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Home , Barbican Centre, Battersea Arts Centre, Jermyn Street Theatre, Steven Hoggett, Theatre Night, Theatre of Wales

In partnership with Inspired by / Wedi’i ysbrydoli gan NATIONAL LITTLE DOGS

The nation of Wales is our stage: from forests to beaches, from aircraft HANGARS to post- industrial towns, from village halls to nightclubs. We bring together storytelling poets, visual visionaries and inventors of ideas. We collaborate with artists, audiences, communities and companies to create theatre in the English language, rooted in Wales, with an international reach. You’ll find us round the corner, across the mountain and in your digital backyard.

“ One of the best things to happen to the stage in the past five years ”

Susannah Clapp, The Observer

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STAFF TEAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES KEEP IN TOUCH

Matt Ball / Creative Associate @mattball_ntw Steve Blandford National Theatre Wales Lucy Davies / Executive Producer @lucy_ntw Phil George (Chair) 30 Castle Arcade Devinda De Silva / TEAM Co-ordinator @devinda_ntw Jon Gower CF10 1BW David Evans / Head of Production @david_ntw Richard Hogger Stephen Grant / Finance Manager @stephen_ntw Deborah Martell Powell Like us on Facebook: Donna Jones / Finance Assistant @donna_ntw Gemma McAvoy National Theatre Wales Rhian Jones / Administrator @rhian_ntw Judi Richards Matthew Lawton / Communications Director @matt_ntw Chris Ryde (Vice Chair) Follow us on Twitter: John McGrath / Artistic Director @john_ntw Peter Stead @ntwtweets Yusuf Mohamed / Community Engagement Associate (De Gabay) @yusuf_ntw Watch us on YouTube: Gavin Porter / Creative Associate (De Gabay) @gavinp0rter youtube.com/user/ Catrin Rogers / Media Officer @catrin_ntw nationaltheatrewales Michael Salmon / Company Assistant @michael_ntw Abdul Shayek / Creative Associate @abdul_ntw T: 029 2035 3070 Jen Thornton / Communications Assistant @jen_ntw E: [email protected]

Sam Jones C.D.G. / Casting Director Lucy Taylor / Casting Assistant SHOP The Corner Shop PR / UK & International PR Visit shop.nationaltheatrewales.org to buy National Theatre Wales products including Owen Sheers’ The Gospel of Us (a series of books commissioned to accompany The Passion), as well as clothing and playtexts.

03 NATIONAL THEATRE WALES LITTLE DOGS National Theatre Wales Photographs: Warren Orchard /

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05 NATIONAL THEATRE WALES LITTLE DOGS

THE CAST

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06 #NTW19 @ntwtweets Share your views and join the conversation about the show on Twitter SIÂN PHILLIPS Siân Phillips trained at RADA.

