|
PETER GILL RETURNS TO CARDIFF TO DIRECT HIS BRAND NEW ADAPTATION OF CHEKHOV’S A PROVINCIAL LIFE |
One of Wales' greatest writers and directors, Peter Gill, returns to his native city with a portrait of provincial life in 1890s Russia. Based on Chekhov's poignant short story, A Provincial Life follows one young man's struggle to exchange his privileged position for the life of a worker. This painful, lyrical play dramatises the search for equality in a way that resonates deeply today.This lavish production will bring a Welsh flavour to Chekhov’s Russia, and will be designed by award-winning production designer Alison Chitty, a long-term collaborator with Mike Leigh and Peter Hall. A Provincial Life will be one of the first productions staged at the newly rebuilt Sherman Cymru building in Cardiff. The cast of professionals will include Kezia Burrows, Alex Clatworthy, Richard Corgan, Helen Griffin, Lee Haven-Jones, Mike Hayward, Mark Lewis, Sara Lloyd-Gregory, John-Paul Macleod, Liam Mansfield, Clive Merrison, Kenneth Price, Nicholas Shaw, William Thomas and Menna Trussler. Alongside these will be an ensemble of 12 semi-professional performers from Cardiff, gathered as part of National Theatre Wales’ TEAM programme, with help from Sherman Cymru and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Director Peter Gill was born in 1939 in Cardiff and started his professional career as an actor. A director as awell as a writer, he has directed over 100 productions in the UK, Europe and North America in both the modern and classical repertoires, including plays by Chekhov, Congreve, Otway, Shakespeare, as well as Hampton, Orton, Osbourne, Pinter and Wright. At the Royal Court Theatre in the 1960s, he was responsible for introducing D.H.Lawrence’s plays to the theatre and was the founding director of Riverside Studios and the Royal National Theatre Studio. Classical plays directed include: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (Theatre Royal Bath, Tour & Vaudeville Theatre, 2008); Gaslight (Old Vic, 2007), Look Back in Anger (Theatre Royal Bath, 2006), The Voysey Inheritance (NT, 2006), and Romeo and Juliet (RSC, 2004-05). Other directed work includes: The Breath of Life by David Hare (Sheffield Theatres, 2011); The Aliens by Annie Baker (Bush Theatre, 2010); Hens by Aila Bano (Sky Arts Live - Riverside Studios, 2010); Semper Dowland and The Corridor by renowned composer Harrison (Aldeburgh Festival / Southbank Centre, 2009); Epitaph For George Dillon by John Osborne and Anthony Creighton (ATG, 2005); Days of Wine and Roses by J P Miller, in a new version by Owen McCafferty (Donmar Warehouse, 2005), Scenes from the Big Picture by Owen McCafferty (NT, 2003); and Speed the Plough by David Mamet (ATG, 2000). Peter’s plays include: Another Door Closed (Theatre Royal Bath, 2009); Small Change (Donmar Warehouse, 2008); The York Realist (English Touring Theatre at the Royal Court, 2002); Original Sin (Crucible Sheffield, 2002); The Look Across the Eyes and Lovely Evening (BBC Radio 4, 2001); Certain Young Men (Almeida, 1999); Friendly Fire (NT, 1998/99); Cardiff East (NT, 1995); Mean Tears (NT, 1987); In the Blue (NT, 1985); Small Change (NT, 1983); Kick for Touch (NT, 1983); The Sleepers Den (Royal Court, 1969) and Over Gardens Out (Royal Court, 1969). Theatre designer Alison Chitty has a distinguished international career in theatre, opera and film. Her theatre credits include eight years as resident designer at the National Theatre where she designed many productions, including Venice Preserv’d, Antony and Cleopatra, The Bacchae, The Voysey Inheritance and Mike Leigh’s Two Thousand Years. She has just designed Mike Leigh’s new play, Grief. She has designed in opera houses throughout the world, including Chicago, Seattle, Munich and Paris. Recently she designed the highly acclaimed world premiere of Harrison Birtwistle’s The Minotaur at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and Rigoletto for La Fenice, Venice. Film credits include: Aria, Turn of the Screw, and several Mike Leigh films including Life is Sweet, Naked and Secrets and Lies. In recognition of her particular approach to teaching and commitment to developing the talent of young theatre designers and practicioners, Alison was awaraded The Misha Black Award in 2006, The Young Vic Award in 2008 and a Fellowship of Birkbeck, London University 2011. Composer Terry Davies has written for many theatre productions at the National Theatre, RSC, West End, around the UK and elsewhere. His productions with Peter Gill include The Aliens (Bush), Look Back in Anger (Theatre Royal, Bath), The Voysey Inheritance (NT), Romeo and Juliet (RSC), Original Sin (Sheffield) and The York Realist (English Touring Theatre/Royal Court). He is an artistic associate of choreographer Matthew Bourne, composing for his Lord of the Flies, Dorian Gray, Edward Scissorhands, The Car Man and Play Without Words for which he received an Olivier Award. He has conducted the music for nearly 50 films including W.E., The King's Speech, The Illusionist, Another Year and Brideshead Revisited. Lighting Designer Paul Pyant is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and works in opera, ballet, musicals and theatre worldwide. He has a long-established association with Glyndebourne Opera, English National Opera, The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, National Theatre, English National Ballet The Donmar Warehouse, The Almeida Theatre and Northern Ballet Theatre. Recent productions include: Grief (National Theatre), Richard III (The Old Vic), Aspects of Love (Menier Chocolate Factory), House of Games (Almeida), Betrothal in a Monastery (Theatre du Capitol and Opera Comique), The Heretic (Royal Court), and Hobson‘s Choice (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield). Venue: Sherman Cymru Senghennydd Road Cardiff CF24 4YE Dates: 1st-17th March 2012 Time: 7.30pm Matinees: 2.30pm on Thurs 8th, Sat 10th, Thurs 15th and Sat 17th March 2012 Box Office: 029 2064 6900 www.shermancymru.co.uk Tickets: £15-£25; Previews and Matinees £12-£20 |
| National Theatre Wales web site: www.nationaltheatrewales.org |
| e-mail: |
Monday, January 16, 2012 |
Older news
stories have been carefully archived.
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999