Category Archives: Theatre

Welsh Playwrights, An interview with Tony Wright

2

Get the Chance values the role playwrights living and working in Wales bring to the cultural life of our nation.  Here is our first interview in this series with Welsh playwright Tony Wright.

Hi Tony great to meet you, can you give our readers some background information on yourself please?

Sure, so my name is Tony Wright my dad was Jamaican and my mum was Welsh and is from the Valleys. I grew in in Tremorfa, which is near to Splott in Cardiff. I left school without any formal qualifications.

So what got you interested in writing then Tony?

When I was 14 my sister brought a book home the Contender, it was a boxing book and this was the first book I picked up myself and was interested in. This developed an interest in literature for me so I then started to go to the library myself to read. Inspired by the book I tried boxing but it wasn’t really for me, it was too painful!

When I was 16 my friends formed a band called Level Vibes and I was the guitarist. I didn’t stay with the band for very long and I quickly realised that I couldn’t really play guitar but I could write lyrics, so I started to write lyrics for the band. I wrote a couple of things and my claim to fame is I wrote a song for a Benji Webb who now fronts the band called Skindred. Benji cut his first 12-inch single for a song I wrote called ‘Plant a Seed.’

http://www.barddgriot-productions.com/#!eyes–dont–lie-bottom–page-plant-a-see/ctc7

That’s a great claim to fame! So what did you do then?

I realised then that I could write! I set up my own band Digital and we did a few gigs at Grassroots in Cardiff. Which is a drop in youth centre with a music studio, an excellent place! Two of my songs stayed in the set for Level Vibes and their profile really developed they were talked about as the Welsh UB40. Level Vibes members also included rap poet Leon Charles

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/1970s-butetown-in-photos-2075339

http://www.literaturewales.org/writers-of-wales/i/129552/desc/charles-leon/

Digital didn’t really take off and when I was about 30 I was offered the chance to access some adult education courses and went to the Friary and Coleg Glen Hafren in Cardiff I learnt during the adult education courses that I was dyslexic. I think dyslexia wasn’t as widely known then. My tutors informed me I should have had an A grades but because of my dyslexia I got a C’s, which made me really angry and frustrated. I continued to want to learn and managed to get to university and studied a combined studies course on Media, History and Cultural studies. Much of my studies were based on subcultures and Rude Boy culture. During the course I learnt about scriptwriting. Again my tutor informed me that they thought I had dyslexia. I had a test and was diagnosed with severe dyslexia. I realised I if I had have been diagnosed earlier I would have received support but I didn’t and still don’t let my dyslexia hold me back.

Whilst on the course I wrote my first full-length script called ‘Climbing Out’ about a mixed race guy from Splott who was given the chance to move down to Cardiff Bay. I thought it was good and I just had to do something with it. So I went to Splott with no money just my script and spoke to people on the street and asked them if they wanted to be in my film! John Allen who worked at Chapter supported me; he very kindly gave us a space to work in. We booked the YMCA in Splott for 4 nights and it was one of the best things I have ever done. It was hard and a struggle we funded the performances ourselves with some in-kind support. At that time there wasn’t many mixed race black actors seen acting in Wales. The audience loved it, they where mainly the community and friends. For lots of the audience it was the first time they had seen a play with people in it that they could identify with and they said, “We want to see more!”

To do that yourself takes a lot of drive and ambition Tony, did you approach the Arts Council of Wales or similar organisations for funding or support?

Yes I went to Arts Council Wales for funding but I was unsuccessful in my application at the time, as I didn’t have 2 years trading or bank accounts. This was a barrier for me but they were flexible and asked to see if I had some evidence of trading. From then on we started to develop a relationship and discuss how they could support me. Since then I have had lots of support from ACW officers Jennifer Stoves, Melanie Hawthorn and Nick Davies. They know my work and me.

So with the success of your first play I wonder if you then wanted to develop your play writing skills?

258611_10151260965619283_1828133446_oWell they say to write about what you know so… my next project developed out of my knowledge of Reggae sound systems and Rude Boy culture, music was and is the thing that brings lots of my friends together. ‘Rude’ is became a Ska musical about a mixed race guy in Cardiff called Roddy, the play focus’ on him looking back at his teenage rude boy-self and the characters, culture and music that informed his youth.

c5d116_53266f2aa02a4056883dcaf7ef98311d

The cast of Rude 

The project developed when I met with a guy called Dave Norton and James Williams. I met Dave in a bar and we got talking and I found out that Dave was an actor and producer with his own theatre company called ‘Give it a Name.’ We started working on it together in 2009 it was produced twice in 2009 and 2012,  the second time as part of Black History Month. The play featured Shekira Johnson, Brent Morgan, John Norton, Dean Rehman, Joe Shire, and Olly Wood. James Williams who is a Musical Director was also the plays director. We performed it in the Rockin’ Chair Bar and Grill, in Riverside, Cardiff which was a Caribbean restaurant.