KATIE ELIZABETH-PAYNE Recent theatre credits – Lovesong (Frantic Assembly, UK Tour & Lyric Katie Elizabeth-Payne trained at the Hammersmith), Noël Coward’s musical Bitter Rose Bruford Drama College. Sweet (USA), Juliet and Her Romeo (), A Little Night Music (Opera Theatre of St Louis), Calendar Girls (UK tour/West End), Les Since graduating she has appeared in Liaisons Dangereuses (New York), Regrets Only several plays, film and radio work including (New York), Rockaby (Dublin/), The Tempest (GoodNight Out, ), Presas HANNAH GOOD Great Expectations (Cheek By Jowl and Royal (, London), New Writing - Shakespeare Company), The Dark, Maxibules, Maximilliens Journey ( Theatre, Hannah Good trained at Drama Centre Eccentricities of a Nightingale, Man and London), Boy Understood (BBC), The Way London. Theatre credits include The Superman, Night of the Iguana, Vanilla, Thursday’s we Run (Dragon. Grim), Connection Failed Wonderful World of Dissocia (Drama Centre Ladies, Hedda Gabler (National Theatre, Oslo/ (Frapetsus Productions), The Intellects London). This is her first professional Duke of Yorks, UK tour), You Never Can Tell, Dear (Sterling), Bred In Heaven (Frapetsus performance. Liar, The Dark Lady, Pal Joey (Musical), Peg Productions), and The Dead Wretched (MTV). (Musical), Brel (Musical), Gigi (Musical), Major Where did you first find love? Barbara (National Theatre), Painting Churches, While focusing on her own career, Katie is The Manchurian Candidate, A Little Night Music (National), Marlene (Musical – Paris, South Africa, REMY BEASLEY also a principal actor and collaborator for I thought I first found love in school but the contemporary and cutting-edge theatre in hindsight that was just confusion as you Dublin, New York, London and UK tour). Remy Beasley trained at The Royal company DumbWise. Her passion for writing are confused at that time in your life. It Welsh College of Music and Drama. and producing is being realised through wasn’t until coming to drama school did Current cabaret – I actually find love, so it was school just DumbWise, having a number of plays Siân Phillips Crossing Borders (London, New York bigger school. Theatre credits include – currently in rehearsal and development. and continuing UK tour). Gaslight (Theatre Clywd), Love Steals Us From DumbWise are in rehearsals for an Loneliness (National Theatre Wales/Sherman adaptation of Faust to be toured in Brighton Television credits include – Cymru), and It’s About Time (Nabokov/Latitude and London Summer 2012. She is also Lewis, New Tricks, Holby City, La Femme Nikita Festival). currently collaborating on a sketch show SARAH LISABETH (Series, USA), The Murder Room, Aristocrats, to be piloted for television in late 2012. Crime & Punishment, The Oresteia, Tinker, Tailor, Television credits include – Sarah Lisabeth trained at Trinity Soldier, Spy, Smiley’s People, How Green Was Perfect Summer (BBC Wales Television). Where did you first find love? University College. My Valley, I, Claudius, The Magician’s House, Ballykissangel, Summer Silence (TV Musical) Film credits include – I used to play kiss chase, cuddle and Theatre credits include – and Snow Spider. 20 Questions (BBC Wales Television). torture in school aged 7. The boys used to Mild Entertainment, The Last Supper Of The run up to me and say “Katie, you always Of Galezza and Requiem (Company 4), chase and torture, but never cuddle or kiss... Film credits include – Where did you first find love? Trojan Women (Theatr Pena), Clymau (Trinity Gigolos, Goodbye Mr Chips, Coming and Going, why?” To which I replied... “My mammy says College), A Simple Twist Of Fate (Theatr Cerdd I’m not allowed to kiss any boy unless Dune, Murphy’s War, Valmont, The Age of I first found love watching Saved By The A’r Cyfryngau), Away Now To War (Inky Quill), Innocence, House of America, Alice Through Bell in the form of Zack Morris. Head they look like Gene Kelly”. Yeah, realised I’ll Be There In A Minute Now (Frapetsus the Looking Glass, . over heels I was. I first fell in love with Gene himself and Productions), Kontakt 2, Gospel and 18/6 his umbrella. Needless to say my first (Company 4), Twelfth Night (Trinity College), boyfriend ‘Dean Locke’ (what a name) looked Publications – Gormenghast and Oedipus (The Atrium). like Gene Kelly. Siân Phillips Needlepoint (Two Vols Autobiography), Private Faces and Public Places. Television & Film credits include – Siân is a Member of the Welsh of Bards JORDAN BERNARDE I Love Wales (BBC Wales), Rewind (The Atrium), and was made a CBE in 2000. and Nhw A Ni (Theatr Cerdd A’r Cyfryngau). Jordan Bernarde trained at The Royal DARREN EVANS Welsh College of Music and Drama. Where did you first find love? Darren Evans trained at Swansea My first love... Oh, where can I begin?! Theatre credits include – Metropolitan University. MATTHEW TREVANNION The Sea Plays (Old Vic Tunnels), It’s more of a series of loves than one The Passion (National Theatre Wales/Wildworks), in particular.... My parents, Hannah, Matthew Trevannion trained at Rose The Comedy of Errors (RSC), Measure For Theatre credits include – Grandparents, Dirty Dancing, Sweets, Spice Bruford Drama College. Girls, S Club 7, Dance, Blueberry Muffins, Measure, Two Princes, and The Morning of the One O’clock From the House and Family Two Lights (Clwyd Theatre Cymru), Muscle and Planning (for Frank Vickery). I Wanna Dance with Somebody, BBF, Childhood Sweetheart, Sherman, Cinema, Theatre credits include – Flyboys (ShocknAwe), Romeo and Juliet (Erasmus Stage, Chocolate, Holidays, Eggs, G&T, The Sea Plays (Old Vic Tunnels), (Young International Theatre), Hans (Creation Theatre), Television credits include – Vic), Love Steals Us from Loneliness (National Rotten and The Boy Who Killed John Hopper Cooked Dinner, Life in general... The list just Casualty and Being Human (BBC), Skins goes on! Theatre Wales/Sherman Cymru) and @Virtually (Undeb), Fragments of Ash (Notional Theatre), (Channel 4), Young Dracula (CBBC) and Read (. A Tail of Two Dogs (Out of Order) and Tortoise (DumbWise). Kiddo (BBC Wales). Matthew’s debut play Bruised is being staged at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in May this year. Television credits include – Film credits include – First Light (BBC/Lion TV), The Passion Submarine, Hunky Dory and Summer Scars. BERWYN PEARCE in Port Talbot (BBC) and Mabel’s Story (). Where did you first find love? Where did you first find love? Film credits include – Berwyn Pearce trained at Central The first time I felt anything like love was The Gospel of Us (Rondo), Clobber (Boom Pow), I first found love when i was studying School of Speech and Drama. my first day at drama school. I saw the girl that went on to become my girlfriend and Watch Me (Fiction Factory). at college. A question that has always sitting with a guy who became a friend and interested me is how do you know when Theatre credits include – you’re in love? What defines it? From my thought if she’s with him there is no justice Radio credits include – Deffro’r Gwanwyn (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru/ Pink Mist (BBC Radio 4), own personal belief I believe that I was. in the world. Welsh Tour), Keeping the Faith (Central School Past Masters (BBC Radio 4). I also do have a very big strong love for of Speech and Drama) and The Wanamaker my family friends and acting itself but Where did you first find love? of course that is a different love to which Festival (The Globe). I experienced when I was in college. I was young, I was in a rehearsal Television credits include – room. I was working with this girl and (BBC). I accidentally touched her boob. I apologised. She laughed. I said I was Where did you first find love? “Sorry for touching your easter eggs”.

