’ Leuad), Criw Brwd (Yn Ei Blodau), Theatr Genedlaethol / Theatr Cymru (Ar y Dibyn, Rhinoseros), Cwmni Pendraw (Creigiau Geirwon), Theatr Clwyd (Extracts a Truth or Dare), Frân Wen (Ynys Alys, Croendena, Lliwia), Cwmni Theatr yr Urdd (Ble mae trenau yn mynd gyda’r nos a chwestiynau mawr eraill bywyd), Theatr Ieuenctid Cymru (Dal Gafael / Hold on), Galeri, Jeremy Hunter a Judith Humphreys (Ledi’r Wyrcws).

Bydd rhai perfformiadau’n cynnwys dehongliad Iaith Arwyddion Prydain gan Cathryn McShane-Kouyaté.

Mae Cathryn McShane-Kouyaté yn fwyaf adnabyddus fel dehonglydd Iaith Arwyddion Prydain-Cymraeg-Saesneg sydd wedi gweithio’n helaeth yn y celfyddydau, ar y sgrin, ac yn y theatr. Mae Cathryn wedi bod yn ddehonglydd llawrydd ers 2006 ac yn gweithio mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd. Ganwyd a magwyd Cathryn yn Sir Benfro ond mae wedi byw yng Nghaerdydd ers dros 30 mlynedd.

Tîm wrth gefn:

Adeiladwr y Set: Sam Wordsworth (Torch Theatre)
Artist Golygfeydd a Phropiau: Laurie Peric (Brushworks)
Cynhyrchydd: Glesni Price-Jones        
Dylunio posteri: Rob Spaull
Ffotograffiaeth a Fideos SDG Productions Ltd
Rheolwr Marchnata: Eli Elis-Williams
Rheolwr Technegol y daith: Andrew Sturley  
Technegwyr y daith: Lloyd Grayson & John Tee Mae ein diolch a’n dyled i’r dilynol am eu cymorth: Beverley Choriton a Theatr Clwyd am wig i Manon, Pontio a Bara Caws am fenthyg gofod ymarfer, Cathryn Young (Coreograffydd symudiad) 

Cwestiwn ac Ateb efo’r awdur a chyfarwyddwr, Wyn Bowen Harries

Pam Rosalind Franklin, beth oedd yr ysgogiad i ddewis ei stori hi fel sail i ddrama?

Oherwydd, yn gyntaf, ers yr holl flynyddoedd ers i mi wneud fy ngradd mewn biocemeg yn Aberystwyth, dydw i erioed wedi defnyddio’r pwnc i unrhyw ddiben go iawn, ac rydw i wedi bod yn ysu i drio sgwennu rhywbeth gwyddonol. Wrth gwrs mae fy ngwaith efo Cwmni Pendraw wedi ffinio ar  bynciau gwyddonol, ac yn fwy felly, amgylcheddol, ac mae ysgrifennu’r ddrama hon wedi mynd a fi un cam ymhellach.

Yn ail, mae stori Rosalind Franklin yn un go enwog. Dechreuais ddarllen bywgraffiadau amdani a  sylweddoli bod stori wych yma, a stori falle, sydd ddim wedi ei ddweud o’i safbwynt hi yn iawn. Mae yna lyfrau wedi bod, ond does dim drama am y pwnc i mi wybod amdano.

Fy man cychwyn bob amser yw gofyn: lle mae’r stori? Sut ydw i’n mynd i greu stori allan o’r pynciau yma? Roedd hyn yn wir efo Creigiau Geirwon (ein cynhyrchiad diwethaf am hanes tywyswyr mynydd Eryri) roedd gen i lot o ddeunydd, ond sut oedd rhywun yn creu stori o’i chwmpas?

Dyma sut dwi wedi gweithio erioed, ond mae hwn mwy fel drama ’strêt’ os lici di ond drama dwi wedi bod yn ysu i’w sgwennu ers rhai blynyddoedd.

Faint o wyddoniaeth sydd yn y ddrama a sut mae’n cael ei chyfleu?

Y peth pwysicaf i bobol ei wybod amdano ydy mod i wedi creu’r ddrama fel rhyw fath o stori dditectif. Rydyn ni’n gweld rhai o’r cemegau’n cael eu hesbonio ar sgriniau sydd yn rhan o’r set. Mae  Rosalind ei hun yn esbonio beth ydy DNA a’r rhannau gwahanol i’w ffrind a’i mentor, Adrienne, sydd ddim yn fiocemegydd. Mae hi, fel y gynulleidfa’n derbyn yr esboniad mewn modd digon clir a syml. Mae’r stori dditectif  yn datgelu pa gamau a gymerwyd gan yr holl bobol oedd yn gwneud y gwaith.

