Review: Mr Jones at Union Theatre, Southwark

Thursday, 27th February 2025 at Union Theatre, Southwark

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reviewer: Charlotte Dawes

Almost 60 years on from the harrowing mining disaster, Mr Jones explores the unfathomable loss of the forever-altered Welsh village of Aberfan.

On the morning of 21 October 1966, the last Friday before half term, a landslide of coal waste crashed into the small south Wales mining village killing 144 people, mostly children in a school. Mr Jones follows bereft teenager Stephen Jones, played by writer and sound designer Liam Holmes, dealing with the loss of younger brother, Dafydd, claimed by the tragic event. 

Alexane Puertolas’s minimal staging sends an early message with “Yma o Hyd” (which translates to “Still here”) emblazoned across the walls of Aberfan FC. Yma o Hyd is a Welsh-language folk song whose message is clear – despite everyone and everything, we’re still here. This sentiment echoes Stephen and Angharad’s story; they are still in Aberfan, moving through their trauma on their own terms. 

Holmes shines as Stephen Jones, a self-proclaimed talented rugby player with no intention of leaving his beloved village life. Holmes is ably supported by Rhiannydd Andrews as Angharad Price, a slightly older nurse with dreams of trading in the Welsh valleys for Australia or the much closer Cardiff. 

Director Michael Neri’s inspired pauses between dialogue and Holmes’ sound design echoing real-life accounts add to the sense of horror experienced by Stephen and Angharad.  

The piece experiences some pacing issues, with Stephen talking at length about his love of rugby which initially provided context but later feels repetitive. Several storylines are also left unfinished which felt worth exploring.

Mr Jones challenges us to confront the past while recognising the resilience of those feeling the continuing effects of that fateful day.

Mr Jones is at Union Theatre, Southwark until March 1st 2025 – more information and tickets can be found here.