She laughed again! It was winter...easter I first found love in school, but then eggs? She definitely fancied me. It was she went off with my best friend Walshy... awkward, it was the best. It’s ok now tho, we’ve had 20 years to get over it.

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THE SPIRIT OF SWANSEA

ACROSS THE CITY, HEARTS ARE BEATING THE MATING RITUAL HAS BEGUN

Images: Dan Green Date: Saturday, April 28th, 2012

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09 NATIONAL THEATRE WALES LITTLE DOGS

THE SPIRIT OF SWANSEA

ACROSS THE CITY, HEARTS ARE BEATING THE MATING RITUAL HAS BEGUN

Images: Dan Green Date: Saturday, April 28th, 2012

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011 NATIONAL THEATRE WALES LITTLE DOGS

direcTor – SCOTT GRAHAM direcTor – STEVEN HOGGETT designer – TIM DICKEL lighTing designer – ANDY PURVES sound designer – CAROLYN DOWNING original music – HYBRID cosTume designer – SIAN JENKINS associaTe direcTor – NAOMI SAID emerging direcTor – LISA WELLS-TURNER

producTion manager – CERI JAMES company sTage manager – MATTHEW NORTH depuTy sTage manager – JONI CARTER assisTanT sTage manager – RHODRI HUNT cosTume supervisor – ANGHARAD MATTHEWS assisTanT designer – SARAH VIGARS Wardrobe misTress – MEGAN WATKINS cosTume maker – KATE BOHIN producTion elecTrician – JOHN TEE promoTer – BRENT MORGAN

devised by SCOTT GRAHAM, STEVEN HOGGETT AND THE COMPANY

WiTh Thanks To: Julie Hobday Sybil Crouch and all at Taliesin Arts Centre Mabs Noor and all at the Patti Pavilion Kirstie Evans Rachel Dooley Phil Everett-Lyons 012 #NTW19 @ntwtweets Share your views and join the conversation about the show on Twitter

Scott Graham Steven Hoggett __ __ Director Director

Scott is co-founder and Artistic Director of Frantic Steven is co-founder and Artistic Director of Frantic Assembly. For Frantic Assembly, Scott has co- Assembly. For Frantic Assembly, Steven has co- directed Lovesong, Beautiful Burnout (Fringe First), directed Lovesong, Beautiful Burnout (Fringe First), (TMA award – Best Direction), Stockholm Othello (TMA award – Best Direction), Stockholm (including a 2010 revival for Sydney Theatre (including a 2010 revival for Sydney Theatre Company), pool (no water), Dirty Wonderland, Rabbit, Company), pool (no water), Dirty Wonderland, Rabbit, Peepshow and Underworld. Director/performer credits Peepshow and Underworld. Director/performer credits include Hymns, Tiny Dynamite, On Blindness, Heavenly, for the company include: Hymns, Tiny Dynamite, On Sell Out, Zero, Flesh, Klub and . Blindness, Heavenly, Sell Out, Zero, Flesh, Klub and Scott’s other directing credits include: Home (National Look Back In Anger. As Associate Director/Movement, Theatre of Scotland), Ker-ching (Sixth Sense), It’s Steven worked on the multi award-winning production A Long Road and Up on the Roof (Polka Theatre). (National Theatre of Scotland) for which Scott has also provided choreography and movement he received the 2009 Olivier award for Best Theatre direction for Dr Dee (Manchester International Choreography. Steven has recently choreographed Festival/ENO), Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella the Green Day musical , Peter & the (), Frankenstein (Royal and Derngate), Starcatcher (Lucille Lortel Award – Outstanding The May Queen (Liverpool Everyman), Hothouse and Choreographer) and (all Broadway). Steven has Market Boy (National Theatre), Villette (Stephen also provided choreography and movement direction Joseph Theatre), Vs (Karim Tonsi Dance Company, for Dr Dee (Manchester International Festival/ENO), Cairo), Improper (Bare Bones Dance Company), 365 (National Theatre of Scotland), Frankenstein Dazzling Medusa and A Bear Called Paddington (Royal and Derngate), Dido Queen of Carthage, The (Polka) and Stuart Little (No 1 tour). With Steven Hothouse and Market Boy (), Hoggett and Bryony Lavery, Scott created It Snows, The Bacchae (National Theatre of Scotland), The a National Theatre Connections play for 2008. Wolves In The Wall (National Theatre of Scotland With Steven Hoggett, Scott has written The Frantic and Improbable), Villette (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Assembly Book of Devising Theatre (Routledge). Jerusalem (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Mercury Fur and The Straits (Paines Plough). With Scott Graham and Bryony Lavery, Steven created It Snows, a National Theatre Connections play for 2008. With Scott Graham, Steven has written The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre (Routledge). 013 NATIONAL THEATRE WALES LITTLE DOGS

