6 Theatre The power of speech


PARTof Performing Medicine Cardiff – an innovative pro- gramme of public events ex- ploring issues relating to arts and health – Make Yourself Heard (4 July), is a practical, spoken communication skills workshop from leading voice coach, Barbara Houseman. With over 30 years experi-


ence as a voice and acting coach, and a private client list including Daniel Radcliffe, Jude Law and Will Young, Barbara Houseman is one of the UK’s most sought after vo- cal coaches. In this practical workshop Barbara will dem- onstrate how to gain greater control over breathing and voice in order to build more confident and effective com- munication skills. The work- shop is especially suited to an- yone looking to develop their interview or presentation skills, who find their nerves prevent them communicating with confidence, or who are interested in deepening their understanding of how we breathe and speak. Barbara Houseman com- mented: “Free breath and a connected voice are our birth- right. We start our life being able to do both with ease. As we grow unhelpful tensions can accrue for many reasons. These tensions constrict our breath and voice and deny us full expression of ourselves. “Freeing our breath releases such tensions and allows us to


Interview


STARRING in a new produc- tion of one of the greatest classic American musicals of all time, actors Belinda Lang and Gary Wilmot are happily saddled with a suc- cess. It’s a brandnewproduction


Barbara Houseman


operate in a more centred and calm way – with ease and con- fidence. Reconnecting with our voice brings conviction, expression, richness and clar- ity.


The session will respond to


the individual needs of the participants, allowing them to go away with the understand- ing and tools to work on their spoken communication.”


4 Jul Make Yourself Heard £5 | 2-5pm – Sony Room, Wales Millennium Centre


18 Jul Sculpting Anatomy £8 | 11am – 5pm – Sony


Room, Wales Millennium Centre


www.wmc.org.uk | 029 20636464


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WORKSHOP:


of Rodgers&Hammerstein’s Pulitzer Prize-winning show, butwhen he was first invited to join the cast of Oklahoma! seasoned musical theatre star Gary Wilmot was unde- cided. So what made up his mind? “I discovered that Rachel


[Kavanaugh] was directing,” says Gary, whose credits in- clude a swathe of West End musicals, including Me and My Girl, The Pyjama Game, Oliver! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. “It’s a show that has been done somanytimes but I knew Rachel would find something special in it. I love working with her,” he says, warmly. Actress Belinda Lang, perhaps best known for the 8-series hit sit-com 2Point4 Children plays Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! She too rates Ms Kavanaugh’s ability to put together a super-talented cast and create an outstand- ing show. “I have been astonished


by the cast.” she exclaims. “They are an extraordinar- ily gifted group who are at the top of their game – to see people that skilled at singing, acting, dancing and comedy is astonishing. They are athletes.” Presented by Music & Lyr-


ics Limited and Royal & Derngate Northampton, the show has just started tour- ing, playing in towns and cit- ies up and down the country and in Ireland until August. And if the reaction thus far is anything to go by, audienc- es will be charmed to within an inch of their lives.


MUSICAL: Oklahoma! Picture: Pamela Raith But it’s a collaborative ef-


fort and Belinda and Gary are as impressed with the rest of the creative team as they are with their director and fellowcast members. “You could say that they


are the new kids on the block. Stephen [Ridley] our MD [Musical Director] gives such precise and inspiring instruction and Drew [McO- nie] our choreographer has created one of the most ex- citing pieces of choreogra- phy I have ever seen. I virtu- ally cried at the end of the dream ballet, and that was just in the rehearsal room.” grins Gary. Belinda is equally en- thralled. “Drew is going to be hugely famous, I just know it, and I’ll be able to say ‘Ooh, I worked with him.’ His imagination and storytelling is extraordi- nary.” she marvels. With music by Richard


Rodgers and book and lyr- ics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Oklahoma! was based on the Lynn Riggs play Green Grow the Lilacs and was the first musical written by the duo. Including the songs Oh,


What a Beautiful Mornin’, I Cain’t Say No, The Sur- rey With the Fringe on Top, Kansas City, People Will Say We’re in Love and of course the title song, it was origi- nally produced on Broadway in 1943, with the Academy Award-winning film follow- ing in 1955. Set in the Okla- homa territory in the early 1900s, the musical story tells of two sets of star-crossed lovers. Cowboy Curly loves Aunt Eller’s niece Laurey, but Curly’s rival is the mys- terious and dangerous hired hand Jud Fry. Meanwhile, Ado Annie is torn between cowboy Will and peddler Ali Hakim – the role that Gary is thoroughly enjoying play- ing.


“He’s a character that comes in and goes out, so I knew I’d have my work cut out for me – I’d have to make an impact. Mind you, you’d have to go some to steal the show away from the talent we’ve got in this cast. “Ali goes from townto town plying his wares, mostly for ladies, selling kitchen equip- ment, perfumes and frillies from Paris. He’s a charmer;


he can charmthe birds from the trees, and it’s not until a few days after he’s gone that people realise that they have been conned” says Gary, who did a little digging and discovered that the role had been played many different ways previously. As for Belinda, she’s rel- ishing her role as Aunt El- ler. “She’s the matriarch of the piece. She’s the aunt of the leading lady and the go-to person in the commu- nity who keeps everything in check. She’s a bit of a pioneer and very salt of the earth. She’s a hard-working old boot!” Andnot even schleppingup


and down the country every week until August can take the shine of this production for Gary and Belinda, who are both clearly delighted to be part of such a success. “Physically it’s not the


most tiring role I have ever done so I am actually enjoy- ing sitting in the dressing room” jokes Gary. Oklahoma! comes to Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, from July, 7 to 11. For infor- mation call 029 2063 6464.


Wind back the clock with comedy


GET ready for a party as the nation’s favourite vari- ety show as the legendary That’ll Be The Day returns to Cardiff.


Celebrating the solid gold


hits of the 50s, 60s and 70s combined with hilarious comedy, this special night at St David’s Hall on Saturday 27 June is not to be missed. If you love nostalgia then


this is the show for you as the clocks get wound back to an unforgettable era that changed the course of music history and youth culture forever. Relive Elvis Presley at his peak, and laugh out loud with Tommy Cooper. That’ll Be The Day was first created by Trevor Payne in 1987 and quickly established its reputation on the caba-


ret circuit. By the early 90s the production was playing regional theatres across the UK. Ever since the show has delighted the masses with as many as 230 shows a year to capacity crowds. That’ll Be The Day is re-


nowned for its work with worthy causes, particularly BT Childline, Help For He- roes and more recently Make-A-Wish


Foundation


UK, which grants magical wishes to children aged 3 to 17 fighting life-threatening conditions. Tickets are still available priced £20, £22.50 and £24 (plus a £2.95 ticket service charge per transaction). To book your seats, please


call the Box Office on 029 2087 8444


SHOW: That’ll Be The Day


Friday, June 26, 2015 Follow us on Twitter @Argus_The Guide Newproduction of a classic


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