Category Archives: Performances

VERVE – New Dance

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VERVE | Mixed Bill – Cardiff

Saturday 11 May, 7:30 PM, £12/£8

Dance House, Cardiff Bay

Adventurous. Athletic. Absorbing. In 2019 VERVE presents an ambitious programme of bold new dance work created by internationally-acclaimed and award-winning choreographers Joan Clevillé (Catalonia), Maxine Doyle (UK) and Ben Wright (UK), alongside a restaging of ‘Shutdown’ by Noa Zuk and Ohad Fishof (Israel).

Experience an evening of physically charged and refreshingly original dance, performed by dance artists on the cusp of their professional careers. See where dance is right now, and where it may go next.

The company comprises thirteen exceptional dancers, trained at some of the world’s leading conservatories. This year, as well as dancers from the UK, VERVE includes dancers from Chile, Italy, Portugal, Singapore, and Uruguay, creating a truly international dance company.

VERVE is the postgraduate company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) and is led by Artistic Director Matthew Robinson.

This year’s programme: http://www.nscd.ac.uk/verve/repertoire/

Share the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/295066181211795/

Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHcnC25KBvk

 “captivating, superbly energetic” The State of the Arts

The Big MaDCaff Project is happening

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MaDCaff is going National, and we want you to get involved

We are very pleased to announce that our MaDCaff project, which has been running successfully in and around Ceredigion for 5 years, is about to go National with the help of funding from the WCVA’s Volunteering in Wales grant. 

MaDCaff is a pop-up café style open mic event showcasing the musical talents of people affected by mental illness. It was set up in response to the difficulty that many very talented musicians, dancers, poets, performers who have personal experience of mental illness face in trying to get an audience for their work. The music business, venues and organisations don’t always respond well when a performer pulls out at the last minute because their anxiety has become overwhelming. We decided on the open mic as a pressure free opportunity, nobody is named in advance publicity so there’s no pressure to attend or play, it’s totally up to how they feel on the day.

This project will see 7 new MaDCaff groups forming, all around Wales, with two new groups in the North West, North East and South and one extra group in West/ Central Wales. Each of the 7 new groups will put on 4 MaDCaff  events between now and 31/03/2020. Volunteers will have some amazing training opportunities available to them and each group will be supported by one of our Regional Officers with the aim of ultimately becoming self-sustaining as we have done in Ceredigion.

Interested?

If you are interested in signing up as a volunteer or are interested in the performance opportunities or have a good, accessible venue in mind please get in touch and we will direct you to your nearest DAC Regional Officer. Email post@dacymru.com or call 02920 551040

Here’s the Big Announcement that went out on Facebook last week, listen to find out more about MaDCaff and the volunteers posts that we will be looking to fill.

The Big Announcement

Posted by MaDCaff on Wednesday, 3 April 2019

MaDCaff is funded by Volunteering in wales funding from WCVA, and has been supported by Disability Arts Cymru from the beginning 

RawFest is Back – 25-28 April

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Wales’ only youth-led festival takes centre stage in Cardiff

RawFfest 25 – 28 April 2019

Created in 2016, RawFfest is a 4-day youth arts festival for Walestaking place in Wales Millennium Centre from 25 April – 28 April 2019. A fun and innovative festival, RawFfest is planned and programmed by young people for young people and offers an experience of the arts in its richest and rawest form.

The aim of the festival is to promote and support work from young artists and performers aged 14 to 25 by showcasing the best of youth arts today whilst providing pathways for young participants to develop. This includes involving young people from ethnic minorities, young people with disabilities, and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. RawFfest’sprogramme includes performances and workshops of fashion, photography, circus, street dance, rap, music, poetry slams, TV, radio, film, comics, theatre and a whole lot more.

All performances and exhibitions taking place at RawFfestwill be by young people (aged 14 – 25), with many masterclasses and workshops led by experts, emerging artists and some by young people themselves.

The festival is programmed by ‘PlaceMakers’, a team made up of a dozen diverse young people from a broad range of backgrounds who curate, plan, produce, event manage, fundraise, budget and market the festival each year. One of the festival’s goals isto empower young people by giving them a voice. It allows them to build on their self-confidence as well as leadership skills. It empowers young people and gives them a feeling that they are being heard, whatever their age or abilities. The opportunities and challenges the PlaceMakers face as part of creating a festival is an chance to build their skills in a positive collaborative environment.

Guiding the PlaceMakers is RawFfest’s Director, Ruth Garnault who said “The festival celebrates the amazing creativity of young people in Wales today. We are delighted to be presenting such a wide range of exciting activity. What makes RawFfest unique as a national festival is that young people are in the driving seat. For Wales to thrive, we think it’s important that young people’s voices are heard.”

