Name: Frân Wen
Price range: $

08.07.25

Team Announcement Dynolwaith

Creative team announced for Leo Drayton's debut play

We're delighted to announce the creative team behind Dynolwaith, our new co-production with Sherman Theatre which is touring this September and October.

Written and performed by Leo Drayton, Dynolwaith is a deeply personal and heartfelt Welsh-language* story of self-discovery, resilience, and transformation that will resonate long after the curtain falls.

The creative team includes Gethin Evans (Director), Kayley Roberts (Assistant Director), Cara Evans (Design), K.J (Lighting Design), Melfed Melys (Composer) and Sam Jones (Sound Designer).

Leo Drayton (he/him)
Writer and performer

Leo Drayton is a queer writer from Cardiff who focuses on his identity and experiences as a trans man. His literary career began as co-author on the young people's book series Y Pump. He also collaborated on the play Dy Enw Marw, performed at London's National Theatre — the first Welsh play staged there.

Leo reached the final round of the Roundhouse poetry slam in 2022. He's been part of the Cymru Representation group 24-25 and hosts workshops at Cardiff's Queer Emporium. He wrote a short film, Teth, which opened the Iris film festival and was screened at film festivals such as BFI Flare (London) and Frameline (San Francisco). Dynolwaith will be his first play.

Gethin Evans (he/him)
Director

Gethin Evans is the Artistic Director of Frân Wen. He's guided ambitious site‑specific, community-driven productions including the OLION trilogy and the musical Branwen: Dadeni, and previously co‑founded Cwmni Pluen and served in leadership roles at Sherman Theatre, National Theatre and National Theatre Wales programmes.

With a passion for bold, contemporary work, Gethin’s work spans large-scale productions, participatory projects, and innovative collaborations across stage and digital platforms.

Kayley Roberts (they/them)
Assistant Director

Kayley Roberts (they/them) is a freelance creative practitioner who writes and contributes to the literature, opera and theatre, including a novel (Lladd Arth), poetry (Phosphorus 6, O Ffrwth y Gangen Hon), libretto (Tuag Adra), and monologue (Bloedd ar Goedd).

Cara Evans (they/she)
Design

Cara Evans is a London based performance designer. Cara graduated in Design for Stage from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and was a reader at the Royal Court.

Their recent credits include Feral Monster (National Theatre Wales); Sleepova (Bush Theatre); Dear Young Monster (Bristol Old Vic); The Living Newspaper (Royal Court); Ugly Sisters (New Diorama); Wish You Were Here (Gate Theatre); Get Dressed! (Unicorn); Statues (Bush Theatre); Queer Upstairs (Royal Court) and Body Show (SohoTheatre).

K.J (they/them)
Lighting Design

K.J is a lighting designer working globally across Theatre, Dance and Opera. They are a professional member of the Association of Lighting Production and Design and a graduate of the ALPD 20:20 Lumiere Scheme.

Their recent credits include United Dances of America (Ballet Avignon); Noises Off (NWT/TBTL); Lil.Miss.Lady (Barbican/Highrise Theatre); Alice in Wonderland (Shakespeare North); The Passing of the Moment (Ballet Nacional De Cuba); Persephone (Dutch National Ballet); Der Fliegende Hollander (Persona Arts); Tender (Phosphorus Theatre); Lines (Sheffield Theatres, La Mama NYC) and Jockstrap (Barbican).

Melfed Melys (she/they)
Composition

Melfed Melys is a Cardiff-based trans DJ and producer in the Welsh electronic music scene. Inspired by the fluid and ever-changing nature of identity, Melfed's music celebrates their ever-shifting transition in dance music that encourages joy and expression.

Melfed has made a name for themselves in Wales through a residency at the legendary Clwb Ifor Bach, where they've co-founded Pink Pony Clwb, a night dedicated to promoting LGBTQ+ artists. They've performed regularly at Cinc (a queer, techno Cardiff club night) and they ended their 2024 with their first DJ set at the Dalston Superstore, an iconic LGBTQ+ institution in London.

SAM JONES (he/him)
Sound Design

Sam is a composer, sound designer, engineer and music producer. His work ranges from theatre and screen, to live and recorded music. Some of his recent theatre and performance work includes: Carreg Ateb (Frân Wen/National Gallery/Mostyn Gallery), Olion (Frân Wen), Popeth Ar Y Ddaear (Frân Wen), Imrie (Frâ n Wen/Sherman Theatre), Iphigenia In Splott (Lyric Hammersmith), Tylwyth (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), FRANK (Jones Collective/NTW) and Possible (NTW).