Performing it there meant we took theatre into a place it’s not normally shown. It was all staged in the restaurant. There were people sitting eating and the play was happening around them. The actors improvised with the audience it was excellent. There was one part of the show where the cast pretend to fight and one of the local bouncers jumped in to stop the fight thinking it was real! We had to say, “No Dave mate it’s a play!” James also got the excellent band together. They were Jenny Bradley, Fran Dimech, Chay Lockyer, Eric Martin Jr, and Gregg Price.

c5d116_758052df476b40c2b893a55de7a69038

I love the fact that the production was performed in a restaurant and not a traditional theatre space and really involved the audience. So to bring us up to date what have you been up to recently?

Well I am 53 I have been thinking to myself no more Art stuff. All my mates are retiring and I am thinking about getting a job! I started doing some voluntary work at Butetown History and Arts Centre and enjoyed meeting the different people that use the building. Whilst volunteering there I supported a project with MIND and a campaign called ‘Time to Change’ I was approached to work one project called Mental Notes – Beyond Words. I developed a piece of drama called ‘The Prisons Within’ I personally know a lot of people who have gone to prison with mental health problems and the importance of getting help. The play is set in a prison with two men in the same cell. In turns out one has OCD and one has depression. Del Lusion is one character and he is a symptom of mental health problems. He winds up the other character in the play. During the play the two characters get to know each other and talk about how they ended up in prison.

AJP_ECH_241114notes_04JPG

 The Prison Withins cast members Paddy Faulkner and Jason Camilleri

The play ends on a positive note and shows that you need to talk if you have mental health issues. The play was performed by actors Paddy Faulkner, Robert Marrable and Jason Camilleri and directed by Jemma Llewellyn

With the play I don’t offer any solutions to mental health problems I just offer a space for people to be aware of these issues in society, which I think, is one of the roles of writers and artists.

Sounds great I believe the production is going to be staged again soon? When will we be able to see the production Tony?

The play will be performed at The Wales Millennium Centre on Thursday the 30th June at 7.30 pm. The cast for this performance will include Jonny Hollywood/Robert Marrable and Paddy Faulkner. It will be directed by Jason Camilleri.

c5d116_c7409f916c754b359a34340a194aeb1c

The play will also be performed at Parc Prison, Bridgend as part of their staff training next month.

If you would like a free ticket  go to my website and send me a message. http://www.barddgriot-productions.com/#!lets_talk/con8

One of the reasons I formed my company Barddgriot- Productios was to maintain working with a talented multi-cultural team of people living in and working in Wales. As I have mentioned I have had the pleasure of working with a wealth of talented people in my career. I have also been supported by people like Director Greg Cullen who directed a short play I wrote at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I hope to continue to work with more of the brilliant artists and writers in Wales in the future!

http://www.barddgriot-productions.com

Thanks for your time Tony

Review Hairpeace Battersea Arts Centre By Hannah Goslin

Hair-Peace-Landscape

 out of 5 stars (3 / 5)

Beginning this one woman show, Victoria Melody begins with an  introduction to who she is, her previous show ‘Major Tom’ and where this brought her to the current production. She is a little bit odd, very talkative and full of expression. But it does put me on the edge of what was I really about to see.

This big haired, ditsy blonde seems amateur, strange and unlike anything I have ever seen. But soon, I was going to be surprised and about to eat my words.

Hairpeace begins from the performer’s quest to research a new show by entering beauty pageants. The cosmetic, pristine and long haired beauties we see on stage are all from this niche genre do a lot to make them this certain way. One part of this is the use of hair extensions, which are from real human hair. But where do they come from and does anyone even care? Melody investigates this, going from science, to Russia and to India where these extensions of beauty originate, and the deep dark and emotional secrets unfold.

As previous stated, I believed I was going to witness something amateur and something I was going to walk away from really disliking. I didn’t expect to be engaged, to laugh and to feel sorrow. Melody is so clever – her ‘amateur’ approach, her play on her airhead beauty pageant status is interesting and leaves us laughing. She is not only her intelligent and interesting self, but she plays on her stereotypes and easily wins around those (like myself) whose initial judgement was so, so wrong.

She uses her props, her staging well and plays with it all to bring out a laugh in us – one moment when a solid 3 minutes of her awful disco dancing with a frozen smile and her eyes lighting up in enjoyment is solely there to entertain – she is admirable for not caring what people think and doing things for us to love.