The festival is training the next generation of arts leaders. Gweni Llwyd, who is a PlaceMaker and Visual Art Co-ordinator Intern with the festival said “Working with the festival has provided a fantastic opportunity for me to develop the skills and confidence needed to get a foot on the arts career ladder. It’s also been a great way to meet and get to know like-minded, brilliantly creative and inspirational people! It’s so important that the festival is youth-led as it gives young people a voice, allowing us to speak about the issues that young people are facing now, and how the arts can help. This has empowered me to feel that what I’m doing is important and that I can make a difference to the arts in Wales and further afield.”

The festival grew from a youth arts conference which resulted in young people expressing the need for an arts festival to champion the work of their generation. In 2016 RawFfestwas born with an inaugural festival in Newport, South Wales. The festival then travelled to Venue Cymru Llandudno in 2017.

This year RawFfest, which will take place on 25 – 28 April 2019, will visit the Welsh capital for the first time.

Tickets for RawFfest are now on sale.  Tickets cost £5 for the day, £10 for the day and evening, plus some weekend tickets at £20. Although RawFfestis aimed at young people, 14 – 25 years, it welcomes audience members of all ages through its doors throughout the long weekend.

Visit rawffest.wales for more info and booking.

British Paraorchestra

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THE NATURE OF WHY

WESTON STUDIO, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AL

9 – 11 May 2019

Tickets £12 (apart from 9th May – see below)

The Nature of Why merges dance and live music into an epic performance that brims with emotion and physical beauty.

Commissioned by Unlimited, the show features a cinematic live-score from Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory, an ensemble of musicians from The British Paraorchestra and four extraordinary dancers.

Taking inspiration from the unconventional curiosity of Nobel prize-winning theoretical physicist, Richard Feynman, the show explores his search for meaning in the world around us through nine distinct and emotive movements.

Dancers and musicians move as one, erasing the divides between musician and dancer, performer and audience, resulting in an up-close-and-personal theatrical experience like no other.

The Nature of Why is a standing show. We will have a limited number of seats available for those who have difficulty standing for long periods. Patrons who require seats should advise Ticket Office at the time of booking.

Age Guidance: 8+ (the close proximity of the performers may be alarming for younger children)

Audio description is integral, and every performance has sections which are BSL-interpreted.

This performance includes the use of haze effects.

Running time: approximately 1 hour

PAY WHAT YOU FEEL (9 MAY):  Take a chance on this show; you can book for free and pay what you feel the performance is worth on the night. Just don’t forget your cash.

The Nature of Why is composed by Will Gregory, choreographed by Caroline Bowditch, conducted by Charles Hazlewood, and directed by Caroline Bowditch and Charles Hazlewood.

Commissioned and supported by Unlimited, celebrating the work of disabled artists, with funding from Arts Council England. Produced by The Paraorchestra and Friends, and MAYK.

Times vary please check when booking https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2019/the-nature-of-why/performances

Sherman Theatre

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Forthcoming Accessible Shows at the Sherman

Anweledig

12th – 13th March

BSL: 12 March, 7.00pm

This production is performed in Welsh

14+

A powerful and harrowing Welsh language production that follows the journey of Glenda, played by Ffion Dafis, as she struggles to deal with this invisible illness.

We follow Glenda’s fiercely personal anguish as she confronts the illness and faces life outside of hospital. How will she, her family and friends deal with the traumatic reality of recovery? Will she find light at the end of the tunnel?

The production has been inspired by real medical records from the old Denbigh mental health hospital in North Wales.

For details and tickets please go here

The Taming of the Shrew

28 February – 16 March

Captioned performance 14th March 7.30pm

A bold new play by Jo Clifford based on Shakespeare’s contentious classic.

Petruchio is a woman who isn’t afraid of a challenge. Which is just as well because her latest task is to tame a beautiful but waspish boy called Kate. But Kate isn’t going to make it easy for her… Has Petruchio bitten off more than she can chew?

Jo Clifford has exploded Shakespeare’s contentious classic to create a raucous and riotous new play which invites us to imagine a world in which women hold all the power. Exploring gender, identity and power this is The Taming of the Shrew for our times.

For details and tickets please go here

Get It While It’s Hot: Five Green Bottles

9th – 13th April

BSL: 10 April 6.30pm 

Come and see what’s cooking in Cardiff theatre right now. Sample the freshest theatre, a tasty pie and a refreshing drink for just £12.50.

Get It While It’s Hot is Sherman Theatre’s new platform for emerging theatre companies in South Wales and the perfect way to relax after a day at work. For the second Get It While It’s Hot we welcome Cardiff based company Spilt Milk Theatre with Five Green Bottles by Joe Wiltshire Smith and Kristy Philipps.

