Cemented in history as one of the faces of the golden era of Hollywood, Richard Burton is familiar to most as a lavish, award-winning film star. But his long journey to these dizzying heights started in a far more humble setting, a small village in West Wales.
The son of a miner (with 12 siblings!), Richard honed his acting skills in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, before eventually graduating to the hallowed theatres of London’s West End.
From here, he didn’t take a backward step. Propelled on by his distinctive gravelly voice (which the actor claimed was infused with Welsh coal), he made the jump to the silver screen, earning plaudits for starring roles in films like My Cousin Rachel and Cleopatra, and continued to make headlines with his turbulent marriage to another Hollywood legend, Elizabeth Taylor (who he actually married twice).
But the star never forgot his Welsh roots, returning to the county of Neath Port Talbot to visit family and friends frequently throughout his career.
Given Richard’s strong connection to his homeland, it is fitting that it is Neath Port Talbot that is set to lead the way in a programme of events and exhibitions celebrating the great actor’s life and legacy during 2025, the 100th anniversary of Richard’s birth.
Two new walking routes have been created in the county, one in the village of Pontrhydyfen, where Richard was born, and one in the town of Port Talbot, where he went to school. The walks combine key landmarks from the actor’s formative years, from the pub where his parents got married to the youth centre where he starred in some of his earliest performances. On specific dates, guided tours of the walks will also be running, led by Green Badge Guide Griff Harries, who will share facts and anecdotes from the famed thespian’s upbringing in Wales.
There will also be a number of talks about Richard’s life from Burton experts. One of these, by author Angela John, will focus on the life of Philip Burton, the teacher who became Richard’s legal guardian and from whom Richard took his adopted surname (a new film about Philip Burton is also due to be released in 2025), while a second, by Egyptologist John J. Johnston, will discuss Richard’s contribution to the portrayal of the ancient world on film, with the actor having stepped into the sandals of a number of iconic figures from early history, including Alexander the Great and Roman general Marc Antony.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a worthy celebration of the life of one of the great actors without some dramatic performances to enjoy. Over 100 Welsh school children will take part in Halen yn y Gwaed, a Welsh-language play that tells tales from Richard’s life. Later in the year, Pontrhydyfen’s Bethel Chapel, where Richard’s memorial took place following his death, will host a reading of 3 Knights, 2 Welshmen and a Dame, a play by PT Rose based on Burton’s time working on the 1983 film-turned-television series Wagner.
Speaking about the upcoming programme of events, Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing at Neath Port Talbot Council, said, ‘The Centenary Year will be a wonderful opportunity to inspire more people to take part in the arts and to learn more about how Richard Burton represented Wales on the international stage and silver screen.’
The Richard Burton Centenary RB100 is led by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, developed in partnership with Swansea University, and supported by Welsh Government, through Event Wales, and by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Along with aiming to raise awareness of Burton’s legacy, the events also hope to inspire more people to engage with the arts.
Learn more about events happening across Neath Port Talbot county and beyond as part of the Richard Burton centenary on the official RB100 website.