These hilarious and warming moments are comic relief however – the truth behind where hair comes from, her experiences and stories of people she goes to meet in Russia and India are heartbreaking but you are given real people through her filming, real emotion and she’s not afraid to show the real her whether it be taking the mick out of herself or telling the true revelations from her research.

Hairpeace turns into more performance art that a production; the content is real life, it is truth and honesty in all realms. However, instead of forcing us into a documentary, or storytelling, she highlights issues bluntly, bringing in elements of comedy to give that silver cloud. A definite informative and funny must see.

Never was the phrase ‘Never judge a book by it’s cover’ ever as apt as it is for this production; from my initial reactions to the reality of hair extensions.


Writer/ Performer: Victoria Melody
Director: Paul Hodson; Petra Massey
Dramaturg: Rachel Chavkin
Producer: Sean Phillips
Design: Ryan Laight; Joe Murray, Mitch Mitchinson, Evgeniy Kurbatov (Cameras); Richard Davenport, Hugo Glendinning (Photography)
Until 25 June 2016
https://www.bac.org.uk/content/41810/whats_on/whats_on/shows/hair_peace

Review Miramar, Triongl By Gemma Treharne-Foose

Miramar banner
 
 out of 5 stars (3 / 5)
 

An Englishman’s home is his castle, so the saying goes. But what happens when your husband (quite literally) finds himself in the shit and croaks it thanks to his fondness for the horses, leaving you destitute and homeless?

Triongl’s devised production ‘Miramar’, explores what are quite madcap and surreal circumstances in a small, intimate domestic comedy. Valmai Jones perfectly plays the part of interfering and curmudgeonly Enid. Vulnerable and stubborn, she finds herself put up by her friend Myfanwy following her misfortune and is horrified to find herself at the age of 74 sleeping in the Arsenal-themed room of her friend’s Grandson. She’s forced to watch as part-time holiday home landlords strip her house of her possessions as they create their little Welsh minimalist haven. Welsh speakers will recognise the subtle (and not so subtle) references and nods to ongoing anxieties and concerns about second homes in Welsh speaking communities here. Triongl play on these scenarios, contrasting the home-spun familiarities and eccentricities of Welsh speaking communities with the somewhat square and distant characters of Miriam and Martin, the couple from Swindon who purchase Enid’s old house. There are language barriers, eye-rolls and asides to the audience as these are played out. Jones’ comic timing and tense/jerky body language are absolutely spot on.

Hilarity ensues when Miriam and Martin’s daughters show up unexpectedly to the house only to find that Enid (disguising herself as neighbour Myfanwy) has moved in. We are taken down a number of paths and alternative ‘this is what could have happened’ scenes as Enid tries to cover up her manipulation and excuses as she plays one sister off against another. Becoming embroiled in the sisters’ bickering and back-story, the tangled comedy culminates in a sweet ending which will tickle you pink.

Audience members who don’t speak Welsh may struggle to get the full meaning and richness of Enid’s monologues in Welsh but the production helpfully gives a ‘cheat sheet’ to audience members delivered at the start (in character) by Enid herself. So you can find out just what Enid means when she says ‘cachu’ (shit), ‘Ty haf’ (holiday home) and ‘di gartref’ (homeless). This production will capture your attention to the very end and Welsh speakers will (ironically) feel right at home with the observations and cross overs between English and Welsh, village and city, old and new and all the complexities that go with it.

For all the ‘funnies’ in the play, there’s a sober message, which was highlighted by a post-play talk by Shelter Cymru. 97% of its cases are related to cases like Enid’s, not just homelessness out on the streets, financial insecurity is on the rise and we are typically only two pay packets away from homelessness ourselves. Miramar reminds us that we all need a place to call our own and to feel secure; whether it’s a place with china dogs and pink throws or stripped floorboards and minimalism.


Type of show: Theatre
Title: Miramar
Venue: Chapter Arts Centre
Dates: 16 & 17 June 2016
Author(s): Rebecca Smith-Williams
Director: James Williams
Lighting Design: Dan Young
Technical: Richard Balshaw (Production Stage Manager) and Jorge Lizalde (Graphic Design)
Cast includes: Valmai Jones (Enid), Rebecca Knowles (Alice) and Rebecca Smith-Williams (Georgina).
Co-producer: Rebecca Knowles
Running time: 65 mins
 
 

Review Billy Elliot WMC by Gemma Treharne-Foose

Template-main-Billy-Elliot
 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)
 

Fans of the original Billy Elliott movie, also directed by Stephen Daldry can expect a little bit of extra magic from the Wales Millennium Centre’s hosting of the hugely successful Billy Elliott production.