Tim Dickel Andy Purves Carolyn Downing ______Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer

Tim graduated from Chelsea College of Art in 1998 Lighting designer and creative technician Andy Purves Carolyn’s sound design credits include: Lovesong in Fine Art. Initially, most of his work focused works primarily in visual and movement-based (Frantic Assembly), Double Feature (RNT), Beautiful on designing music videos, working with a broad theatre, circus and on projects in found space. Andy Burnout (Frantic Assembly/NTS), Amerika, Krieg der spectrum of artists such as Diana Ross, Westlife trained in sound and lighting engineering at the Bilder (Staatstheater Mainz, Germany), King John, The and Tony Christie through to Audio Bullys and Roots University of Derby and has an MA in lighting design Gods Weep, The Winter’s Tale, Pericles, Days of Manuva. He then progressed into television and and theatre-making from Central School of Speech Significance (Royal Shakespeare Company), After Dido film, and moved to Wales to work on and Drama, where he also tutors in lighting. (ENO at ), Lower Ninth, Dimetos, Absurdia as a Set Decorator and Art Director. This in turn Lighting design projects include: Lovesong (Frantic (), All My Sons (Schoenfeld lead to designing the first series of The Sarah Jane Assembly), The Arrival (Tamasha/Circus Space), Theatre, New York), Tre Kroner - Gustav III (Royal Adventures. Tim has art directed several projects Beautiful Burnout (Frantic Assembly/National Theatre Dramatic Theatre, Sweden), Angels in America: including Merlin (TV series), Mr Nice (feature film) of Scotland), Stockholm (Sydney Theatre Company/ Millennium Approaches & Perestroika (Headlong and Killer Elite (starring Robert de Niro). In the last Frantic Assembly), Babel (Stan Won’t Dance), The Theatre), 3rd Ring Out (Metis Arts), Gambling (Soho year, Tim has designed a Welsh feature Elfie Hopkins Erpingham Camp (Hydrocracker/Brighton Festival), Theatre), Lulu, The Kreutzer Sonata, Vanya, State and the E4 series Skins. Tim’s theatre/dance projects Ida Barr and Office Party (Barbican), Frankenstein Of Emergency, The Internationalist (), include working with choreographer Shelley Love for (Northampton Royal), Home Inverness (National After Miss Julie, Ghosts, Dirty Butterfly (Young Vic), Dance4film and more recently Rude, a site-specific Theatre of Scotland) and Outre and Ren-Sa (Array). Belongings (Hampstead), After Miss Julie, Othello ska musical for Give it a Name. He has toured extensively with Propeller, The National (Salisbury Playhouse), Moonlight & Magnolias Theatre of Scotland and Spymonkey, designs regularly (Tricycle Theatre), Andersen’s English, Flight Path (Out for Circus Space and has worked for Company FZ, Of Joint), Topdog/Underdog (Sheffield Crucible Studio), HYBRID Brighton Festival, Greenwich and Docklands Festival Our Private Life, , Alaska (Royal Court, __ and on La Clique and La Soiree at The Roundhouse Jerwood Theatre Upstairs), A Whistle In The Dark, and in the West End. Moonshed (Royal Exchange Theatre), Is That All There Original Music Is, Hysteria (Inspector Sands), Arsenic and Old Lace (Derby Playhouse), The Water Engine (Theatre 503, Hybrid are a trio of composers comprising of Michael in association with The Young Vic), Blood Wedding Truman, Chris Healings and Charlotte James. They Sian Jenkins __ (Almeida), Gone To Earth (Shared Experience), No Way have long been associated with a cinematic style of Out (Huis Clos), Stallerhof (), writing since the band’s debut album in 1999 which Costume Designer The Watery Part of the World (Sound And Fury). introduced the Russian Federal Orchestra to the world of electronica. They have recorded classical Sian is a graduate of The Royal Welsh college of and filmic elements for each of their four acclaimed Music and Drama with a BA Hons in Theatre Design. studio albums and have toured extensively around Since 2001 she has worked extensively as a costume Naomi Said the world’s most celebrated music festivals. In 2004, designer in Theatre, Film and Television with casts __ they were introduced to preeminent composer Harry from 1 up to 100. Associate Director Gregson Williams and a long collaborative career in scoring began to unfold. Working for Harry on such Theatre Productions include Frida and Diego Naomi joined Frantic Assembly in 2010 as Creative films as Tony Scott’s Man On Fire and Deja Vu honed (Best Design, Theatre in Wales awards 2003), Learning Practitioner, delivering workshops and their skills working to picture and in 2006, their first The award-winning NoFit State Circus show Immortal, residencies across the UK and internationally and solo score came together in the shape of Lionsgate’s Shakespeare Trilogy, Hamlet, A Child’s Xmas in Wales, co-directing the Ignition production ‘60 Hugs’ at Corby Catacombs. Since then, the trio have been asked to Contender, A Christmas Carol, Fiddler on the Roof, Cube. In 2011 she was Assistant Choreographer on ‘Le contribute their unique approach to the area between West Side Story (Wales Theatre Company), Cyrano Nozze di Figaro’ (Opera ) and Movement music and sound design for projects including de Bergerac (Theatr na n’Óg), Shirley Valentine and Director on Attachment on ‘Lord of the Flies’ (Regent’s Cowboys & Aliens, Fast Five, X-Men Wolverine and Educating Rita (The Chocolate Factory), and Apologia Park). Most recently, Naomi was Company Movement Unstoppable. Outside of their feature film work, the at The . Practitioner for the RSC, working on ‘The Heart of trio release their band influenced material on their Robin Hood’, ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ and ‘Comedy own label Kill City Records and continue to have Her work has extended worldwide including America of Errors’. Later this year, she will perform in ‘Dr Dee’ their work synced to TV and film trailers including and Italy where she worked annually for 5 years with (MIF/ENO) and her first play ‘The Wedge’ will the campaigns for Frank Miller’s The Spirit,The Rite Italian theatre school Elan Frantoio. be produced by Theatre Absolute. starring Anthony Hopkins, episodes of CSI and have had their work used on many TV channels around Recently Sian has been working within TV and Film, the world from BBC to CNN to MTV. designing the last two series of Gwaith/Cartref for S4C, Bronson featuring Tom Hardy, I Know You Know, Panic Button and Body Armour. Films out later this year include Elfie Hopkins featuring Jamie and Ray Winstone, and The Numbers Station featuring John Cussack.

