Fio Declaration / "Black Panther"

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks working on a project with Fio, entitled “Declaration” – aimed at helping to increase diversity in Welsh theatre. Aside from being given some personal voice coaching from legendary actress Cathy Tyson, the highlight was the final evening, where three short plays by B.A.M.E. writers were presented at the Sherman Theatre, one written by actor Connor Allen and directed by me. My experience is detailed more fully in a piece I wrote for Arts Scene In Wales, but basically, it was valuable, enjoyable and occasionally highly stressful.

Despite my growing aversion to superhero films, I went to see Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther”, conscious of its being a cultural landmark, as a mainstream Hollywood film with a mostly black cast, and a focus on Afro-centrism. Basically the tale of the struggle for control over vibranium, an alien element which has made the small African kingdom of Wakanda secretly potent, its massive success is a testament to how much its message of brotherhood and empowerment was needed. The cast is remarkable, and apart from the “Yonder lies the castle of my father” tone to some of the dialogue, it is very well executed. Unfortunately, I’m pretty much immune to the fast-moving CGI slickness which is an essential component of the popular appeal of films from the Marvel universe. Thus, while I wholeheartedly applaud the achievement, I have to confess that it didn’t grab me emotionally.

"Where Do Little Birds Go" / "Seen" at The Other Room

The second Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival took place last week, colonising unusual venues in various parts of town. I only managed to make it to one show: the Welsh premiere of Camilla Whitehill’s “Where Do Little Birds Go”, in the intimate downstairs vault of the Little Man Coffee Company in the city centre. A one-person play based on the true story of a young woman’s traumatic involvement with the Kray twins in 1960s London, it was highly evocative, with a very effective central performance from Kate Elis, and some clever sound design.

Kate Elis (photo: Ben Jones)

More recently, following on from June’s Young Artists Festival at The Other Room, the temporary companies which were formed to perform short plays by established writers were re-convened. This time we gave those pieces which were written by newer playwrights during the week another rehearsed reading, this time in front of a paying audience, under the banner of the venue’s regular “Seen” events. Thus, I got the chance to direct three of my original four actors in a re-staging of Gareth Ford Elliot’s drug-dealer monologue “Bull Shade Skank”, which was great fun. It was also useful sitting in on the post-show feedback session, during which audience-members offered valuable insights into each of the pieces (the other writers being Luke Nixon, Jenna Beth Lowendahl, Hefin Robinson and Melangell Dolma). A much-needed reprise.

By the way, I wrote more extensively about my experience of the Young Artists Festival on my National Theatre Wales Community blog.