Charismatically led by the mesmerising young actor Lewis Smallman, the show takes us on a pleasing detour from the original film script. We not only see brand new additions to the story but lengthier explorations in to the characters of Billy’s Mam, Nana and Michael (who you may remember has a penchant for his sister’s clothes and has a soft spot for his friend Billy). There are plenty of cheeky exchanges and gritty working class banter courtesy of the superb ensemble cast and the kind of unguarded and politically incorrect observations and comments reminiscent of drunk uncles or grandfathers at Christmas. This was the eighties, after all!

The show respectfully and tastefully contextualises a time of great fear and a sense of national panic about the fate of mining communities, punctuated by the innocence and childish sense of fun of Billy and his fiend Michael. The two battle with conforming to the unwelcome stereotypes and limitations placed upon them in the masculine mining communities during the miner’s strike. Throughout the whole production, the community is at war with the police on the picket lines and the sense of hatred towards Margaret Thatcher is palpable. There are sprinklings of ‘Maggie Maggie Maggie Maggie – out, out, out!’ chants, naughty jokes, insults, political Thatcher and Heseltine puppets and an incredibly designed giant Margaret Thatcher (milk snatcher) model emerging from the stage at one point, which will remind you of the ‘Spitting Image’ years. There is a simply spectacular scene where Billy and his ballet classmates are in the middle of a lesson while dancing coppers clash with picketing miners…the story telling in Darling’s choreography, use of pace and the physicality of the actors was a powerful highlight for me.

unspecified-1

I loved the additional scene in the musical where Andrea Miller’s character Nanna paints a picture of what life was like for women when ‘men went out to mine’. For all the much-romanticised community spirit and camaraderie of the mining men…life was pretty shit for the women left behind.

unspecified-2

Nanna’s rebelliousness and Joie de vivre as she literally gives the finger to gender stereotypes and misogyny is infectious and this nod to gender politics and male chauvinism was later echoed when Billy caught Michael trying on dresses. Michael innocently asks ‘What’s wrong with being dressed as a girl?’, as if dressing as a girl is worse than actually being one. There is a fantastically camp and cute scene where Michael and Billy deliver an incredible call to action during their energetic and playful dance piece: be who you want to be – dress and all!

While Daldry’s movie gave us pacy cinematic editing and a razor sharp script, it’s fair to say the script for the on-stage production doesn’t quite match the quality of the original film script. Some of the lyrics and exchanges are a little simple and at times clichéd. On the first night of its long run, some of the Geordie accents were a bit ropey and there were some sound issues with a creaking set BUT we are more than compensated with incredible choreography thanks to Peter Darling. This is a real shot of adrenaline in the arm and a classic feel-good show. Go see this show, take your Mam…wear a tutu, even – you won’t regret it.

unspecified

Title: Billy Elliott
Venue: Wales Millennium Centre
Dates (15th June-16 July), PN 15th June.
Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall
Director: Stephen Daldry
Design: Ian Macneil
Technical: Costume by Nicky Gillibrand; Lighting by Rick Fisher, Sound by Paul Arditti.
Cast includes: Anette McLaughlin, Martin Walsh, Andrea Miller and Scott Garnham.
Producer(s) Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene.
Running time: 3hrs
 

Review Piaf! The Show Festival of Voice WMC by James Briggs


 
 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)
 

Cardiff welcomed one of France’s most famous singers in the form of ‘Piaf! The Show’ as part of the Festival of Voice event in association with ‘Directo Productions’. ‘Piaf! The Show’ celebrates the centenary of Edith Piaf’s birth and is a wonderful production  that sees French singer Anne Carrere filling the impeccably large boots of Edith Piaf. Edith Piaf holds very special memories for me as my family and I would regularly go on holiday to Jersey. When I was four I asked the hotel pianist if she would play Edith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’. The pianist as well as my family were astounded at my request, but as we would return year after year to the same hotel every time I walked into the hotel the pianist would always play the song for me and even gave me some of my first ‘piano lessons’.

With a packed line up of almost thirty songs we are taken on a musical journey of Edith Piaf’s life starting firstly in Act 1 with the beginnings of Edith Piaf singing in café’s for customers and serenading people alongside the River Seine. However, Act 2 is totally different with the show changing into a concert style performance and Anne Carrere’s performance as Piaf is totally mesmerising. There were countless famous numbers included allowing the audience to sing along with the music. The settings used on the stage were minimal yet extremely effective some of which being a streetlamp in Montmartre,  seedy clubs of Pigalle and even the world famous Carnegie Hall in New York.