Mi roedd yna ras yn mynd ymlaen, mi roedd Watson (aeth ymlaen ynghyd â Crick i ennill Gwobr Nobel am eu gwaith), yn sicr yn ymwybodol o’r ras am wobr Nobel, ond doedd Rosalind ddim yn gweld hyn fel ras. Roedd hi’n ei ystyried fel rhan bwysig o wyddoniaeth a’i ffocws hi oedd ar y broses: sut i’w wneud yn gywir, sut i ddefnyddio’r camau cywir er mwyn datrys y broblem yn y pen draw. Roedd yr ‘hogiau’ (Watson a Crick) yn fwy ‘gung-ho’ ac yn chwarae o gwmpas efo syniadau gwahanol. Yn y diwedd roedden nhw’n gywir, ond heb gyfraniad gwaith Rosalind, bydda nhw byth wedi cyrraedd eu casgliadau.

Yr elfen arall i’r ddrama ydy’r stori gariad sydd yma, sef ei chariad at ei gwaith. Dyma oedd ei natur. Mae hi’n ymddangos fel person eitha’ naïf ond yn benderfynol o wneud pob dim yn y ffordd gywir. Roedd hi’n llawn cariad tuag at ei gwaith, a thuag at wyddoniaeth. Dyma oedd ei bywyd.

Gwelwn hefyd elfennau o gariad pobol eraill tuag ati hi, ond mae hi fel petai hi’n hollol anymwybodol o hyn. Cariad ac ymroddiad i’r gwaith sydd yn bwysig iddi hi yn y pen draw- mae hyn yn rhan o’i chyfansoddiad.

Allwch chi son am bwysigrwydd DNA a sut mae wedi siapio ein bywydau ni?

Hwn yw un o’r darganfyddiadau mwyaf pwysig y ganrif ddiwethaf. Os da ni’n edrych ar DNA rŵan a’r modd y mae firysau’n cael eu taclo efo brechiadau, ac mae hyn wedi trawsnewid y byd. Un enghraifft ydy hyn, erbyn hyn mae pobol wedi mapio allan DNA cyflawn cymaint o fodau byw, ac mae gennym y gallu i drin genynnau er mwyn gobeithio creu byd gwell- yn arbennig efo anhwylderau a chanserau. Dwi’n meddwl bod trawsnewid anferth yn y maes meddygaeth a meddygaeth bersonol ar fin digwydd yn y blynyddoedd nesaf.

Fel mae un o’r cymeriadau’n ei ddweud, sut wyt ti’n gwybod nad yw cracio cod DNA am agor blwch Pandora arall, ond wrth gwrs, ròl y gwyddonydd, yn ôl ein cymeriadau, yw creu’r gwaith sy’n arwain at ddarganfyddiadau. Mater i’r gwleidyddion yw penderfynu beth ydy’r ethos a’r ffyrdd sydd rhaid ei ddefnyddio’n ddiogel ac er budd pawb yn y dyfodol.Ac yn olaf, beth am ‘helynt’ yr Eisteddfod’?
Wel, ia, helynt yr Eisteddfod! Dyma gyfle i bobl weld un o’r dramâu na enillodd y Fedal ddrama yn Eisteddfod 2024 pan gafodd y gystadleuaeth ei thynnu’n ôl ar y funud olaf!
Roeddwn wedi ymgeisio am y Fedal Ddrama am fy mod yn awyddus i gael adborth y beirniaid ar fersiwn cynharach o DNA. Roedd peth dryswch, anghydfod ac yn wir, dirgelwch ynghylch yr holl beth ond o leiaf, cefais feirniadaeth ar fy nghais. Dyma ran o’r feirniadaeth:

“Darn uchelgeisiol o theatr sy’n cyflwyno gwyddoniaeth, a sut mae merched bob amser wedi chwarae’n ail ffidil i ddynion yn y byd gwyddonol. Mae’r ddrama fyd-eang hon yn chwa o awyr iach i’r theatr Gymraeg.”

#drama_DNA

DNA
Darganfod cyfrinach bywyd
A love story by Wyn Bowen Harries

1950’s London, Rosalind Franklin joins the ‘hallowed corridors’ of a university. Talented and passionate about science; Rosalind is a strong woman in a male preserve.

She joins the race to reveal the structure of DNA, one of the century’s most important puzzles, amid academic jealousies and with a Nobel Prize up for grabs.      

