Welsh Actor Keen To Live In N.Z.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 21

Welsh Actor Keen To Live In N.Z.

New Zealand theatre will profit tremendously if the ambition of the talented Welsh actor, John Llewellyn, is achieved. Mr Llewellyn, who is at present touring with the show “Hello, Dolly!” is determined to settle permanently in New Zealand in the near future.

“I definitely intend to come back,” he said. “I would like to teach, act, and produce here. I feel as if I am in another Wales here. New Zealand is a very beautiful country.” In more than 30 years of show business, Mr Llewellyn has accumulated a wealth of experience in every medium

of entertainment. His present home is Sydney, where he has won acclaim from the critics for parts in many major productions. He has played in films, and has worked in radio. He left a regular television series to come to New Zealand on the tour.

Mr Llewellyn entered show business soon after leaving school, and worked in variety with such names as Max Miller and George Formby. He then entered repertory, and travelled around England with several productions. He first visited Australia during the war with the navy, and he returned in 1949. Since then he has spent a period in the United States.

As well as playing the part of the judge in “Hello, Dolly!”, Mr Llewellyn has been doing readings from Dylan Thomas’s “Under Milk Wood” for On Stage theatre. He knew the famous Welsh poet personally, and is a great admirer of his work.

Whenever he gets the opportunity, Mr Llewellyn writes poetry himself. He has already had some of his work published, and hopes to publish a book of poetry soon.

“Sometimes I find myself writing until three or four in the morning,” he said. “It’s a bit difficult when I have an early start the next day, but I am passionately interested in writing, and I think it’s worth it.”

Mr Llewellyn’s versatility extends beyond the entertainment world. He .has played table tennis for Wales, and professional soccer for Cardiff City. “I used to think I could play cricket, too,” he said. “But I had a friendly game in the North Island and was out first ball. I’m not saying much about that now.”