While performing on stage Anne Carrere was backed by a live band simply made up of a piano, doublebass, drums and the most amazing accordionist Guy Giuliano who was simply outstanding. The songs performed were a great mix from the well known such as Jezebel and Autumn Leaves and those not so well known to me such as ‘Bravo Pour Le Clown’, ‘Milord’ and ‘La Foule’.

The audience were left feeling as though we were watching the show in France as it was all in French. I really enjoyed the use of French as it brought more meaning to the music and made the portrayal of Edith Piaf by Anne Carrere even more special.

For those who have listened to Edith Piaf’s music you will know that she had a very specific sound to her voice and this is extremely difficult to impersonate, however, Anne Carrere manages to exemplify not only the spirit of the singer but also her unique sound. The legendary vibrato is captured with precision and even when dancing with men she had picked from the audience she stayed in character and didn’t let the accent go for one second.

The setting was also very effective in that during the singing a large projector at the back of the stage showed photographs of Edith Piaf through her many stages of life. Simple sets of a streetlamp alongside a park bench, bar and cafe tables provide the audience with a visual aid when listening to the music and following the story. This created the most fantastic atmosphere for the audience but the music with Anne Carrere alone is enough to entertain any audience and the enjoyment on stage was infectious.

For me this show was a dream come true and is the closest I will ever get to watching Edith Piaf singing her music live. It was therefore a terrible shame that the audience was so small in number as the performance deserved a packed audience. However, this did not deter the audience giving Anne Carrere and her band a standing ovation which was very well deserved.

I would recommend this show to everyone whether you are a fan of Edith Piaf or not as it is simply a wonderful celebration of all things French and the fabulous Anne Carrere is outstanding and I am sure when she performs at Carnegie Hall in New York I am sure she will be loved there also. If you ever get the chance do not think twice about buying a ticket as it is a must see show and your guaranteed a wonderful night out. Merci Anne Carrere vous étiez un artiste incroyable et vraiment fait Edith Piaf fier!

Merci d’avoir lu mon commentaire sur le fantastique Piaf ! Le spectacle.

Review Can I Start Again Please? Battersea Arts Centre by Hannah Goslin

 

landscape

Photo credits, Matthew Andrews

 out of 5 stars (3 / 5)

Language is the common denominator of all cultures. It’s how we communicate. How we progress. It’s a vital part of being safe and how we control our lives.

Can I Start Again Please ? Is a beautiful and simple piece of theatre with an abundance of subtext. It looks at language and how it is used and it’s restrictions. It also looks at elements of childhood trauma and abuse and how language is stunted by these events.

Two performers sat in huge dresses (Sue MacLaine and Nadia Nadarajah) our focus only on their face and their hands with a simple set of a few books by each of them, 3 bells and a large never ending sheet of paper across their laps.

Can+I+Start+Again+Please+-+Words+and+Meaning

At times the minimalism of such a small set and performance in such a large area creates a lack of intimacy. We are at times meant to feel as if we are being addressed but in a large area, it gives confusion as to whether we really are or whether this is directed to the other performer. Or was this the intention?

unspecified

The performers show only two of the many ways we communicate – British Sign Language and vocally. The beauty of sign language is something I’ve never before taken the time to appreciate – the fluidity of the movement and the nature of gestures reminded me of a dance – a movement of language. If taken into a different context, there are many similarities in this language to what is achieved by physical theatre. The story or the expression is given through movement and at time abstract gestures rather than a simplistic mime; conveying emotion and meaning to anyone and everyone.

Can+I+Start+Again+Please+-+Bell+and+BSL

Touching upon childhood trauma – the combination of both these ideas into one production is very clever. The performers have taken from personal history which gives a personable and relatable performance. How we are given freedom of speech yet we can be threatened not to speak, be scared to or even lose the ability to through traumatic events, showing the growing limitations language has culturally.

Video credits, Zoe Manders

This minimalistic but contextually full performance is 60 minutes of intensity; highlighting the pain and structure of language especially in difficult situations as well as how culturally it has changed.

I left with much food for thought and a new appreciation of language.

http://www.suemaclaine.com/can-i-start-again-please/

Review Sea Life The Hope Theatre, by Hannah Goslin


 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

London is well known for its Theatre Pubs. A wonderful concept, in the heart of boroughs of the city, there are little spaces where stories unfold, and below in the bar, people meet from all walks of life.

Invited to The Hope Theatre, this small and punky pub collates theatre goers and the locals in one amazing area. Heading upstairs, there is an instant change. A hustle and bustle of conversations drift away and the sound of sea gulls and shanties fill the small room. A strong smell of fish and chips fills the room as we sit like sardines next to one another in a dilapidated seaside bar. A green and blue tint on the stage, the whole room is painted and kitted out to involve you in the scene that begins to unfold.