This detective story set in the racism and sexism of the period reveals Rosalind’s role in one of the most important discoveries of our time, one for which she was not fully acknowledged.

Cwmni Pendraw will deliver drama, confrontation, love and live music.

Cast

Rosalind Franklin: Manon Wilkinson

Manon’s screen credits include the crime drama Craith/Hidden and Y Gwyll/Hinterland for S4C/BBC, the court drama Dim ond y gwir, as ‘Tracy Fish and Chips’ in the soap drama Stad, Rownd a Rownd, and the children’s comedy Cei Bach for S4C.

Her theater credits include productions with Theatr y Sherman, Theatr Clwyd, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Volcano Theatre Company, Frân Wen, Cwmni Pendraw and Theatr Bara Caws.

She is a regular contributor to radio dramas on BBC Radio Cymru.

Adrienne Weill: Morfudd Hughes

Morfudd was nominated for a BAFTA award for her performance in the film Branwen, she played the role of Gwenda in the series Pengelli, Ruth Driscoll in the series Craith/Hidden, S4C/ BBC, she also appeared in the series Y Gwyll/Hinterland, S4C/ BBC and in the film Y Lleill. She also played the role of the character Eleri in the series Rownd a Rownd and appears occasionally as Val in Pobol y Cwm.

Her theatre work includes Cyfaill/ Te yn y Grug – Bara Caws, Chwalfa – National Theatr, Skint – National Theatr and Fel Anifail by Meic Povey for the Sherman Theatre. She also took part in workshops on the play NOT by Lisa Parry, for the RSC. Her most recent role was Siani in Jerry Hunter’s play, Ledi’r Wyrcws.

Llŷr Evans: Maurice Wilkins & Francis Crick

DNA is Llŷr’s second production for Cwmni Pendraw following the success of Creigiau Geirwon.

Llŷr has recently been seen in television productions such as Stad, he is also a hero to many Welsh children because of Hari Help Llaw. Last Christmas he created a special Christmas program called Allan o Sync.

He has recently turned his hand to writing and has created work for a number of companies, such as Bara Caws, Theatr Clwyd and Theatr Genedlaethol.

Siôn Emyr: Ray Gosling and James Watson

Siôn was a cast member in the recent production Praidd by Frân Wen which was performed on a farm in Llŷn.

During 2025 he was a cast member for two different productions by Cwmni Theatr Bara Caws, Tair Drama and also Llanast -both of which went on tour throughout Wales.

In addition to theatre work, Siôn’s voice can be heard on a number of different cartoons such as Criw’r Cwt, Y Smyrffs and He-Man, and he recently he portrayed Dr Dan Morris in a series of episodes in Pobl y Cwm. He is really looking forward to portraying Ray Gosling and James Watson in DNA, and hopes that Welsh audiences will enjoy hearing about the story of Rosalind Franklin.

Music – Patrick Rimes

Patrick Rimes is a musician, composer, arranger and educator from North Wales.

Born and raised in Eryri, Patrick’s early musical experience was via the William Mathias music service, as well as learning traditional music through the vibrant local scene, before going on to study classical violin and viola at Leeds University, Janáčkovo Akademie Muzických in Brno, Czech Republic and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

As a founder member of both Calan and VRï he has toured extensively in the UK, Europe and North America, and released multiple acclaimed studio albums. He has appeared as a soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, City of London Sinfonia and Sinfonia Cymru.

He is in demand as a composer/arranger, and his works have been performed by artists as diverse as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, West Virginia Symphony, Braimah Kanneh-Mason and Sting. 

Despite crossing many genres, traditional music is always at the heart of his practice and as a teacher he enjoys sharing the joys of Welsh music with his students, at events such as Ffidil Fawr and at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Creative and Production Team

Director: Wyn Bowen Harries

A highly experienced actor and director, Wyn is a familiar face to all, as he has appeared in a numerous television serie and films, including, most recently I’r Golau – Dwr and STAD 2 and also stage productions throughout the country over the years.

He directed the Cymru Youth Company, was a Co-Founder of Cwmni Hwyl a Flag and is co-founder of Cwmni Pendraw, directing and writing for the company.

He was a co-writer on Pris Y Farchnad (Series 3) for S4C, Mr Bulkeley o’r Brynddu was his first full stage play.

Lighting & Projection & Production Manager: Ceri James

Ceri James trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the University of Southern California. He has worked with Frân Wen on nine productions over the past eight years, including Praidd, Deian & Loli, Imrie and Llyfr Glas Nebo.