This is Sian’s first time working with National Theatre Wales and Frantic Assembly and she is really excited about the project.

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Lisa Wells-Turner Ceri James Matthew North ______Emerging Director Production Manager Company Stage Manager

Lisa Wells-Turner is a cross-disciplinary theatre Ceri trained at WCMD and has worked for University This is Matthew’s third show for National Theatre maker with a background in classical music and of Southern California, The Sherman Theatre Cardiff, Wales after The Passion and A Provincial Life. physical theatre. Recent productions with her Fiery Angel, Royal and Derngate, Northampton, Other companies he has worked for include: Royal company, Between, include producing ‘Work Birmingham Stage Company, Colchester Mercury Shakespeare Company, Wales Theatre Company, in Process 4: Cross Platform’ with Iris Theatre and Theatre, Salisbury Playhouse, Oxford Touring Theatre, London Classic Theatre, Bare & Ragged Theatre directing and creating new devised pieces ‘The Burials Unicorn Theatre London, National Youth Theatre Company, Caerphilly Youth Theatre and Second of Thebes’ and ‘An Alternative Christmas Show’. Wales, Derby Playhouse, Leicester Haymarket, Music Thoughts Theatre Company. Previous work includes two solo shows: ‘Iphigenia’ Theatre Wales, Dalier Sylw, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, (2006) and ‘The Opposite of Waiting’ (2008-2010). Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Theatr na n’Óg, Dragons Matthew also works in television and film. Credits In 2011 she graduated with an MA in Advanced Breath Theatre, FAB Theatre, Shock n Awe, New Vic include: The Gospel of Us, Doctor Who, , Theatre Practice from the Central School of Speech Theatre, Theatre Bara Caws, Hijinx Theatre, Made Holby City, Pobol Y Cwm, Sarah Jane Adventures, and Drama. She is currently on the Yr Odyn Artist in Wales and BBC NOW. The Big I Am, Gwaith/Cartref, Great British Stories, Development Programme with Volcano Theatre. Mankind & Sacrifice. He worked for 8 years as production manager for Cardiff Festival and is a founding member of Mappa Joni Carter Mundi Theatre. He was lighting designer for National Brent Morgan __ Theatre Wales’ productions of A Good Night Out in the Valleys, The Soul Exchange and The Dark __ Deputy Stage Manager Philosophers. Promoter