The story sees 3 dysfunctional siblings after a tragic past and an even more tragic present. The play aims to look a life and death and does this with no fear of the audience sensitivity – just how theatre should be. The cliff is slowly breaking away with natural erosion, and the small towns past in the form of its grave yard is in danger of falling into the waters below and being lost forever. Enlisted to help, the brothers of this trio make the coffins and the other digs up the bodies – all three constructing silly and unordinary funerals in their never used bar.

The writing of this play is fantastic – it is full of emotion but also just as full with comedy. When you are told that this is a play about life and death, perhaps your mind immediately thinks it will be a negative emotional roller-coaster; not for the faint hearted. And it is, and it isn’t. We feel for the characters in their time of need, their frustration but also laugh at their oddball characters, their weird and unusual relationships and their even more bizarre situation.

To have such a mountain of content playing in such a small area is fantastic. The actors pin point their different characters so well. There’s a hint of a League of Gentleman to the production where it is funny but also so strange that you feel a little anxious as to whether something terrifying made suddenly be thrown in. And without giving anything away, it does just that. Finding yourself laughing but also being slightly shocked is a funny feeling but a wonderful one and replicating that with over 30 people is a triumph.

Sea Life must be one of my favourite shows so far in 2016. It appeals to everyone and is extremely British in its comical storyline and production. As a critic, perhaps you should find minor faults, but I cannot say there is a fault with this play. It has everything you need and that just a bit more.

sea life

Review Before I Leave National Theatre Wales

042-NTW-Before_I-Leave-Farrows-Creative
 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

National Theatre Wales soar as their revere for a nation of unified pride reigns in a more increasingly inclusive Welsh theatre, at the Sherman Theatre.

From first glance Before I Leave is a story of Alzheimer’s – inevitably sad and scattered with a respectably predictable style of humour. However, with a wonderfully assured cast, a truthful direction, and a truly vibrant script, a brewing passion of a profound Welsh musicality triumphs! Rocky’s war-cry of ‘Why can’t we give love one more chance?’ encompasses this performance for me. We all can appreciate the desperate actions of a character put ‘Under Pressure’.

To quote playwright Patrick Jones “This play is a testament to the healing power of song” From the perspective of, debatably, the youngest person in the audience on Tuesday night, regardless of my cultural experience – and knowledge of The Jam or Neil Diamond – I (like the entire audience) can acknowledge that music has an ability, if somewhat exploited in this piece, to evoke our human longing for nostalgia, understanding, belonging and escape. The Before I Leave chorus and choir added a beauty, in its sentiment, to a pop-rock enthused performance.

Director Mathew Dunster champions empathetic and honest portrayals, through an admiration for ‘the people’. From Desmond Barrit’s unapologetic portrayal of an ex-policeman embodying a life of continuous conflict. Celia Hewitt’s sorrowful, and enlightening, Isabelle, and Dafydd Hywel’s exulted grit in Rocky – who illuminates the truth behind a too well-known Welsh figure. But, Martin Marquez’s Joe – a slowly fading rocker, unsure of what he’s raging at anymore – makes for a seemingly effortless and encompassing performance, and perhaps, as a result, the most under-rated of the evening.

Dunster’s direction – of meandering crossovers and the adopting of minimalistic solutions – highlights a simplicity that poignantly reflects a nation of loss. This constant interchanging of time, characters and setting reinforces the spirit of a community continuing to live. And, the audience, intended or not, are coaxed to ‘power through’ the surges, and droughts, of a zealous intensity.

Jones’ sincere, and deeply-rooted play is confirmed in the understanding of its disease. Abrupt, and ambling, scenes are a mere portal into the scattered objectives of a chaotic (real) life.

Anna Fleischle recreates all too familiar settings. Chairs striking – in their primary colours – plonked, to animate waning lives, on the uninspiring mesh of carpet. Seamlessly, a reflection of the struggle to express vividity in an increasingly taxed and drained Welsh society, as well as those plagued by Alzheimer’s, can be discovered in a tragically governmental building – a Merthyr library. Straker’s poignant projections of our green valley, its ever-present brutality, and our glorious dead, succeed in capturing the tensions of an ‘evolving’ Wales.

Before I Leave is painstakingly perceptive – yet the light never fails to pierce through its shadows. National Theatre Wales commanded the audience to their feet and left them humming.

