AN EMERGING director from Cwmbran is looking ahead to her “most exciting year yet” as she prepares to make her debut at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Rachael Boulton, 29, will showcase The Good Earth in Cardiff – her first full-length piece.

The former Croesyceiliog School student, who was born in Pontypool, has been tipped as one to watch in the Welsh arts world in 2014.

She said: “This is probably the most exciting year for me yet.

“It’s the first time I have ever done anything on this scale. It’s incredibly scary but also a really good challenge.”

The Good Earth is her explosive new play, inspired by the true story of the villagers of Troedrhiwgwair, near Tredegar, who were told they had to leave their homes in 1979 due to an unstable mountain.

It is part of the Fragments group – an ensemble of actors, writers, directors, designers and producers challenging traditional storytelling methods in both film and stage.

Ms Boulton left for drama school in London aged 18 before returning home to Wales and a place on the Emerging Directors Scheme with National Theatre Wales last year.

Speaking about her latest show, she said: “It’s a devised story of conflict and song. Everything is improvised between myself and five actors. There are plenty of tears and lots of laughs, or hopefully any way.”

The Good Earth is on from April 14-17.

More information can be found at http://fragments.ie/thegoodearth

For more on Ms Boulton see http://fragments.ie/people/rachael