films in progress
< BackSwansea Rose
The story develops many of the characters who appeared in our award winning short film 'The Revelation of Reverend Jones'
The Reverend Thaddeus Jones has been a priest for well over 20 years. He is currently a vicar in a parish in Swansea. Thaddeus is outgoing, friendly, takes a full part in local events and has made a name for himself playing the dame in the parish pantomime. He even likes to imitate Bette Davis at meetings in the parish hall. None of this bothers his long time girlfriend, Myfanwy Hughes, but then she is in love with the thought of becoming a vicar’s wife.
He is popular with most of his parishioners, though not the Rural Dean, Glendower Lloyd, who would love to find an excuse to bring the Reverend down. One or two members on the parochial church council have their own views too, but keep these to themselves while all goes well. It seems like things will always go well until the Dean’s wife encourages Myfanwy to propose to Thaddeus. She does and he is too flustered to refuse. Thaddeus is now forced to examine himself. He shares his thoughts and doubts with a virtual friend on a gay chatline. Thaddeus calls himself Swansea Rose and his unseen friend is called Welsh Madonna. At the same time, Thaddeus meets Herman Howells, who runs a support centre for ex-prisoners. Herman likes Thaddeus but sees him clearly. Thaddeus likes Herman, but suppresses what he actually feels.
With his mind in a whirl, Thaddeus finally makes a fantasy true. He dresses up in drag and has a great night in local nightclub. Then disaster strikes. He is photographed in the club by a local journalist and exposed in the press. Thaddeus finds his comfortable world begin to unravel as he is begins a long journey towards his real self. It is also a challenging journey for Myfanwy, though she is tenacious in her matrimonial ambitions. The journey exposes quite a lot about the other characters in the story, including the surprising identity of Welsh Madonna. And of course, it also examines, mostly in a light hearted way, prejudice and hypocrisy in the Anglican church.
Director: Dove Rangla
Writer: Nigel Osner
Genre: comedy drama
Length: 90 minutes