Theatre
Before I Leave
Venue: Sherman Theatre
Dates: 27 May – 11 June, PN 31st May
Director: Matthew Dunster
Written by: Patrick Jones
Design: Anna Fleischle
Technical: Heddwyn Davies/Andy Evans (Sound), Dyfan Jones (Music), Angharad Matthews (Costume), Dick Straker (Video designer), Joe Fletcher (Lighting)
Cast includes: Desmond Barrit (Evan), Olwen Rees (Isabelle), Dafydd Hywel (Rocky), Llinos Daniel (Gemma), Martin Marquez (Joe), Melanie Walters (Dyanne) and Oliver Wood (Scott)
Running time: 2hrs 30min

Review Return of The Grumpy Old Women- Fifty Shades Of Beige, St Davids Hall by James Briggs


 
 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)
 
Returning after their sell-out Spring 2015 tour the Grumpy Old Women are back to share their Grumpy tales and tips with the nation. Award-winning comedian and original star of Grumpy Old Women Jenny Éclair is accompanied by fellow recruits Susie Blake (star of Mrs Brown’s Boys) and Kate Robbins (Singer and star of Casualty). Before I go on with the review, however, I must mention I cannot go into too much detail as to the tales told with my review because as Jenny Éclair said “What goes on in Grumpy club stays in Grumpy club”.
The Grumpy Old Women
Landing at St David’s Hall in their shed from outer space the grumpy old women, spacewalk onto the stage complete with space helmets and uniforms to a momentous applause from the audience, unsurprisingly the audience was mainly made up of women, with just a few men dotted about the auditorium. Given that I was possibly one of the youngest in the audience and being male I still felt as though I was able to relate to the topics they discussed – mind you having a Mum the same age as the Grumpy Old Women did help!
The Grumpy Old Women talked about a wide range of subjects that any person was able to relate to including a guide to nagging, how to get a roof rack put on a car without your husband moaning, dancing at weddings and pole dancing. Props littered the garden set and were used to brilliant effect during the show and even included a gigantic pair of pants and a BBQ.
The show is very clever in that it can be talking about a topic and then the lighting will change and you are plunged into a mini sketch. The sketches highlight the brilliant acting skills of all the Grumpy Old Women. The amazingly funny script really worked well for the stars and left the audience in stitches and in my case tears streaming down my face. I really like the fact that all of the comedy was good clean fun with very little use of bad language. When the language was used however it was delivered with fantastic comic timing.
The second half of the show sees them return to the James Bond theme which sparked a debate into why there has not yet been a female Bond. With the current news of Daniel Craig’s decision not to carry on playing Bond there is no better time than now to consider the possibilities of a female actress playing Bond and the three Grumpy women are obviously showcasing their talents to play Jane Bond.
For me there were two stand out moments in the show that were utterly hilarious, the first of these was when team Grumpy took part in ‘Grumpy Come Dancing’ based on the hit BBC show which had the audience in hysterics especially with Susie Blake’s pole dancing performance. The second stand out moment for me was the posh version of The Jeremy Kyle show, the writing was amazing and Kate Robbins impersonation of Jeremy Kyle was brilliant and even mimicked the way he lies on the step and goes up close to the faces of the people on the show. The content of the Jeremy Kyle sketch is also fantastically funny due to it being based around a mother complaining ‘My son will not practice the cello’.
At the end of the evening the audience gave a well-deserved standing ovation. Anyone who watches this show is guaranteed to have a fabulous night and will most definitely be leaving with an aching jaw from laughing so much. This really is a must see show that should not be missed and is most definitely the best night out I have had in a long while.

Return of The Grumpy Old Women- Fifty Shades Of Beige is currently on a UK wide tour and all of the dates are available via this link- http://www.grumpyoldwomenlive.com/

Review Before I Leave NTW by Gemma Treharne-Foose

 
13339590_10153481568316898_1358871885230660125_n
 out of 5 stars (3 / 5)

It’s taken me a while to process what I saw on Tuesday night at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. National Theatre Wales seemed to create a sensory experience before even setting foot in the theatre space. As we settled in our seats, the lady next to me commented how much the set looked just like a nursing home – I was sure the heat of the auditorium and (I thought) faintest smell of disinfectant were part and parcel of the show – or was I imagining it? It seems I’d misjudged the show and its assumed setting before it even began.

