Theatr Pena under the Artistic Direction of Erica Eirian presents a new production of Tennessee Williams’s masterpiece, The Glass Menagerie, the Company’s fourth a co-production with The Riverfront.

Set in St Louis in 1937 during the economic recession, this timeless story of a family too fragile to cope with the harsh realities of their impoverished lives, is one of the greatest stories of the American stage and echoes our own economically troubled time.

Pulled by guilt and longing to confront his past, the story is told through the fractured memories of Tom Wingfield and revolves around his overbearing mother’s desperate attempts to find a husband for his fragile sister. Abandoned by her husband, Amanda lives only for her children. Physically and emotionally fragile, Laura lives in a world of glass animals while restless Tom longs for freedom and adventure and seeks escape in alcohol and night-time visits to the movies. Cajoled by his mother, Tom brings home a colleague from work, Jim O’Connor, signalling the arrival of Laura’s long-awaited gentleman caller.

Poetic and tender with flashes of brittle comedy, The Glass Menagerie is Tennessee Williams’s most autobiographical play. It premiered in Chicago in December 1944 and, when it opened on Broadway the following March, overnight Tennessee Williams went from obscurity to fame and began his meteoric rise in American Theatre.

Director Erica Eirian, designer Holly McCarthy and lighting designer Kay Haynes, the team who created the Company’s very successful spring 2015 touring production of The Royal Bed, are joined by Cardiff based composer Peter Knight to create a faithful, fresh and imaginative production of this profoundly moving American classic by one of the greatest 20th century playwrights.

Company Member Rosamund Shelley, whose credits for the Company include Bernarda in The House of Bernarda Alba, Hecuba in The Trojan Women, Madame in The Maids and Mrs Mercy Croft in The Killing of Sister George, will play faded Southern belle Amanda Wingfield; Company Member Eiry Thomas, whose credits for the Company include Amelia in The House of Bernarda Alba, Andromache in The Trojan Women and her widely acclaimed performance as Siwan in The Royal Bed, will play shy and withdrawn Laura Wingfield and the Company welcomes Rhys Meredith as Tom Wingfield and Gareth Pierce as the “gentleman caller”, Jim O’Connor.

The production, which is produced by Ceri James, will open in The Riverfront on Thursday 11 February. Following a run of 3 performances the production will tour across Wales from 16 February to 18 March to the Torch Theatre Milford Haven, Pontardawe Arts Centre, Neuadd Dwyfor Pwllheli, Clwyd Theatr Cymru Mold, Theatr Hafren Newtown, Borough Theatre Abergavenny, Lyric Carmarthen, Barry Memo, Theatr Mwldan Cardigan, Galeri Caernarfon, Theatr Felinfach, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Blackwood Miners Institute, Theatr Brycheiniog Brecon, Taliesin Arts Centre Swansea.

Theatr Pena's Glass Menagerie runs from February 11 until February 13.

01633 656757 / newport.gov.uk/theriverfront for booking details.