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EVERYMAN SUMMER THEATRE FESTIVAL National History Museum, St Fagans Wed 6-Sat 30 July This year, Cardiff’s famous Everyman Summer Festival will host a series of popular plays from the all-time greats at the iconic location of St Fagans’ National History Museum. An ideal way to kick off your summer break or the school holidays, the Everyman Summer Theatre Festival is offering something for the whole family to enjoy from pirate fun to classic Shakespeare – all at a location both beautiful, historic and careful constructed to include protection from the weather. Gilbert & Sullivan’s legendary The Pirates Of Penzance is the first to be performed (Wed 6-Sat 16 July). Following the tale of newly come-of-age pirate Frederic, The Pirates Of Penzance has enough pirate-revelry and raucous energy to entertain even the most hardened swashbuckler. Retold by Richard Tunley and Gareth Wyn Griffiths, this ever popular operetta is recommended for those who like their Gilbert & Sullivan with a cunning modern twist and a little more punch. On Sun 10 July, Shadwell Opera deliver a re-imagined production of Benjamin Britten’s comic opera Albert Her- ring, and of course, no outdoor summer festival would be complete without a little injection of Shakespeare, and this year’s offering is certainly a promising one. Shakespeare’s early The Comedy Of Errors (Wed 20-Sat 30 July) follows the tale of two identical twins separated in a shipwreck and the hilarious series of mistaken identities that ensue. Punctuated by outrageous characters and farcical in the extreme, The Comedy Of Errors is upbeat, fast- paced, quick-witted Shakespeare at its absolute best. The big children’s play this year is the ridiculous Old King Cole (Sat 23-Sat 30). Faz and Twoo must help Baron Wadd to marry the daughter of Old King Cole and become king before she is snatched away by the hand of heroic Cyril The Fiddler. With oddities and hilarity aplenty, this madcap play will have the whole family in stitches. Boast- ing swordfights, and a bizarre sausage-baited rat-trap, this is high-spirited summer holiday entertainment at its best. Tickets: £7-£18. Info: 029 2087 8442 /
www.everymanfestival.co.uk EMMA POCKLINGTON
THE INFANT Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Tue 19 July
The sunshine is finally gaining ground against the rain, and hopefully the show- ers won’t be back. But for those of us who know the “great” British summertime bet- ter, there are also plenty of indoor delights to be enjoyed. None more so than The Infant, as Les Enfants Terribles return to the WMC with the blackest of comedies. The Infant opens on an ordinary bloke called Cooper having been arrested and sent to be questioned by two rather curious and probably crazy interrogators. They have a picture that could spell the destruction of society; a plan so devastat- ing it would change the world. One prob- lem: their suspect, Cooper, claims that the picture was drawn by his four-year-old son and his wife insists her son did not draw it. Is it the end of the world as we know it? Or are we just paranoid and it really is the scribblings of an innocent four-year-old? In an era where even the smallest thing can make the security services and the public rush to panic, the storyline feels eerily familiar; highlighting just how much the politics of terror affects our lives. What is the truth? And does the truth re- ally matter anymore? Especially when the myths and leavings of war and fear wriggle deeper into our subconscious, causing a bigger danger: our own paranoia. Lauding the gap between a ridiculous comedy and an enthralling drama, The In- fant is sure to have you engrossed and in stitches of laughter. Tickets: £8-£12. Info: 029 2063 6464 /
www.wmc.org.uk (RW)
BUZZ 40
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND BALLET Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Mon 11 July What makes a classical ballet a truly au- thentic Kiwi experience? According to the Royal New Zealand Ballet, it’s an engaging and eclectic repertoire of dance reflective of a distinctive national culture, and this classical company should certainly know. As international players in the classical dance world, they have made a point of pushing boundaries with their work, and their latest offering, Here To There, serves up a select but stunning trio of contempo- rary dance treats at the Wales Millennium Centre this summer.
The company relies on a youthful, fresh and energetic approach to keep seats filled, and it seems to be a winning for- mula. A focus on dynamic choreography performed by the bright young things in the dance world has proved a winning combination commercially and critically. Here To There is an emotionally tender performance comprised of Jorma Elo’s Plan To A, a striking Banderillero by Ja- vier de Frutos and A Song In The Dark, a heartbreaking work by young New Zealand choreographer Andrew Simmons. The company aims to challenge, inspire and mesmerize with their works. And with some of the world’s best choreographers willing to lend a hand, this is a company who can perform the 19th century classics while also making their name as the 21st century boys of the ballet world. In doing so, they are keeping this astoundingly beautiful artform alive. Tickets: £14-£28. Info: 029 2063 6464 /
www.wmc.org. uk (KA)
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Grand Theatre, Swansea Tue 5-Sat 9 July
Getting noticed is not always about com- ing first, as the newest lead in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat can attest to. Keith Jack, the runner-up in the BBC’s Any Dream Will Do, has finally donned the famous Dreamcoat. He joins a long list of memorable Josephs that includes Donnie Osmond and Jason Donovan. But with his small stature and innocent schoolboy looks, he may not bring that presence or nobility that others have previously brought. Yet, if he can bring word and pitch-perfect singing to the role, I doubt anyone will mind. In a story full of insatiable jealousy, Joseph is Jacob’s favourite child. Not only the bearer of that impossible coat, he also has the uncanny ability to interpret dreams. Resentful and jealous, his broth- ers decide to sell him into slavery and create a ruse to take to Jacob. As Jacob grieves for Joseph’s ‘death’, his favourite son gains ground in the Egyptian com- munity, eventually becoming a member of the Pharaoh’s household providing dream interpretations. As a result of famine and drought years later, Joseph’s brothers come begging for help. Not recognising their brother, they fall for his subterfuge only to eventually be reunited. It might not be the West End or Broadway, but with the production in Bill Kenwright’s capable hands, there should be enough colour and magnetism to keep everyone entertained. There may even be a talking camel involved... Tickets: £13-£27. Info: 01792 475715 /
www.swansea.gov.uk (RW)
TITILLATION GRADE 3 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff Fri 8-Sat 9 July “Warning, this performance will feature dancing breasts, prosthesis puppetry, sparkly scars, surgical imagery and gratuitous nudity.” Stop talking. You had me at dancing breasts. This is show is titillation indeed, but not as you might think. The show explores breast cancer and, in particular, how it affected the life of Emily Under- wood-Lee, the woman behind it. Originally conceived as a one-woman show, Titil- lation saw Underwood-Lee collaborate with writer and performer Kylie Ann Smith as they navigated Underwood-Lee’s experiences with the disease. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer 18 weeks into her pregnancy, which led her and husband, artist Stuart Lee, to decide to have their daughter, Lillian, born prema- turely at 32 weeks. Once Lillian was born, chemotherapy began, and Underwood-Lee used writing and performing as a way to take control of the cancer. The new version of the show, Grade 3, still explores the same issues: femininity, sexuality, and of course, cancer, only this time the duo are joined by choreographer Sean Tuan John. His previous work has employed a good deal of dark humour, so this new collaboration makes for a good marriage of ideas. So if you like your life-threatening diseases dealt with in a thoroughly irreverent manner and have always fancied Patrick Swayze (spoilers) then this is absolutely worth a watch. It’s the tits. Tickets: £10/£8. Info: 029 2031 1050 /
www.chapter.org (RB)
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