stage


DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? The Riverfront, Newport, Wed 12 July; Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot, Thurs 13 July


Do You Believe In Ghosts? That’s what a new theatre production aims to answer, billing itself as an “experiential ghost story”. It’s based on the concept that most, if not all, theatres purportedly have at least one ghost – although older theatres would probably have a few more than the two, relatively modern, Welsh venues on the itinerary this month.


Apparently, every theatre also has a ‘ghost light’, technically to help people working at night find their way around, but supposedly to ward of pesky spirits. Ghosts are big in the theatre at the moment, with shows such as 2:22 A Ghost Story getting nominations, to say nothing of classic favourites like A Christmas Carol. Currently on an epic UK tour, which will take in other theatres in Wales later in 2023, Do You Believe In Ghosts? will make its West End debut at the Adelphi Theatre – which, famously, has its own resident


ghost – on Halloween night, no less.


Created by James Lee Taylor and Julian Woolford of Entertainers productions, Do You Believe In Ghosts? features a ‘cast’ of two: host Adam Hart, a paranormal investigator


paranormal expert Joanna Rodgers. Hart’s interest in this topic stems from acting on various ‘haunted’ stages, as well as playing ghosts onstage.


and actor, and


The pair take the audience on a theatrical ghost ride, telling tales of haunting, grisliness and murder. Alongside the usual theatre tricks like


noises, the events page warns to expect “spookiness”.


theatrical haze and


Tickets: £28 (Newport) / £31.90 (Port Talbot). Info: newportlive.co.uk / princessroyaltheatre.com CHRIS WILLIAMS


loud


ABIGAIL’S PARTY Venue Cymru, Llandudno Wed 12-Sat 15 July


Dust off your Demis Roussos records: Abigail is having her party again. Mike Leigh’s seminal black comedy play, a touchstone of 20th century British theatre, comes to Llandudno’s Venue Cymru, and along with it comes Leigh’s monstrous creation, hostess from hell Beverly Moss.


The year’s 1977 and Britain is in the midst of a Labour government (imagine!); a year away from the winter of discontent but with a new middle class was emerging. Beverly and Lawrence are hosting their neighbours for drinks, while divorced neighbour Sue’s 15-year- old daughter Abigail is having a house party. Originally played by Alison Steadman, the character of Bev became an icon (there’s a little bit of her in Steadman’s Pamela, from Gavin & Stacey).


The tour was due to end at Venue Cymru, though London Classic Theatre have announced a further 12 weeks – wherever you may be, Abigail’s Party is a must-see for fans of modern classic British theatre.


Tickets: £23-£31. Info: venuecymru.co.uk CHRIS WILLIAMS


32


THE ADVENTURES OF ALICE IN


WONDERLAND Grand Theatre, Swansea Mon 24-Wed 26 July


Everyone loves puppets, and there are puppets abound in this new production of the classic Lewis Carroll novel, Alice In Wonderland. The puppets have been designed by actor and puppetry director Matthew Forbes: currently starring as Zazu in the touring production of The Lion King, Forbes previously worked on National Theatre’s War Horse, and the Cheshire Cat puppet looks impressively huge.


As well as puppets, this production features original music, with The Girl I Know by David Gilbrook features in the trailer for the show. Gilbrook, as well as composing music for theatre, has an acting CV going back 40 years.


Wise Owl Theatre Company takes a look at Carroll’s classic from a different angle, one where into the delicately balanced madness of Wonderland enters a stranger and causes nothing but chaos. All the usual characters are here – don’t be late for tea at the Mad Hatter’s and watch your head while the Queen Of Hearts is around…


Tickets: £22. Info: swanseagrand.co.uk CHRIS WILLIAMS


MACBETH AND ROMEO & JULIET


Theatr Clwyd, Mold Sat 22 July


Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet, two of Shakespeare’s most riotous comedies… wait, no. But yes! As that’s what theatre company Four Forty has done to two of the Bard’s most famous tragedies.


Named in reference to the number of performers (four) and how long their versions last (40 minutes), this is how Four Forty perform both Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet in the same night. Suffice to say the results aren’t your great-great-great-great grandad’s Shakespeare.


The Four Forty team are all professional actors, with CVs full of West End and UK-touring musicals and plays. Director Dom Gee-Burch has One Man, Two Guvnors on his, which equates to history with high farcical comedy, while Laura Sillett has a degree in musical theatre and writes original music for their shows. In addition to Shakespeare, Four Forty have created their own children’s show The Hogmoor Troll, and as well as touring their 40-minute Shakespeares to schools, you can even hire them to play at your wedding!


Tickets: £10-£16. Info: theatrclwyd.com CHRIS WILLIAMS


THE WELSH LXDIES Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff Sat 22 July


According to Purple String Productions, the company behind this show, The Welsh Lxdies features “voicenotes from contemporary Welsh Womxn about vibrators and Tom Jones”. Woah!


The concept of The Welsh Lxdies stems from a stage direction in Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 1, relating


to Lady Mortimer, who has no scripted lines in the play. Purple String aims to give the Lady her own voice, in an abstract way, featuring voices of Welsh womxn (a term in use since the 1970s, latterly used in an effort to include those traditionally excluded from white feminism: women of colour, trans women and non-binary individuals) across the centuries.


Purple Strings are innovators in gig-theatre – that is to say, stage shows using live music to enhance the performance – and one of the genres Lxdies uses is Welsh folk, along with poetry and verbatim voicenotes, which is where the aforementioned vibrators and Tom Jones come in. This show aims for nothing less than the reclamation of Welsh womxnhood.


Tickets: £14/£12. Info: chapter.org CHRIS WILLIAMS


Sheila Burnett


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