Performer Name: Still Here Productions Ltd in association with 20 South Street
Show Name: John Bevan: Team Player
Show Description
“To us, it’s not just a game, it’s who we are.” It’s 1971. Margaret Thatcher becomes known as the ‘Milk Snatcher’. ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ is nominated for 10 BAFTAs… And the British Lions with 13 Welsh players do something that has never been done before… and never repeated since. They defeat the mighty All Blacks on their own turf in New Zealand. Imagine, like John Bevan, that you are 20 years old, and part of that phenomenal success. How does that feel? And what happens afterwards? Within two years John Bevan leaves Union for League and a new life. What is he searching for? And will he find it? Could ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ inspire change? Or is this the end of a dream. Mari Lloyd’s new solo play explores the triumphs and challenges of three years in the sporting career of Welsh rugby player John Bevan, as it chronicles the Test series in Australia and New Zealand in 1971 and the period which followed in 1973 when John left the success of his rugby union roots to “go north” for a job to play rugby league for Warrington. Written by Mari Lloyd | Directed by Julia Stubbs Produced by Still Here Productions in association with 20 South Street and Grey Swan With Scott Gutteridge as John Bevan This new production builds on the successful first collaboration of playwright Mari Lloyd and director/producer Julia Stubbs on Mari’s debut play, Still Here. Its acclaimed 2025 revival, which toured South Wales, was named one of The Edit’s 'Top 20 Shows We Saw Across Wales'.