His extensive lighting and video design work includes productions for Theatr Cymru, Sherman Theatre, Welsh National Opera and National Dance Company Wales, with credits including Romeo & Juliet (National Tour and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre) and Panig! Attack! He also works as a video designer, collaborating with companies including Theatr na nÓg and Grand Ambition.

Set and Costume Designer: Cai Dyfan

Cai Dyfan’s work includes the following:
As a theatre designer: Twelfth Night (Theatr Clwyd) Violence and Son, Instructions For Correct Assembly, Imposter 22, On Bear Ridge (Royal Court); The Village Social, Joseph K and the Cost of Living, The Passion (National Theatre Wales) Paul Bunyan (WNO); Deian a Loli, Croendena, Imrie (Frân Wen); Trwy’r Ddinas Hon (Sherman); Dosbarth Miss Pydderch, Rhinoseros, Sgint, Rhwng Dau Fyd, Chwalfa (Theatr Cymru); After the End (Dirty Protest); Your Last Breath (Curious Detective); Wasted (Paines Plough/Birmingham Rep).

As an art Director and buyer, television & film: Deadpoint, Effi o Blaenau, Madfabulous, Willow, His Dark Materials, Apostle, Dal Y Mellt, Hinterland/Y Gwyll, Y Swn, Wolf, Keeping Faith, A Discovery of Witches, Hidden/Craith, Born to Kill, Sherlock, Call the Midwife.

As a production designer, television & film:Stad cyfres 2, The Golden West.

Stage Manager: Martha Davies

Martha gained a BA (Hons) Theatre and Drama at the University of South Wales (Atrium), Cardiff and has worked as a Stage Manager for seven years. This is her second post with Cwmni Pendraw, having worked on Creigiau Geirwon.

She also has had wide experience with various theatres and people such as Bara Caws (Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Byd Dan Eira, Un Nos Ola Leuad), Criw Brwd (Yn Ei Blodau), Theatr Gendaethol /Theatr Cymru (Ar y Dybyn, Rhinoseros), Theatr Clwyd (Extracts and Truth or Dare), Frân Wen (Ynys Alys, Croendena, Lliwia), the Urdd Youth Theatre (Ble mae trenau yn mynd gyda’r nos a chwestiynau mawr eraill bywyd), Wales Youth Theatre (Dal Gafael /Hold on), Galeri, Jeremy Hunter and Judith Humphreys (Ledi’r Wyrcws).

Some performances will have British Sign Language interpretation by Cathryn McShane-Kouyaté.

Cathryn McShane-Kouyaté is best known as a British Sign Language-Welsh-English interpreter who has worked extensively in the arts, on screen, and in the theatre. Cathryn has been a freelance interpreter since 2006 and works in a variety of fields. Cathryn was born and raised in Pembrokeshire but has lived in Cardiff for over 30 years

Support team:

Marketing Manager: Eli Elis-Williams
Photography & videography SDG Productions Ltd
Producer: Glesni Price-Jones 
Scenery & Props Artist: Laurie Peric (Brushworks)
Set construction: Sam Wordsworth (Torch Theatre)
Tour technical manager: Andrew Sturley  
Tour technicians: Lloyd Grayson & John Tee

We are grateful and indebted to the following for their help: Beverley Choriton and Theatr Clwyd for a wig for Manon, Pontio and Bara Caws for lending rehearsal space, Cathryn Young (Movement Choreographer).

Q & A with Wyn Bowen Harries, author of DNA Discovering the secret of life

Why Rosalind Franklin, what was the motivation to choose her story as the basis for a play?

Because, firstly, for all the years since I did my degree in biochemistry at Aberystwyth, I have never used the subject for any real purpose, and I have been desperate to try to write something scientific. Of course, my work with Cwmni Pendraw has verged on the scientific, and more so, environmental topics, and writing this play has taken me one step further.

Secondly, the story of Rosalind Franklin is a well-known. I started reading biographies about her and came to realize that there is a great story here, and perhaps a story that has not been told properly from her viewpoint. There have been books, but no plays about the subject that I know of.

My starting place is always to ask: where is the story? How am I going to create a story out of this information? This was true with Creigiau Geirwon (our last production about the history of Eryri’s mountain guides) I had a lot of material, but how did one hang it all together as a story?

This is how I have always worked, but Rosalind Franklin’s story is more like a ‘straight’ play, but a play I have been desperate to write for a few years.

How much science is there in the play and how is it conveyed?

The most important thing for people to know is that I created the play as a kind of detective story. We see some of the chemicals explained on screens that are part of the set. Rosalind herself explains what DNA is and the different parts to her friend and mentor, Adrienne, who is not a biochemist. She, like the audience, hears the information explained in a clear and simple way. The detective story reveals what steps were taken by all the people who were doing the work.