Company Stage Manager credits include: Lovesong, Brent graduated from Swansea Metropolitan Beautiful Burnout, Othello, Stockholm, pool University in 2009. Since then he has performed (no water), Hymns (Frantic Assembly) Dr Dee Rhodri Hunt __ in and promoted a variety of events and shows from (Manchester International Festival) and Gruffalo’s pervasive gaming to club nights. He currently runs Child & Gruffalo (Tall Stories). Assistant Stage Manager a regular scratch theatre night called Scratch That Itch which takes place all over . Stage Manager credits include: Vernon God Little, Close to completing a 3-year Stage Management He has just finished working with Volcano on their Sweet Nothings, Kursk, generations (Young Vic); Cock, course at The Royal Welsh College of Music and last show ‘Blinda’ and is probably smiling at you now Tusk Tusk and Seven Jewish Children (Royal Court); Drama, credits include; Mary Stuart (Chapter Arts), as a member of front of house. Pericles, Much Ado About Nothing (Globe Theatre); King Lear (RWCMD) and The Theatre Three Dark Tales and The Argument (Theatre O). Opening Events (RWCMD). This is Rhodri’s first professional production for National Joni has collaborated with the Young Vic, National having just completing a 6 week placement on A Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, Talawa and Theatre-Rites Provincial Life and Radicalisation of Bradley Manning. on projects and workshops created for young people. Joni has also project managed live events and installations at the Modern and Royal Festival John Tee Hall. __ Production Electrician

Sarah Vigars John, originally from Glan Conwy, has worked __ extensively throughout Wales and beyond, including Assistant Designer for Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Theatr Genedlaethol, Mappa Mundi Theatre, Theatr Gwynedd, Sherman Theatre and Sarah is currently finishing the final year of her recently for National Theatre Wales’ productions of degree in theatre design at the Royal Welsh College A Provincial Life and The Dark Philosophers. of Music and Drama. Previously Sarah has designed set and costumes for RWCMD’s production of ‘Arabian Nights’ and has worked as a collaborative designer and puppet maker for two college shows. Sarah has also worked as an assistant within both theatre and tv, including National Theatre Wales’ production of the Passion last year and ‘Sherlock’ for .

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Frantic Assembly creates thrilling, energetic and unforgettable theatre. Vivid and dynamic, Frantic Assembly’s unique physical style combines movement, design, music and text. Scott Graham SCOTT GRAHAM and Steven Hoggett formed Frantic Assembly in arTisTic direcTor 1994. Scott and Steven have since performed STEVEN HOGGETT in or directed all of the company’s work. They arTisTic direcTor seek to collaborate on original ideas with today’s LISA MAGUIRE most exciting artists. Frantic Assembly has eXecuTive producer toured widely throughout the UK, building its ALEX TURNER adminisTraTor reputation as one of the country’s most exciting INGA HIRST companies. Internationally Frantic Assembly learn & Train has performed, created and collaborated in 30 manager different countries. Frantic Assembly operates an extensive Learn & Train programme introducing more than 6,000 participants a year to the company’s process of creating theatre.

“The vibrant and visceral SCOTT AND STEVEN Frantic Assembly” INDEPENDENT

ZERO

KLUB

LOOK BACK IN ANGER

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it has probably been well documented that frantic assembly was formed by three students at swansea university. To cover old ground It’s 1994 and I’ve been running Taliesin for 3 years. We have again quickly, we met through a drama society that would put on 3 hardly any staff and its a struggle to get the public to understand or 4 shows at the Taliesin Theatre on the singleton campus. steven that just because we’re in the middle of a university campus and scott met as cheeky stage manager and unused understudy/prompt doesn’t mean the arts centre is only for students. Swansea on a production of educating rita. Watching from the side it was clear is a bit of a desert in 1994 for contemporary work and, with the that there must be more to theatre than this. exception of Volcano, the exciting stuff is located at various points down the M4. This was beautifully demonstrated when volcano Theatre company directed some of the drama society in a production that brilliantly As a failed artist myself the best thing about the job is helping transcended the talents of those on stage and presented a visceral, those with real talent to get their work seen. And so to 1st March dynamic world of theatrical possibilities. This changed everything. that year when my works diary records that Steven Hoggett came We never knew such a language existed but from this point this was to see me for the fi rst time. Steve and Scott (and Vicki) had been all we wanted to do. We devoured everything physical theatre. in Dram Soc and decided to set up their own company: Frantic Assembly. They wanted advice on touring their work in Wales. While we had the energy and the enthusiasm it would have gone My advice then was “nobody has ever heard of you – so your only nowhere without the guidance of volcano. They recognized something in chance to get bookings is to offer a play that is familiar. But bring us and even had the faith to put us into one of their shows (manifesto). to it your distinctive voice”. In October that year we premiered The more we learned from them the more we wanted to be them. after Frantic Assembly’s fi rst show – “Look Back in Anger”. a couple of sell out runs in the fringe, where we wisely adopted the name frantic Theatre company rather than swansea The mad thing of course is that there was no chance of any grants university drama society, we started to get the feeling that we could for them in Wales – Arts Centre made them an offer and make a go at this theatre lark. the rest as they say is history. I am SO proud of them and proud that they started their careers here in Swansea. (And glad to again it was the guidance and wisdom of volcano that shaped those welcome them back). early years. They provided advice and contacts and hard working and committed role models. in addition, sybil crouch of The Taliesin –– Theatre was always a supportive and encouraging factor and massively Sybil Crouch infl uential in our decision to start our company in swansea. it made Head of Cultural Services sense to stay close to this support network and be a small fi sh in what Taliesin Arts Centre / Swansea University seemed a small pond, compared to cardiff or london. also the idea of being outsiders, creating work in swansea and taking this energy to cities around the uk suited us. With our third member, vicki middleton, as producer, we set out as a company supported by the enterprise allowance scheme. This meant you could work on and for your company and receive £30 a week from the dss rather than the £40 a week dole money you would receive for actively seeking other work. This was a very grounding experience. To attend Tax seminars with mobile hairdressers and pig farmers focused the mind on making this work practically. We would heartily recommend it!

