DYLAN Thomas’s masterpiece, Under Milk Wood, originally written for radio, has had an equally successful life on stage, often as an ensemble piece, but occasionally as a solo show. And the exemplar of solo performers of this poetic and magical work is Guy Masterson, who comes to Bridport’s 100-year old Electric Palace, on Thursday 11th June, at 7.30pm.

The Olivier Award-winning performer is celebrating his own 30th anniversary with this poetic drama of “a day in the life of Llareggub”, a fictional sea-side town somewhere in Wales.

In an amazing feat of memory and physical virtuosity, Masterson recreates all 69 of Dylan Thomas’ idiosyncratic, memorable inhabitants, entirely on his own.

Complemented by a stunning original soundscape by Matt Clifford, this unique solo interpretation makes the words sing. It’s bawdy and beautiful, sad and sensual, creating indelible, unforgettable images of humanity. The beauty of Thomas’s wordplay and Masterson’s virtuosity will leave you breathless!

There is a very interesting family connection here – Masterson, who is renowned for his solo performances (including Animal Farm and A Christmas Farm) is the great-nephew of Richard Burton, who was the First Voice in the original 1954 BBC radio production of Under Milk Wood (it is unforgettable, if you have been lucky enough to hear it).

As a young man who had only just passed his driving test, Masterson drove his world-famous uncle from Wales to Switzerland in 1981, and has said this trip had a big influence on his subsequent career as a writer-director-performer.

Guy Masterson is back in our region in the autumn, performing Under Milk Wood on 21st and 22nd September at Bath Theatre Royal’s Ustinov Studio, and at Salisbury’s Celebrate Voice festival, at the Guildhall on Tuesday 24th October.