An hour-long monologue is no easy task, but Gareth J Bale smashed his performance once again in the lead up to the 200th performance of ‘Grav’ the commemorative re-telling of Raymond Gravells life, the Welsh rugby icon turned actor who embodied all that it meant to be Welsh. Set in a decrepit rugby locker-room, Bale reenacts some of Grav’s most memorable moments; from beating the All Blacks in small-town Llanelli, to acting alongside some of tv’s finest.  

The play begins by introducing Grav’s notoriety, establishing the biographical nature of the play, spanning from his tryouts for the under 15’s local rugby team, to his battle with diabetes which resulted in losing his leg. Writer Owen Thomas focuses on the positive moments of Grav’s life, while also not shying away from the tough and intense moments, including his father’s suicide. We, the audience, experience a full range of emotions, heightened by the skilled directing and lighting changes, along with the tone and atmosphere created.  

Despite being a monologue, Thomas has Grav tell his story as if he were talking to his mother about it, giving a natural and comforting feel to his story, allowing us to empathize with the character and his journey. The play ends with Grav preparing for a rugby match, getting into his kit and leaving through the same door he arrived.