our fi rst show was a radical (and quite disrespectful) adaptation of look back in anger. This was tactical as we realised (or were probably advised by sybil and volcano) that no theatre would book a fi rst time, unknown company with an unknown piece of work. This was our foot in the door and from then on we quickly set out trying to fi nd our voice. The more we did this the more we naturally emerged from being volcano wannabees.

The company has now performed, directed, choreographed or taught in over 30 different countries all over the world and little dogs marks our return to swansea after… well, too long. There is something special about this place, its people and its geography. between us we have lived, loved, worked, even married here. coming back to make little dogs gives us an incredible thrill and a chance to write a love letter to .

it also gives us the chance to say thank you to sybil crouch for the constant support through some really diffi cult times. and, of course, to paul davies, fern smith and for the inspiration, vision, trust and invaluable guidance. love your work.

__ LOOK BACK IN ANGER Scott and Steven

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Tim graduated from Chelsea College of Q&A WITH TIM DICKEL Art in 1998 in Fine Art. Initially, most You have a background in television and fi lm. Is this the fi rst theatre project you’ve worked on? of his work focused on designing music my fi rst experience of theatre was last year for rude, a musical. prior to that the only experience i had was videos, working with a broad spectrum working with a choreographer called shelly love for of artists such as Diana Ross, Westlife a dance4film project. i’ve been wanting to do theatre for a while, but you sometimes get pigeonholed if you’re and Tony Christie through to Audio Bullys a Tv and fi lm person. and Roots Manuva. He then progressed into Have you worked with Frantic before? What do you think about their process and their work? television and fi lm, and moved to Wales no, haven’t worked with them before. The nearest i’ve got to work on Doctor Who as a Set Decorator to their style of theatre was developing projects with some guys from shunt, which has always been in the back and Art Director. This in turn lead to of my mind. This physical style suits me more than designing the fi rst series of The Sarah traditional theatre. Jane Adventures. Tim has art directed What’s your process? How do you start thinking about a design? i read whatever i’m given, which in this case was the dylan several projects including Merlin (TV Thomas story, and extract small elements of it that i’m interested in. Then, speaking to scott and steven, i wanted series), Mr Nice (feature fi lm) and Killer to know their focus. coming to swansea was also important Elite (starring Robert de Niro). In the last for this. as soon as i went on the beach i knew where part of the set was going to come from. The sand drift was year, Tim has designed a Welsh feature coming up to the road towards the patti pavilion and Elfi e Hopkins and the E4 series Skins. Tim’s it made sense that it should end up inside. i pull out loads and loads of images and fi lter them down theatre/dance projects include working with to things that would be useful for the project. i don’t tend choreographer Shelley Love for Dance4fi lm to use designs and theatre as research material, what i mostly look at is particular artists, installation art and more recently Rude, a site-specifi c and photography. ska musical for Give it a Name. This project has been driven by certain artists for me, and it would be Tim noble and sue Webster, dan flavin, and cy Twombly. They have a big impact on the way i’ve thought about the project.

What are you most excited about with this project? What’s different about it? The intellectual process, which sometimes is lacking in Tv and fi lm as there’s not time for it. usually it’s ‘we need a set’ and there’s very little time so it’s hard to go into any sort of depth. Working in a theatrical way gives you more time to think about what the piece is saying. it becomes a bit more philosophical and the elements are more dense. making a room that divides is also exciting.

What’s been nice with this set is that it’s quite dynamic, and it’s like a little selection of art installations. it’s almost like going back to my roots as a fine art student at chelsea. and i’m working with really nice people! you feel like you’re part of a proper team and everybody’s mucking in together.

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019 NATIONAL THEATRE WALES LITTLE DOGS

