Blackwood Little Theatre was transformed into a desolate asylum this week, in an award winning play performed as part of ‘Little Sparks’ festival.

Playing to a full house, The Ruins of Talgarth left the audience in stunned silence, in a play about abuse, patriarchy and the systematic failure of psychiatry.

Character Jean’s only crime is her “willing spirit” and as a result her husband commits her to “the bin” where she is haunted by flashbacks as reality and memories blur into one.

Director Neil Maidman creates disarray with powerful staging, bringing writer Vic Mill’s play to life in a surreal form of live theatre.

Performances were astounding with Vic Mills, Peta Maidman and Sarah Jones portraying psychological abuse and domestic violence with uncomfortable realism.

Tech Director Aneurin Brown and set designer Peter Musto also created moonlight ruins, electrical flickers and dancing shadows, capturing the experience of mental illness with striking visuals.

Surprisingly the dark themes and bleak tone did little to deter audiences from openly discussing mental health in the post screening question and answer session, led by Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Kath Williamson.

Ruins of Talgarth is an ambitious, challenging and at times shocking experience and is guaranteed to ignite popular debate about an important issue, setting the benchmark for the quality of amateur theatre not only in Wales but in the UK.