NATIONAL Theatre Wales' new play Mametz will host a guest of honour tonight when the mayor of the town in the play's title watches the show in a woodland near Usk.

Mametz, a large-scale, site-specific production performed in Monmouthshire, re-imagines the events of July 7 to 11, 1916, in Mametz Wood.

The battle saw 4,000 of the 38th Welsh Division killed or wounded.

The new play has been commissioned by NTW and 14-18 NOW and was inspired by Owen Sheers’ poem Mametz Wood, which draws on written material by poets, such as Robert Graves, David Jones, Siegfried Sassoon and Llewelyn Wyn Griffith who fought in or witnessed the battle.

The play, which has received financial support from the Welsh Government, is being performed in the Great Llancayo Upper Wood near Usk until July 5.

Stéphane Brunel has been the Mayor of Mametz since 2008 and local councillor for the Canton d’Albert since 2011.

Culture and sport minister John Griffiths AM, who will also attend, said ahead of the event: “The centenary of the start of the war in 1914 marks an important opportunity for us to remember all those who took part in the First World War and the transformational impact of the conflict in shaping modern Wales.”

A dragon memorial stands in Mametz Wood to commemorate the 4,000 men who were killed or injured in the 38th Welsh Division.

The bronze dragon has been restored in time for the centenary commemorations and a commemorative event will take place at Mametz Wood in July 2016.

For more information visit nationaltheatrewales.org/mametz

Anyone attending tonight can Tweet us with the #ArgusMametz

For a review of the performance see Saturday's Argus