For details and tickets please go here

Lose Yourself

10th – 25th May

Captioned 24th May 7:30pm

Josh is the club’s rising star but injury threatens to ruin everything. Nate’s the veteran; he knows how to enjoy himself. Yaz and her mate Samantha are off on a night out. They know where to find the team and how to get a result. The drinks are flowing in the VIP section. A spare hotel room is booked. But at the end of the night, when things are out of control, someone is going to get hurt.

Lose Yourself, the latest play by Sherman Theatre’s Playwright in Residence and creator of Bird Katherine Chandler, is directed by Associate Artist Patricia Logue. This is a fast, wild and ultimately tragic ride into the darker side of our celebrity obsessed culture.

Contains strong language, sexual content and scenes that some audience members might find upsetting. 

For details and tickets please go here

The Snow Queen

29th November – 31st December

Relaxed performance Saturday 7th December 2pm

Audio described performance Saturday 21st December 2pm

We are delighted to announce next year’s magical show for over 7s in the Main House will be The Snow Queen

For details and tickets please go here

The Ugly Duckling

8th & 9th November and  2nd – 31st December

BSL Saturday 14th December 11am

Relaxed performance Saturday 14th December 1.30pm

We are delighted to announce next year’s magical show for under 7s in the Studio will be The Ugly Duckling

For details and tickets please go here

 

Sherman Theatre

Senghennydd Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4YE

Box Office: 029 2064 6900

Email: box.office@shermantheatre.co.uk

 

Taking Flight Theatre on Tour

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peeling by Kaite O’Reilly

An award winning play from an award winning theatre company, in a co- production with Chapter & The Riverfront, Newport

Click here for English Audio Flyer

And here for Welsh Audio Flyer

 

March tour dates:

Click for 8th & 9th The Riverfront Newport 01633 656679

BSL interpreted post show Q & A on 8th March featuring Kaite O’Reilly, Elise Davison & cast.

Pre show International Women’s Day celebrations. Check with venue.

 

Click for 13th Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil 01685 384111

 

Click for 14th Theatr Brycheiniog 01874 611 622

BSL interpreted post show Q & A on March 14th. Interpreter Lianne Lusty

 

Click for 19th & 20th Theatr Clwyd, Mold 01352 701521

BSL interpreted post show Q & A on 19th March featuring Kaite O’Reilly & cast.

 

Click for 21st Park & Dare, Treorchy 03000 040444

 

Click for 23rd Y Galeri, Caernarfon 01286 685222

 

Click for 26th Aberystwyth Arts Centre 01970 623232

BSL interpreted post show Q & A on 26th March featuring Kaite O’Reilly & cast. Interpreter Fiona Morgan

 

Click for 27th Torch, Milford Haven 01646 695267

 

Click for 28th The Borough, Abergavenny 01873 850 805

 

Click for 29th Blackwood Miner’s Institute 01495 227206

BSL interpreted post show Q & A on 29th March

 

April tour dates:

Click for 2nd Pontardawe Arts Centre 01792 863722

Pre show director’s talk with Elise Davison plus post show Q & A (BSL interpreted) on 2nd April

 

Click for 10th Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli 0345 2263510

BSL interpreted post show Q & A on 10th April

 

Click for 30th April – 4th May Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff 02920 304400

BSL interpreted post show Q & As on 2nd May (matinee) & 3rd April (evening)

 

“The main characters of peeling are the chorus in a war play which rages around and often hilariously in spite of them. Insults, recipes and stories are shared about mothers and children and why we never seem to remember our hard-learned lessons of war. I am thrilled that Taking Flight and this glorious cast of women will be bringing to life peeling once again” Kaite O’Reilly.

 

Taking Flight are working with a creative company of over 30 women in Wales, many of whom identify as D/deaf or disabled. peeling features a mentoring project where people who identify as D/deaf or disabled & female are shadowing creative professionals on the production, giving a unique insight into a career in the arts, increasing confidence & sharing new skills. If you’d like to know more about this, or any other aspect of the project, please email beth@takingflighttheatre.co.uk

Taking Flight Theatre On Tour

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peeling by Kaite O’Reilly

Taking flight -Directed by Elise Davidson

A co-production with Chapter Cardiff and The Riverfront, Newport

In shadow, never centre stage, 3 performers await their brief moment in the light, their words buried in dust, through the long corridor of time. We will unearth them here. We will hear them echo in the darkness.

This city will fall.

