Coming full circle

Apr 23 2008 by Karen Price, South Wales Echo

Playwright Glenys Evans was so inspired by one man’s courageous adventure that she wrote a drama about it. As Hijinx prepares to stage Full Circle, she tells Karen Price the real-life story behind the production...

AS Brian Blessed – these days as famous a mountaineer as he is an actor – is fond of saying: ‘We all have our Everest to climb’.

You feel then that Blessed would be proud of actor Gareth Clark’s role in the story of one man’s challenge to reach the base camp of Mount Everest.

Clark, 28, is playing Andrew Williams, the Welshman who embarked on a journey up the world’s highest mountain.

Clark, like Williams, has Down’s syndrome and will effectively be walking in Williams’ shoes in Hijinx Theatre Company’s drama Full Circle.

He will share the leading role with professional actor Nick Wayland Evans who will read Williams’ monologues, while Clark acts out his emotions.

The piece, first staged by the Cardiff-based company in 2003, is today embarking on a tour which will culminate in performances at the Wales Millennium Centre as part of the Unity Inclusive Arts Festival.

However, this will be the first time the leading role is taken by an actor with Down’s syndrome.

“It will be Gareth’s own personal mountain to climb,” says writer Glenys Evans, who was one of the founding actors when Hijinx formed in 1981.

“It will be a massive learning curve for him and the team but it’s a great opportunity and I’m absolutely thrilled to see him in the role.”

Mother-of-two Evans was inspired by the true story of Andrew Williams, a young Welshman with Down’s syndrome who climbed to base camp on Mount Everest in 1996.

Through support and his own determination, he achieved something that the majority of people would not even think about attempting.

Evans, who is also a drama and communications lecturer at Barry College, met Williams through her work at the college.

She was inspired by his story and by the support he had from his circle of friends – hence the title of the play.

“Through the support of his circle, he achieved his ambition of walking to base camp of Mount Everest,” adds Evans, who trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Clark is now aiming to meet his own latest challenge, but he is used to achievement.

Clark underwent major heart surgery at the age of two but that didn’t stop him winning gold and silver medals at his first Special Olympic Games in Sheffield when he was just 13.

In 2001 he was selected as part of the Great Britain Team for the European Special Olympic Games which were held in Holland.

It is achievements like that by people with learning disabilities which inspire Evans to write.

“My insight into issues surrounding people with learning disabilities gives me the passion to write about them,” she says.

“I see myself as a detective – I’m always looking for what people can achieve, for their strengths – so you get to learn about a lot of individuals and not a lot of labels.”

Full Circle is staged at Ysgol Erw’r Delyn, Penarth, Cardiff at 2pm on Friday. Visit www.hijinx.org.uk for more information.It later appears at Newbridge Rugby Club (7pm on May 5); The Coliseum, Aberdare (2pm on May 22); The Riverfront, Newport (7.45pm on June 13); and Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (1.30pm and 8pm on June 18-19).