A REMARKABLE one-man show about Welsh rugby legend Ray Gravell has triumphed at the Wales Theatre Awards.

Held at Sherman Cymru in Cardiff on Saturday night (January 30), the annual awards recognise the very best of Welsh theatre, dance and opera.

The Torch Theatre Company’s play Grav picked up the new Audience Award, as voted by members of the public.

Wales Theatre Awards director Mike Smith said: “Voting for Grav demonstrated how this one-man show really connected with audiences when it toured Wales.”

Written by Owen Thomas and directed by the Torch’s artistic director Peter Doran, Grav explores the life of a man who was as compelling away from the rugby field as he was on it.

And who better to play the legend than Welsh actor Gareth Bale, who not only bears a startling physical resemblance to Grav, but has his accent and mannerisms down to a tee.

Ray Gravell grew up in Mynydd-y-Garreg and as a boy wanted nothing more than to please his father and play rugby for Wales. As we learn the two did not go hand in hand, with Grav suffering one of his greatest losses on the day he was selected to play for Wales under 15s. He went on to play for and captain his beloved Llanelli, and was in the infamous side that beat the mighty All Blacks of New Zealand in 1972.

International duties would soon come calling, with Grav realising his dream of playing for Wales against France in 1975. He was later selected to play for the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians.

After hanging up his boots, Grav enjoyed an equally successful broadcasting, television and film career, but his greatest success was neither on the pitch or on screen - he was first and foremost a devoted family man.

Grav died on holiday in Spain in 2007 after succumbing to complications from diabetes, aged 56. His funeral was one of the largest Llanelli had ever seen.

Speaking of the Wales Theatre Award, the Torch Theatre's marketing manager Jamie Rees said: "We were thrilled to win this particular award because it was voted for by thousands of audience members across Wales as opposed to the 30 or so critics who choose the other awards.

“Grav has played to sell out audiences across the country and there is a lot of love out there for the man himself and our production. It was a particular treat to accept the award in front of his wife Mari and two daughters Manon and Gwenan.”

Grav is about to tour Wales again for a third time in under 12 months. It will be returning to the Torch Theatre from Tuesday, February 9 until Saturday, February 13. All performance begin at 7.30pm and tickets cost £13 (£11.50 concessions).