Gwenfair Vaughan
Actor & Creative
Stage
Welcome to Gwenfair's Stage page where you can read about a selection of her theatre performances and view theatre production photos.
Gwenfair is an accomplished stage actor who has a passion for working in the theatre. She has performed regularly on stages in New York, in U.S and UK regional theater, as well as touring internationally. Described as a strong, versatile actor, with a gift for comedy and drama, her performances have received critical recognition, and include playing familiar characters in classical plays, originating roles in new work. She has performed in a variety of accents, and in a range of venues, from large proscenium arch theatre's to intimate black boxes and outdoor spaces.
Her New York stage debut was as the title role in 'Miss Julie’, the controversial naturalistic tragedy by August Strindberg, for which she received praise from the New York theatre industry for her performance in the demanding role. Gwenfair embraced portraying the complex aristocrat whose illicit dalliance with a male servant leads to her ultimate destruction. The production was also Gwenfair's New York theatrical producing debut.
Following her portrayal of Miss Julie, Gwenfair was cast to portray the female lead in the Off-Broadway production of
'The Cinnamon Moths', a tense, thought provoking, dramatic work set in a dystopian future. Also appointed acting captain, Gwenfair received critical recognition for her performance in the American entertainment industry trade publication, Backstage:
"Gwenfair Vaughan setting the tone for the evening with her focused, emotional portrayal"
As a company member of New York's Irish Repertory Theater Company, Gwenfair also received critical recognition from New York's Irish Voice and ABC News, New York, for her humerous portrayal of Biddy Madigan in 'The Shaughraun' by Don Boucicault. Although Gwenfair broke a leg acting in the Irish Victorian melodrama, she carried on performing on wooden crutches especially made to match her 19th century costume!
"Gwenfair Vaughan plays Biddy Madigan that's worthy of the ticket price alone!" 'Irish Voice', New York
"Gwenfair Vaughan is very memorable as a professional mourner at a lurid Irish wake" ABC News, New York
Gwenfair has also enjoyed the challenges of a solo performance in 'Turnham Bloody Greene' with Mind the Gap Theater, New York. Her portrayal of Alice, sharing the story of her lonely life whilst stranded on the platform of the London train station, was told through tears and humor and was praised by a BBC correspondent:
"Gwenfair Vaughan's performance as the lonely Alice is moving and bittersweet".
Amongst Gwenfair's other favourite New York performances, was her portrayal of Hesione Hushabye in excerpts of George Bernard Shaw's comedy 'Heartbreak House' with The Pearl Theater, at the classical theater company's 30th anniversary celebrations at their theatre on 42nd Street. She also enjoyed performing in Cabaret Danzon, the international cabaret at La MaMa Theatre, where she took on one of the leading roles as a Welsh bard, inspired by the characters in 'Waiting for Godot'. Likewise, she had great fun playing the female lead in the 'Tittle Tattle' comedy in The British Invasion Comedy Festival at Ars Nova with a fellow cast of English New York actors.
Whilst performing in U.S regional productions of 'A Christmas Carol' and 'Under Milk Wood', Gwenfair portrayed a number of the wonderful characters penned by Charles Dickens and Dylan Thomas. She welcomed the opportunity to transition from one character to the next in the Welsh classic, portraying them in a number of Welsh dialects, whilst also sharing the role of First Voice, which she narrated in a Standard American accent. Her performance received critical recognition in a Pennsylvania Welsh Society Review
“…the gem of the evening, Gwenfair Vaughan was my personal favorite, who will really catch your eye and attention with her talent, charm and presence”
Having also toured internationally, Gwenfair originated the female lead, Ceridwen the vengeful witch, in the award winning 'Taliesin' theater show, which received 'The Waterford Audience Choice Award’ at the Dublin International Theater Festival. The production performed separately in Welsh and English, was based on the Welsh mythical tale of the birth of the 6th century bard Taliesin, and was told with physical comedy, music and dance. The show went on to touring success, performing in North America, Asia and Europe, whilst receiving critical recognition from several publications across a number of countries.
Amongst Gwenfair's other critically recognized performances, was her portrayal of Rebecca in 'Into the East' with Wales' Specatcle Theatre. The moving and dramatic play told how the children's opera, Brundibar first came into existence in the ghettos of German-occupied Czechoslovakia
"Gwenfair Vaughan played Rebecca, As she chewed on the tongue of her shoe to ease the pangs of hunger, you felt that hunger. lt was a moving and dramatic performance in which she made you feel guilty for the atrocities that were portrayed. An outstanding performance."
To learn more about Gwenfair's performance work, please visit her Screen, and Voice Pages, whilst reviews & interviews are available on her Actor and Press and Publicity Pages. To learn about her work as a creative, please visit her Creative Page.
If you're interested in discussing a Stage project with Gwenfair, please get in touch by filling out the form on her Contact Page. Thank you for taking the time to visit Gwenfair's Stage page.