The Persians is an open air theatrical event - the weather is a part of the experience for both the audience and the production. Cloud Watching way up here on Mynydd Eppynt is a part of the daily routine in the build up to each performance as the weather changes with every moment.

Up untill last night all the threatening clouds and the showers that they have brought have passed before each performance started. As you can see from the photograph above the audience and performers are quite exposed to the elements. This has of course added to the drama and experience of the event. And half way through the run the reviews are still coming in and they're still very good. The Times has featured a very positive article in their newspaper and Ed Thomas the playwright said after seeing the show "I've never enjoyed a Greek Play before!"(as reported by Richard Harrington AKA 'The Messenger')

Up here you can look out over the plateau and see what's coming towards you weather wise. It feels like you're below a ceiling of clouds creating an upside down landscape just above your head.

The gray day yesterday didn't move off before the show started and we had a 'wet one!' The audience and production were thoroughly soaked.

However, at the end of the show the bedraggled audience in the uniform poncho's supplied by the production, having been exposed to the elements on a mountain in Mid Wales, all left with smiles on their faces.

If an audience can be rained on and blown about by the wind for nearly two hours and stay in their seats (not the most comfortable seats on a dry day!) then this must demonstrate that the event they were experiencing was powerfull enough to defeat the elements. When they leave smiling and enthused by the experience, as they did last night even with all the rain and wind, then they must have taken part in great art that will live with them.

It looks like another wet one tonight!

FRIDAY

Yes, it was even wetter than Thursday night - and the audience seemed to have enjoyed it all the more!

As I drove up onto the military range the base of the cloud came closer and closer until I was driving through the cloud.

The road towards Cilieni Village (the military buildings built to rehearse close combat in urban situations) dissappearing into the clouds above.

SATURDAY - Final Performance

There was a strange beauty in the random marks made in mud from our boots in the little technical hut where Mike Beer the sound engineer, John Street the AV Technician and Ed on the lights all share this cramped space and make things happen.

John Street puts a rubber gloved transmitter inside Richard Huw Morgans body armour for the last time last night. Richard has been transmitting video from a small camera on his wrist that appear on monitors throughout the house during the performance.

The elements have played with the landscape giving every performance a different and amazing backdrop every night. We've had glorious sun sets during the performance, a rainbow over the house on another and when its rained it's created another layer of drama to this amazing play.

And what a night for the last show. The elements, the mist and cloud swirling around the house combined with the performers giving everything to their parts created a trully memorable performance. What a great final show. I'm so privilaged to have been a part of this.

A TRIUMPH