S4C brings Branwen: Dadeni to screen

Branwen: Dadeni, the epic and hugely successful stage musical produced by Wales Millennium Centre and Frân Wen, will be broadcast on S4C tonight.

Elen Rhys, S4C’s Entertainment Commissioner:

“After a successful tour across Wales, it is a privilege to be able to broadcast this epic Welsh musical on S4C.”

The musical is a contemporary reimagining of the iconic and tragic story of Branwen, from the ancient mythological stories of the Mabinogi. It toured across Wales in November 2023 and was performed in front of huge audiences; all tickets were sold out in Bangor and Aberystwyth, with more tickets going on sale in Cardiff to meet high demand.

Branwen: Dadeni was written by Hanna Jarman, Elgan Rhys and Seiriol Davies, with lyrics and music by Seiriol Davies. Frân Wen’s Artistic Director, Gethin Evans, directed it.

Mared Williams plays the title role, and Gillian Elisa plays Ena, a figure who advises Matholwch, the King of Ireland. Among the rest of the cast of actors and musicians are Rithvik Andugula, Caitlin Drake, Lisa Angharad, Tomos Eames, Huw Euron, Ioan Hefin, Steffan Hughes, Miriam Isaac, Elan Meirion, Niamh Moulton, Cedron Sion, Adam Vaughan, Mali Grooms and Tegwen Velios.

Mared Williams:

“It was an honour to play a role that is very familiar to us in our stories here in Wales. It was a creative challenge coming up with a version that fit a reimagined show and also a more contemporary version but I got so much satisfaction by working with the cast and such a fantastic creative team. I’m very excited to see how the story will transfer to the screen… I’m looking forward to be able to see parts of the story that I couldn’t see because I was on stage most of the time as Branwen!”

Branwen: Dadeni, tonight (Saturday 30 December) at 9 pm on S4C. Catch up later on S4C Clic or the BBC iPlayer