An opportunity to see Kaite O’Reilly’s award winning play ‘peeling’ across Wales during March and April. With interwoven BSL, live audio description and English captions at every show, peeling challenges you to experience theatre afresh. Whose stories do we tell? And who is there to bear witness?

14+ contains strong language

For information or to discuss access please email beth@takingflighttheatre.co.uk

http://www.takingflighttheatre.co.uk/

Tour Dates:

March:

8th & 9th @ Riverfront Arts, Newport – https://tickets.newportlive.co.uk/

13th @ Redhouse, Merthyr – http://www.redhousecymru.com/

14th @ Theatr Brycheiniog – https://brycheiniog.co.uk/

19th & 20th @ Theatr Clwyd – https://www.theatrclwyd.com/en/

21st @ Parc & Dare Treorchy – https://rct-theatres.co.uk/

23rd @ Y Galeri, Caernarfon – http://galericaernarfon.com/

26th @ Aberystwyth Arts Centre – https://www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/

27th @ The Torch, Milford Haven – https://torchtheatre.co.uk/

28th @ The Borough Theatre, Abergavenny – https://boroughtheatreabergavenny.co.uk/

29th @ Blackwood Miner’s Institute – http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/bmi/content/welcome

April:

2nd @ Pontardawe Arts Centre – https://npttheatres.co.uk/pontardawe/

10th @ Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli – https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk/en

30th – 2nd May @ Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff – https://www.chapter.org/

Our Audio Flyer: https://soundcloud.com/taking-flight-theatre/peeling-audio-trailer-v3-04dec18

Wales Millennium Centre

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Le Gateau Chocolat

Icons

Weston Studio, Wales Millennium Centre

18th to 22nd December, at 8pm

Tickets: £12

Opera and lycra loving cabaret sensation Le Gateau Chocolat storms into the Weston Studio, Wales Millennium Centre with his latest work, Icons, between 18th and 22nd December.

The audio described performance is on Friday 21st December at 8pm, with a free pre show touch tour at 7pm.

My name is Alastair and I will be your audio describer. The place to meet for the touch tour is the Meeting Point in the foyer of the Wales Millennium Centre, a few minutes before 7 o’clock. The touch tour will help set the scene for what is sure to be a sensational evenings entertainment.

Walking the tightrope between his public and private personas, Le Gateau Chocolat explores the people, the moments, the relationships and the art that have come to shape us and the ideals we aspire to. 

Accompanied by a live band, Gateau unashamedly weaves through an eclectic mix of music; Pop, Opera, Rock, Kate Bush, Whitney, Meatloaf, Pavarotti…

Investigating his own objects of worship through the songs and music of his own personal icons.

“His voice is both delicate and gloriously meteorological, his ceiling-lifting baritone, rich and silky as a Lindor Truffle and resonant as a bell.” The Stage

To book tickets and a place on the touch tour, you can contact the Box Office on 029 2063 6464 or visit the Wales Millennium Centre website, wmc.org.uk. You can also book your tickets in person. More information about how to get to the Wales Millennium Centre is available on the website.

Thanks to the Hynt scheme, there is the opportunity to access free tickets for carers and companions.

Hynt is a national access scheme working with a network of theatres and arts centres across Wales. As a member of Hynt, Wales Millennium Centre offers cardholders a free ticket for their companion, carer or personal assistant. You can apply to be a member on the Hynt website, hynt.co.uk.

You can book your tickets in person or over the phone, giving your unique Hynt reference number upon booking.

A carer, companion or personal assistant can book on behalf of a Hynt cardholder, however tickets can only be issued to the cardholder, who must show their photographic Hynt Card.

I look forward to meeting you.

Riverfront, Newport

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Sleeping Beauty

This year’s family favourite pantomime at the Riverfront

Tuesday 4th December – Sunday 6th January 2019

Audio Described performance, Thursday 3rd January at 6.30pm. A free pre show touch tour at 5.30pm will help set the scene, ready for two fun filled hours of song, dance and drama for all the family!

Trouble is brewing at Newport Abbey. The Evil Dowager Aunt Draig (Lowri-Ann Richards) is searching for the missing Princess (Alice Rose Fletcher). Lord Griffin of Newport (Michael Geary) and his son the right honourable Dylan (Jack Ayres) with help from Mrs Midges the Housekeeper (Liam Tobin), Muddles the Gardener (Richard Elis) and Chortwood the mysterious Butler (Richard Nichols) make sure that true love wins out in the end.

The production contains flashing lights, loud music, loud bangs, strobe lighting, water and smoke.

To book your ticket, reserve a place on the Touch Tour and set aside an audio description headset, ready for the performance, you can call 01633 656679 or 01633 656757.

The website address is www.newportlive.co.uk/riverfront