The play won over the audience from the get-go as the characters emerge and we begin to see small vignettes and glimpses into their lives. These scenes cross over, interrupt one another and interface with their communal experience of singing in a choir. The set, beautifully designed by Anna Fleischle and her team, contextualises the rich landscape and history of the community where it is set on five digital windows, creating a vivid backdrop for the action on stage. This staging helps build up momentum and keep the play pacey and light, full of visual morsels and edgy, familiar riffs and melodies. The songs had a visible, moving effect on the audience as the connections between the songs and the choir members were played out. We see how the tangled personal lives of our loved ones are at odds with bureaucratic ‘local service providers’ and how at odds we are as a system to provide well-meaning person-centred care and support. There is one poignant moment where ex-police officer ‘Evan’ struggles to comprehend why a social worker is giving him a ‘needs assessment’ using an iPad: ”In my day, we had a pencil and a pad’, he muses while the social worker retorts: “Yes but I can see a whole street in New York LIVE if I want to…”. “Why…?” Evan says, completely exasperated by the whole thing. In that precise moment, Evan becomes our Dad, our Uncle, our Granddad…and probably us in the future, too.

Miner ‘Rocky’ is trapped in his past as an ex-picketing Collier and there is an on-going clash as Evan and Rocky dredge up previous battles fought during the Miners’ strike. Throughout the play we see dear  Evan crumble as his daughter Gemma facilitates his confusion and takes advantage of his finances, causing him to lose his home and his grip on his own life and independence. We’re introduced to ex-punk Joe and his wife Dyanne who is doing her best to cope with Joe’s diagnosis of early onset Alzheimers. The first half, culminating in a rousing rendition of ‘Hurt’ by Nine Inch Nails/Johnny Cash, was tender and bittersweet.

The second half delves more in to the personal struggles of the characters as their meeting hub, the local library, is earmarked for closure as part of austerity measures (“Tory bastards!” Rocky spits out….and his frustrations with Tory Britain in the 80s seem as relevant as ever). As Joe struggles to comprehend and find words to air his frustrations, the couple clash causing Joe to lash out – there is a powerful scene between them as Joe becomes frightened and agitated and the police are called. Meanwhile, ex-librarian and Opera singer Marjorie is losing her grip on her orderly lifestyle and not even post-it notes can help her anymore. Will she be able to find her voice again?

In the second half, the pace of the play seemed to lose the hold for me slightly and lacked the initial punch of the first half. At times, the play reminded me of Jonathan Larson’s ‘Rent’ and seemed awkward in places as the scenes became longer. Rocky’s character was troubling for me. Jones clearly has a fondness for the Valleys and a clear message about their demise and future challenges. But the play does teeter very close to the edge of romanticism and sentimentality for a time when ‘everyone stood up for their rights’ and our communities were OK then. I find it awkward when the stereotype of the ‘wistful, mournful miner’ finds his way in to so many plays depicting Welsh/Valleys life (and this is coming from the Granddaughter of a Rhondda miner). There was something not quite right about the face-off between Rocky and the ‘Hoody’ who betrayed him.

That being said, the eventual coming together of Evan and Rocky was touching. They are after all, two sides of the same coin; both insecure, frightened and haunted by their past. Gemma’s treatment of her sweet Father Evan highlights the ugly side of all of us; too lacking in time, too impatient and to wrapped up in our own lives to care about the stuff that really matters. There is nothing like dementia or Alzheimer’s to drive this reality home. We see that it is all-encompassing and full of conflict for all who are touched by it. But it is a leveller, too. And we are reminded that living well is just as important as managing the condition. Exasperated by the choir’s experience at the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ audition in Cardiff, mild-mannered Marge pipes up: “We are not SUFFERING from Alzheimer’s, we are living with it!”

The choir remind us that a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s does not mean that they ‘become’ their illness. There are shadows and small reminders that they are still there, if we care to look for them. In Isabelle’s tapping (as an ex-secretary), Ex-punk Joe not conforming when his wife wants him to get ready for an appointment: ‘Naughty boy!’ he shouts. This is what he was…and perhaps still is: a rebel at heart. We see it in the resilience and strength of character of Evan, despite being hemmed in and pressured to move in to a care home. This play is all of us. We are all Evan and Rocky and Gemma and the patronising stand-in choir director. Patrick Jones reminds us that even when the soul of a community is shut-down, threatened and it seems that all hope is lost, we are strongest when we find our community – wherever or whatever that community means to you.

Theatre
Before I Leave
Venue: Sherman Theatre
Dates: 27 May – 11 June, PN 31st May
Director: Matthew Dunster
Written by: Patrick Jones
Design: Anna Fleischle
Technical: Heddwyn Davies/Andy Evans (Sound), Dyfan Jones (Music), Angharad Matthews (Costume), Dick Straker (Video designer), Joe Fletcher (Lighting)
Cast includes: Desmond Barrit (Evan), Olwen Rees (Isabelle), Dafydd Hywel (Rocky), Llinos Daniel (Gemma), Martin Marquez (Joe), Melanie Walters (Dyanne) and Oliver Wood (Scott)
Running time: 2hrs 30min