THEMES INCLUDING BALLET DANCING, MEXICAN WRESTLERS,AND LIFE AFTER DEATH
National Theatre Wales has chosen the next six projects to be offered support as part of its new WalesLab programme.
The five-year programme aims to give theatre artists a rare chance to develop their ideas in locations across Wales. It is funded by a £483,000 grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, all of which will directly support work by emerging artists and companies.
The next six projects – all led by Welsh or Wales-based artists – will include projects about Mexican wrestling ballet dancers, the discovery of the answer to the question “Is there life after death?”, an exploration of the extraordinary spaces of Denbigh Asylum, and murderous goings on in an Aberystwyth B&B.
The six projects are:
● Denbigh, by Bethan Marlow
Location: Denbigh
A site-specific exploration for a LARP (live action role play) exploring the boundaries of sanity through words, sound and movement.
● Life after Death, by Liveartshow
Location: Castell Coch and other haunted houses
Liveartshow (Martin Constantine, Harry Blake and Alan Harris) will prove conclusively that there is, or not, life after death. And then make a show about it. With music.
● Walking in the Shadows of Tom Mathias, by Angharad Evans Location: Cilgerran
Inspired by photographic imagery documented by Tom Mathias (1866–1940), this project will explore the changing faces of Cilgerran.
● Mucha Lucha, by Kylie Ann Smith
Location: A wrestling ring
A dark comedy dance/theatre piece inspired by Mexican wrestling, WWF, boxing and ballet.
● As We Drown, by Rebecca Smith Williams
Location: Nant-y-moch
Inspired by Albert Camus’ The Misunderstanding, and the landscape around Nant-y-moch reservoir, As We Drown creates a B&B where the landlady drowns her guests in the reservoir.
● The Brautigan Project, by Catherine Paskell
Location to be confirmed
Inspired by the writings of Richard Brautigan, The Brautigan Project will explore how we tell a story and create perspective.
All will start their development work in the coming months, and will share the results of their work online and with local audiences.
In total, around 50 projects led by as many as 240 artists will be part of WalesLab over five years. Each will be given individual creative and production support by National Theatre Wales, as well as financial assistance to cover costs.
Invitations to apply for the WalesLab summer camp will be made in March. This will be an opportunity for artists to come together and share their ideas with each other.
National Theatre Wales is mid-way through its second year of work, bringing an extraordinary range of theatre to locations across the country. WalesLab (named in tribute to the seminal company Cardiff Lab, which brought a range of new theatre ideas to Wales and the UK in the 1980s) will build on the company’s reputation for reaching new audiences in unexpected places.
Artistic Director of National Theatre Wales John McGrath, said: “I'm truly excited to welcome the next five groups of artists onto WalesLab. These are all fantastic projects, and through this scheme, WalesLab artists will have a chance to explore their ideas in locations all across the country - from a haunted castle to a boxing ring. When we set up WalesLab, we hoped it would encourage artists to think in exciting new ways. I'm delighted it is having such a positive effect so soon."
Matt Ball, Creative Associate at National Theatre Wales, said: “WalesLab offers invaluable support to artists beginning to work on new productions, and I wish it had been around when I was starting out. The range of projects and artists we’ve chosen shows the depth of talent in Wales needing support to get their projects off the ground.”
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