Q&A WITH HYBRID

How did you meet Frantic Assembly? We met frantic in 2008 when we did the music to the production of othello that they did. We very much enjoyed working on that, and have been in constant communication ever since keeping frantic up to date with anything new we may write or any fresh hybrid releases. We’ve been hoping that Since fi rst bursting onto the scene with the now we may get called upon again to help out classic album Wide Angle in 1999, the Swansea, in the frantic music department, and here we are again involved musically in the Wales-based Hybrid have been known as one wonderful little dogs. of the most forward thinking and technically __ What’s the relationship there? How did you end skilled acts in electronic dance music. Blurring up doing the soundtrack for Little Dogs? Well we said straight after othello that the line between in-studio production and live we would love to do something else with presentation, Hybrid are one of the few remaining frantic. also the fact that hybrid was formed in swansea (a long time ago!) most of the dance acts to perform live with a classic band music we make is made in swansea so it seems right to have that music refl ect setup. Though, much has changed on the road to swansea in the play and use us local talents Hybrid’s fourth artist album Disappear Here. Most to do something that’s right on our doorstep and something we fully understand as living notable is the addition of Hybrid’s third member - breathing people of the city. singer/songwriter Charlotte James - to go along __ What was Swansea like back then ? with founders Chris Healings and Mike Truman. hybrid met, and were dJing the back room of swansea’s ‘martha’s vineyard’ club night Charlotte’s impact is marked as Disappear Here ‘strictly groovy’. This night was swansea’s is truly an album of real songs and not merely fi rst underground house music venue and a legendary place to be right then, in fact dance beats with vocals on top. It offers a lot the dance music scene back then in swansea was up there with anywhere else in the more than anything Hybrid has ever previously country. We had the Tick Tock hardcore nights written and pushes boundaries in every way. With and illegal raves every weekend everywhere from derelict b&Q buildings to the beautiful Disappear Here, Hybrid have managed to create pennard castle on the gower. an epic and unique sound which has progressed The taste swansea got for this electronic/ dance/house/rave/hardcore music scene dramatically from its original dance inception has never left and only recently did we do but still retains much of what makes electronic a night in monkey cafe with 2 legends from those days ‘Top buzz’ and ‘John kelly’. The club music so exciting. The album features guest was packed in typical swansea style!! vocals from Tim Hutton, drums from Alex Madge __ Where did you fi rst fi nd love in the city and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. (Swansea) ? i met my wife in the very same night club over 20 years ago and have been married now for 11 years… We’d love to go back to that night club and do it all over again... and again... and again!!!!!

HYBRID: DISAPPEAR HERE

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“Music that manages to be both ominous and luminous at the same time.” “In the ever-changing world of breakbeat, __ BBC few acts can claim such longevity and popularity as Hybrid. Two producers from “One of the most Swansea, Mike Truman and Chris Healings, technically gifted acts in EDM” plus a long line of guest vocalists, have __ created some of the finest albums of the Maxumi.co.uk genre. From the groundbreaking mix of live “Hybrid just keep orchestral elements and genre-defining getting bigger nu-breaks on debut Wide Angle, through to and better” __ the latest incarnation of their epic, multi- Juno layered sound, Hybrid have always pushed the boundaries of dance music production.”

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Image: Dan Green Date: Saturday, April 28th, 2012

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COMING THIS SUMMER

NTW20 NTW21 NTW22 IN WATER I’M CORIOLAN/US BRANCHES WEIGHTLESS A co-production for the World (WORKING TITLE) An Unlimited commission Shakespeare Festival, which In partnership with the London for the London 2012 is produced by the Royal 2012 Festival, the fi nale of the Cultural Olympiad Shakespeare Company for the Cultural Olympiad By Kaite O’Reilly London 2012 Festival A new commission from Directed by John E McGrath Directed by Mike Pearson and Constanza Macras/DorkyPark Mike Brookes IN WATER I’M WEIGHTLESS takes Argentinean Constanza Macras a provocative look at the human The story of Caius Martius, has been setting the world of body, performed by a cast of CORIOLAN/US, is re-imagined in dance theatre alight with her six leading deaf and disabled an era of 24-hour news, celebrity violent, witty, sensual work. From performers. In a dynamic staging culture and a new global politics. Johannesburg to Berlin, crowds combining movement and live A site-specifi c work staged in a have fl ocked to see her latest projections, Kaite O’Reilly’s poetic, creations. In a special commission secret location in south wales, poignant and at times explosively for National Theatre Wales and the funny texts are inspired by the with outside broadcasts from the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Constanza imagination, experiences and battlefi eld, popular grievances will create a new site-specifi c show attitudes of disabled people across delivered straight to camera and in the forests of North Wales - the UK. With movement direction audience participants as the body drawing inspiration from the ancient by Nigel Charnock, this ground- politic, this production is a mash- stories of the Mabinogion, and our breaking production from NTW up of previous attempts to get daily dreams and fears. celebrates the athleticism, diversity to grips with a contrary and and skill of the company, whilst perplexing fi gure. Wepre Park exploring the endless possibilities Connah’s Quay, Flintshire of human difference. 8th - 11th and 15th - 18th August 5th - 15th September Hangar 858 26th July–4th August Picketston Venue: Weston Studio RAF St Athan Wales Millennium Centre, Vale of Glamorgan Bute Place CF10 5AL Box Offi ce: 029 2063 6464 / wmc.org.uk/westonstudio Tickets: £8-£12

31st August, 6.30pm; 1st September, 1pm & 7.30pm Venue: The Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London Box Offi ce: 0844 875 0073 / southbankcentre.co.uk Tickets: £15

023 design: elfen.co.uk