Showcase C:
Children’s Tales: the NRTF Conference Showcase C was dedicated to theatre designed for children & families.
Likely Story: Pea.
I unfortunately missed part of the day’s first act with Likely Story’s Pea, due to a little bit of confusion. Yet what I saw peeking through the theatre entrance was colourful, skilfully acted and imaginative. They appeared to have taken the original Princess and the Pea fairytale and given it that modern, imaginative twist.
http://www.likelystory.org.uk/
Theatre Iolo: Little Red Ruby Tales.
An adaptation of, well you guessed it, Red Riding Hood. Here, Ruby likes telling stories and on her travels she meets Ella the Snow Queen from Sleeping Beauty, and a Tiger.... but does she really? Ruby and the apparently unassuming Ella find an Egg in the forest and decide to wait for it to hatch, telling tales whilst waiting. A twist on the original tale, the play will certainly challenge and inspire the little minds it is aimed at. With fluid, dance like movement, it encourages play and fun.
http://www.theatreiolo.com/
Cwmni Theatre Arad Goch: 1 Step 2 Step.
A performance with a difference, the two character’s meet the audience outside of the performance space asking for help in searching for items: and on this occasion several people are given buckets of stones. An interactive simple piece designed specifically for children, they blend storytelling and simple language with traditional harp music. They are sure to entertain!
http://www.aradgoch.org/
Showcase D:
An afternoon of easy, light entertainment? Quite the opposite in fact as the talent and energy of theatre companies continued to flow.
Hijinx: Old Hands.
A quiet 1930’s seaside town is the setting for a failing little theatre and its demanding owner/director. Its newest entertainment is Miss Florrie Labelle and she has a secret to hide, her brother is socially unacceptable in 1930’s Britain and she has smuggled him into Skidbury-on-Sea as no one will look after him. The language is very aware of its time bringing out the opinions and difficulties within society then. A socially inclusive theatre company, Hijinx creates an innovative and challenging piece bringing awareness of people with learning difficulties. A piece I would have loved to see when it was on tour and eagerly await a continuation or new rendition if there is to be one.
http://www.hijinkx.org.uk/
Theatr N’Óg: Aesops Fables.
Colourful and energetic Theatr N’ Óg re-tell the tale of the hare and the tortoise with a difference, blending in another of Aesops fables - the old Lion and mouse tale - to create a new platform to entertain and teach. Their comic inclusion of references to Chekov’s Cherry Orchard and Colgate Minty Fresh make sure the adults in the audience had a giggle to. Fabulous costume’s that turned the Lion into the hare and catchy tunes with music from a saxophone certainly cemented the talent behind this theatre company.
http://www.theatre-nanog.co.uk/
Clwyd Theatre Cymru Theatre for Young People: Tall Tales.
Clwyd is another group using their marvellous 21st Century take on the oral story telling tradition mixed with theatre. Combining puppetry, costume, music, narration and traditional acting they told The Matchstick Girl and The Geese and the Frog folk tales with magic, drawing you in with perfectly haunting and upbeat melodies. From serenity and atmosphere in The Matchstick Girl to excitement and tension in The Geese and the Frog the company are a joy to watch and listen to.
http://www.ctctyp.co.uk/
Showcase E:
As the last showcase of the conference the two and a half hours was jam packed with a myriad of entertainment, making it a fit ending to a wonderful two days.
Siân James.
A small piece of true Welsh heaven graced the stage space for the first performance. Sian James is a harpist with a penchant for traditional folk songs, reviving and experimenting with songs that have gathered dust for decades, maybe even centuries. She creates modern twists and arrangements yet puts love and tradition behind songs, singing in both Welsh and English. She graced us with a brilliant rendition of Cyfri’r Geifr (Counting Goats) though some of us in Wales might just recognise the first line of “Oes gafr eto”. And then get it stuck in our heads, I was struggling not to start singing it and really embarrass myself.www.sianjames.co.uk
George Orange.
Rather unsuspectingly, George comes on dressed in a loose but ordinary looking grey suit, a clown you ask? Yes, just a one with a modern touch. He combine’s the comedy and self-depreciating wit of clowning with the tricky manoeuvres of a slack rope dancer. Be prepared for edge of your seat tension as you pray for him not to fall off his moon shaped moving ‘trapeze’ as he balances and reaches for objects. Audience involvement is high on the list, just watch he doesn’t make you carry him!
Tanya Davies
Alone on the stage, Tanya instantly exudes openness and sincerity. As a poet and musician she performs all her own, very original material without accompaniment off a band or partner. Her poem How to be alone was haunting tugged at your heart strings. Tanya is a performer that proves poetry doesn’t have to be confined to the classroom, poetry societies or drunken open-mic nights: that poetry can be enjoyed as a performance with a watching audience. Her film of How to be Alone can be found on her website or Youtube.
www.tanyadavies.ca
Philip Clouts Quartet
The Jazz quartet played all original music, inspired by a multitude of locations from Clouts coastal home in the South West to South African beats and Latin American vibes, yet lurking in the undertones is the traditional jazz, bluesy styles. A thoroughly enjoyable set to listen to.
www.philipcloutsquartet.co.uk
Cat Weatherill
A story teller for adults and for children, Cat uses every inch of her fantastic energy and style to entrance & entertain and tonight she sampled a story from her successful Ghost tour for adults. he storytelling blends music, theatricality and of course, the tradition of oral tales. A remarkable storyteller Cat will have you captivated from the first word. www.catweatherill.co.uk
Jamie Smith’s Mabon
Last but not least, the band graced the stage with vigour and imagination. An irresistible urge to let loose and join in comes over you as the music starts, music that is a self-styled mix of funk folk and their Celtic roots, drawing in beats from across the world. It isn’t often you see an accordion played in modern music, especially with such brilliant enthusiasm shining through. An unsurpassable end to the evening.
http://www.jamiesmithsmabon.com/
Thank you very much to Night Out for inviting us to attend, and to present The Young Critics to everyone. The diverse cross section of performers in the showcase's has been immeasurable and I am certainly going away with a new appreciation of folk music, something that had always been there but never explored. Thank you to the performers and delegates for sharing your talent, idea's and passion for the arts.
For more information on rural touring: www.nightout.org.uk & www.nrtf.org.uk
Chelsey's experience of the conference "22 review's in 100 words each" can be found at http://hypercriticreviews.blogspot.com/
And lastly for the Young Critics visit http://theyoungcritics.com/
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