There was a race going on, Watson (who, along with Crick, went on to win the Nobel Prize for their work) was certainly aware of the race for the Nobel prize, but Rosalind did not see this as a race. She considered it an important part of science and her focus was on the process: how to do it correctly, how to use the right steps in order to ultimately solve the problem. The ‘lads’ (Watson and Crick) were more ‘gung-ho’ and played around with different ideas. In the end they were right, but without the contribution of Rosalind’s work, they would never have reached their conclusion.

The other element to the play is the love story; her love for her work. This was her nature. She seems like a quite naive person, but determined to do everything the right way. She was full of love for her work, and for science. This was her life.

We also see elements of other people’s love for her, of which she seems to be completely unaware. Love and dedication to the work is what is ultimately important to her – this is part of her makeup.

Can you talk about the importance of DNA and how it has shaped our lives?

This is one of the most important discoveries of the last century. If we look at DNA now and the way viruses are tackled with vaccinations, this has transformed the world. One example is this, by now people have mapped out the complete DNA of so many living beings, and we have the ability to manipulate genes in order to hopefully create a better world – especially with ailments and cancers. I think a huge transformation in the field of medicine and personal medicine is about to happen in the next few years.

As one of the characters says, how do you know that cracking the DNA code is not opening another Pandora’s box, but of course, according to the scientists in the play the role of the scientist is to create the work that makes the discoveries. It is up to the politicians to decide what the ethos is and the ways it must be used safely and for the benefit of all in the future.

And finally, what about the ‘trouble’ of the Eisteddfod’?

Well, yes, the problem with the dramam medal in 2024! This is an opportunity for people to see one of the plays that did not win the Drama Medal at the 2024 Eisteddfod when the competition was withdrawn at the last minute!

I had entered an earlier draft of DNA for the Drama Medal because I was keen to get the judges’ feedback. There was some confusion, dispute and indeed, mystery about the whole thing but at least, I received adjudication on my entry. Here is part of the response:

“An ambitious piece of theatre that presents science, and how women have always played second fiddle to men in the scientific world. This global drama is a breath of fresh air for Welsh theatre.”

DARGANFOD CYFRINACH BYWYD

Llundain yn ystod y 50au, mae Rosalind Franklin yn cyrraedd ‘coridorau cysegredig’ prifysgol. Yn ddawnus ac yn angerddol dros wyddoniaeth; dyma ferch gref mewn parth gwrywaidd.

Mae hi’n ymuno â’r ras i ddatgelu strwythur DNA, un o bosau pwysicaf y ganrif. Mae cenfigen academaidd ar waith yma ac, efallai, Gwobr Nobel yn y fantol.

Dyma stori dditectif wedi’i gosod yng nghanol hiliaeth a rhywiaeth y cyfnod. Clywch am gyfraniad Rosalind i un o ganfyddiadau gwyddonol pwysicaf ein hoes, rôl na dderbyniodd cydnabyddiaeth lawn amdano.

Gallwch ddisgwyl drama, gwrthdaro, cariad a cherddoriaeth fyw yn nwylo Cwmni Pendraw. 

“Chwa o awyr iach i’r ddrama Gymraeg”- beirniaid cystadleuaeth Fedal Ddrama Eisteddfod y Rhondda na fu.

Drama sy’n olrhain stori darganfod strwythyr DNA o safbwynt Rosalind Franklin a wnaeth cymaint o waith ond cafodd ei hanwybyddu gan sefydliad gwyddonol a phwyllgor y wobr Nobel. Cafwyd cyfnod byr o Ymchwil a Datblygu yn ddiweddar a diolchwn i Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru am nawdd ac i Fran Wen a Pontio am gartref. Awn ymlaen i geisio taith o theatrau Cymru yn y dyfodol agos. Dyma flas o’r gwaith hyd yn hyn (Pontio Rhagfyr 2024).

Cast : Siôn Emyr, Llŷr Evans, Morfudd Hughes, Manon Wilkinson.

Criw creadigol: Cynllynydd – Cai Dyfan; Goleuo ac Animeiddio – Ceri James, Cerddoriaeth – Patrick Rimes, Rheolwr Cynhyrchiad a Llwyfan – Iestyn Garlick

Our new project is DNA, a new play of the discovery of the structure of DNA but this time from Rosalind Franklin’s perspective, not James Watson and Francis Crick. Here is a taste of our recent R & D.

Photos and video by SDG Productions.