The tumultuous, tragic, touching and joyful tale of “America’s greatest folk poet,” told in his own words, and featuring Bound for Glory, Pastures of Plenty, The Ballad of Tom Joad, This Land is Your Land, and two-dozen more of Woody Guthrie’s protest songs, is brought to life by the award-winning original London cast: David M. Lutken, Ruth Clarke-Irons, Eleanor Brunsdon and William Wolfe Hogan, along with director Dean Elliott. The performance comes to Theatre Brycheiniog May, 15.

The show is a celebration of one of the giants of American music. A joyful, uplifting narrative about a difficult man’s difficult life during difficult times, Woody Sez is a tale of struggle, activism, patriotism and commitment. Guthrie’s songs have become ambassadors of the best of the American spirit.  

Introduced at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2007, Woody Sez has played Glasgow, Belfast, Munich, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and the West End. The 2013-14 season includes the Cleveland Playhouse, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and Syracuse Stage, followed by visits to New Zealand and China. 

Lyn Gardner, theatre critic for The Guardian, wrote of the London engagement: “This low-key, high-spirited celebration of Guthrie’s life and music knocks big West End biopics into a heap of dust.” Writing about the production at Theater J, Peter Marks of The Washington Post said, “The musicianship is first-class; the cast effortlessly adapts to the rousing spirit of the songwriter’s heartland balladeering and protest music. It’s pleasant to be reminded that once upon a time in America, raising one’s voice in dissent could make for some beautiful music.”