Heartbreak, Hope and Healing in The Revlon Girl

St Jude’s Players | November 2025 | Brighton, South Australia

Directed by Olivia Jane Parker

In November 2025, St Jude’s Players will present The Revlon Girl — a deeply moving and unexpectedly uplifting production that brings a powerful true story to life on the Brighton stage. Set in the Welsh mining village of Aberfan in the wake of one of Britain’s worst disasters, this play is not just about grief — it’s about resilience, friendship, and the quiet strength of ordinary women navigating unimaginable loss.

On 21 October 1966, the Aberfan Disaster claimed the lives of 144 people — 116 of them children — when a coal waste tip collapsed onto the local school. The catastrophe devastated the tight-knit community, leaving behind not only physical wreckage but emotional and psychological scars that would last a lifetime.

The Revlon Girl, written by Neil Anthony Docking, picks up eight months after the tragedy. It follows a group of bereaved mothers who meet weekly in the function room of a local hotel. Seeking connection, understanding, and a safe place to release their grief all in the face of shame, blame and guilt. They seek permission from one another to smile again, and invite a representative from Revlon to come guide them through beauty tips. What begins as an awkward, even absurd idea, unfolds into a poignant exploration of womanhood, survival, grief, and hope.

Director Olivia Jane Parker brings fresh sensitivity and insight to the staging of this intimate drama. “This story isn't just about make-up,” she explains. “It's about healing — and living with grief. Laughter can often present itself alongside sorrow. It’s about women finding the courage to feel joy again, through companionship and self-care, even when joy feels like a betrayal.”

Adding a powerful and authentic layer to the production is the music of the Ynysowen Male Voice Choir, whose haunting recordings are woven throughout the performance. Founded in the aftermath of the Aberfan tragedy, the choir was formed by members of the community — including those who had served on the “tips removal committee” — as a way to rebuild themselves and the village’s spirit through song.

Cledwyn Davies, the choir’s first chairman, reflected on the origins of the group: “It was as if, in spite of the grief and sorrow which prevailed, the world had to be shown that our village was not prepared to lie down and die… The choir became something very special — a way to give back, to reconnect, and to rise up.”

Though the Ynysowen Male Voice Choir will not appear on stage, their presence will be deeply felt. “It was during my research,” says Parker, “that I discovered the choir and their remarkable story. To now be able to share their music and spirit with audiences in South Australia is an honour. Their songs give voice to the fathers, brothers, and sons of Aberfan, echoing through time.”

With a script that blends humour and heartbreak, and a production that reverberates with the real-life voices of Aberfan, The Revlon Girl is a rare piece of theatre — one that embraces both tragedy and the tenacity of the human spirit.

This extraordinary production celebrates the strength of women, the power of community, and the healing gift of song.

A Musical Voice from Aberfan

St Jude’s Players are deeply honoured to feature the voices of the Ynysowen Male Voice Choir in this production. Though they do not appear physically on stage, their presence and music resonate throughout the performance, serving as a living testament to the strength and soul of Aberfan.

Formed in the aftermath of the Aberfan Disaster, the choir was born from the very same spirit of community and healing that underpins the play itself. As former Chairman Cledwyn Davies recounts:

“It would be very difficult to discuss the founding and development of the Ynysowen Male Choir without making reference to the tragedy which led to its creation. On 21st October 1966, a coal tip collapsed onto the village, engulfing the junior school and killing 144 people—116 of them children.

In the days that followed, the world came to our doorstep with help, assistance, and sympathy beyond measure. And slowly, through unimaginable grief, the spirit of the village began to fight back. One of the many groups formed during this time was the Tips Removal Committee, campaigning for the removal of the remaining slag heaps.

When their mission succeeded in July 1968, the men of the committee asked themselves what they could do next—something meaningful and healing. From that, the Ynysowen Male Voice Choir was born.

At first, there were only eleven singers. But by the mid-1970s, the choir had grown to more than seventy choristers. Since then, it has performed across the UK and Europe, always in aid of charity, and always in the spirit of remembrance, resilience, and giving back.”

Today, the choir continues to thrive, standing as a proud emblem of community recovery and unity through music.

The Revlon Girl
Presented by: St Jude’s Players
Director: Olivia Jane Parker
Featuring recordings from: Ynysowen Male Voice Choir