Only Men Aloud singer Nick Wayland-Evans is going back to his roots as an actor in the latest season of Michael Kelligan’s On the Edge script-held theatre season.He is appearing in Kick for Touch by successful Cardiff-born writer Peter Gill and directed by Bethan Morgan, opening at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff on September 13 and then touring South Wales. Nick is now best known as part of the Classical Brits award-winning choir but up until winning the TV talent show Last Choir Standing three years ago his main focus was acting. Thesuccess of Only Men Aloud has taken him away from acting apart from the occasional role-play and teaching work. Originally from Builth Wells, Nick moved to Cardiff in 2001 and now lives in Maesteg. One of nine siblings he has enjoyed a long relationship with youth theatre including working Sherman Cymru. He explained, “I came across acting initially as a musician when I joined the Mid Powys Youth Theatre as a founder member in 1986. Under the direction of Greg Cullen and Guy Roderick, I was soon drawn into the world of acting and haven’t looked back since! Over the years I have worked with other companies producing similar work, including Gwent Theatre, Theatr Na n’og and Hijinx.” “I have had a long standing connection with Children’s Theatre and in particular with Sherman Cymru, having been a member of a co-operative agency since 2002 after moving down from Mid to South Wales. “I have been fortunate in working with a wide range of performers, writers, directors, designers, practitioners and designers, all of whom I regard as very dear friends and all of whom have influenced me immensely. Nick says that while there are of course differences between acting and singing, he says “The Only Men Aloud shows are quite theatrical so I find that I can make a connection with singing the same way as connecting with a character or text as an actor.” Founder of the On the Edge, Michael Kelligan explained that previous seasons from the Cardiff based theatre company have all been a mixture of new writing, writing by emerging writers, productions to help develop writers and revivals by Welsh masters - usually dead ones! “In this season all of the plays are revivals but all the writers are all very much alive. Often in Wales plays that writers have sweated many hours over to ensure good work are performed once then left ignored on the bookshelves. “Peter Gill's work has been performed all over the world. Gary Owen's Free Folk was first written for the Hampshire theatre company Forest Forge. It's great to be bringing it home while Alan Harris indicated that he would like to take another look at his very moving play Orange.” “Alan Harris and Gary Owen have always remained firmly based in Wales and their work has grown out of their environment and heritage, though their plays are in no way confined to Wales or solely on Wales based issues and now their talents are recognised and demanded world-wide. “Gary Owen has had his worked presented and has now moved into television script writing including the TV series Baker Boys. “The actors and the director in the first play are again all very firmly Wales and Cardiff based. Nick Wayland-Evans I have known for a very long time and up until his wonderful success with Only Men Aloud I regarded him as mainly an actor though he has often applied his musical skills with the cello and trombone on stage. The challenges in this beautiful play are very different from being part of a now world famous ensemble. “Director Bethan Morgan, who was part of the On The Edge team from the very beginning in 2004, has recently torn herself away from her Welsh roots to go up north to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where she has been providing the music for Nine Suitcases - a heart rendering one man play written and performed by David Prince, given it first performance On The Edge in March this year. “Like Dean Rehman who will be seen in Orange, who first made a big impact playing the leading role in Dic Edwards’ Utah Blue back in 2005, Poly Kilpatrick is now making her fourth appearance with us having become a regular member of the On The Edge 'Repertory Company'. “Over the seven year there has been a lot of development and consolidation making the company well quipped to tackle a season of strongly written plays from the best of writing from Wales.” KICK FOR TOUCH by Peter Gill, directed by Bethan Morgan Chapter, Cardiff – Tues, 13 Sept 8pm - £4 on the door The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea – Wed 14 Sept, 7.30pm - £4 The Riverfront, Newport – Thurs, 15 Sept, 7.45pm -£4 The Soar Theatre Merthyr Fri 16 - new venture ORANGE by Alan Harris, directed by Michael Kelligan. Chapter, Cardiff – Tues 22 Nov, 8pm - £4 on the door The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea – Wed 23Nov, 7.30pm - £4 The Riverfront, Newport – Thurs 24 Nov, 7.45pm -£4 Trinity College, Carmarthen – Fri 25 Nov, 7.30pm - £7/5 FREE FOLK by Gary Owen, directed by Elise Davison. Chapter, Cardiff – Tues 13 Dec, 8pm - £4 on the door The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea – Wed 14 Dec, 7.30pm - £4 The Riverfront, Newport – Thurs 15 Dec, 7.45pm -£4 Trinity College, Carmarthen – Fri 16Dec, 7.30pm - £7/5 |
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011 |
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