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Sherman Cymru and Bristol Old Vic produces Katehrine Chandler’s new play set on a Cardiff housing estate |
Continuing their commitment to developing, producing and championing new writers from Wales, Sherman Cymru will be co-producing a haunting new drama with Bristol Old Vic, Before It Rains, written by Cardiff writer Katherine Chandler and directed by Sherman Cymru’s Associate Director Róisín McBrinn.Before It Rains will open at the newly refurbished Bristol Old Vic from 10 – 22 September, with press performance on 11 September, before its Welsh première at the home of new writing in Wales, Sherman Cymru from 25 September – 6 October. Before It Rains is set on a proud, forgotten Cardiff estate. Gloria is a single mum who enjoys sitting in her deckchair drinking her troubles away on her allotment, while her gentle son, Michael, digs the soil and makes sure everything is in order. From a relocated, troubled home, Carl – wild, unpredictable and near feral watches both the mother and son with interest, bouncing his ball. It’s a play about what a mother would do to protect her son and how complicated friendship can be when you haven't been taught to love. Funny, brave and beautifully told, Katherine Chandler’s tale of parenthood, protection and provocation looks at how we all develop our own ways of coping with the world, our craving for companionship and the consequences of having either threatened. “Before it Rains is a story that we can all relate to, about the strength of a mother’s love and how far we will go to protect the ones we love,” says the writer, Katherine Chandler. Before It Rains stars former Coronation Street actor and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate, Craig Gazey who played Graeme in the soap opera; Lisa Palfrey (Film Credits include: House of America, Maybe Baby; theatre credits include: The Kitchen Sink (Bush), Festen (Almeida) and Sherman Cymru’s Small Change); and following his performance in National Theatre Wales’s The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning, Cardiff born actor, Harry Ferrier (Young Dracula). Welsh writer Katherine Chandler who now lives with her family in Penarth, started her career at Sherman Cymru (the Sherman Theatre) in 1988 through the Government YTS working in the finance and administration office. She then trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Stage Management before turning her hand to writing. Since then Katherine has written a number of plays including for theatre company, Theatr Nan ’Og (The Bankrupt Bride) and some of her short plays have been produced by Dirty Protest and Spectacle Theatre. This will be Katherine Chandler’s first play for Sherman Cymru and Bristol Old Vic. Katherine also has a Studio Attachment with National Theatre England starting in January 2013. Katherine Chandler says: “Before it Rains is funny and heartbreaking but above all I think it’s hopeful. I couldn’t be more delighted that Before it Rains is being co-produced by two giants of regional theatre, Sherman Cymru and The Bristol Old Vic. I can’t imagine a more nurturing home to develop and realise this contemporary piece of new writing.” This is the first time Sherman Cymru has produced a play in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic. Director of Sherman Cymru Chris Ricketts said: "We're really pleased to be working with Bristol Old Vic on Before It Rains and hope it will be the first of many collaborations between us. Katherine is a really promising writer who we know will make a strong name for herself over the years ahead. That both companies wanted to work with her on this piece is testament to her talent and the confidence we have in her writing." Bristol Old Vic’s Emma Stenning says: “Our work over the past few years has been a real lesson in reaching out beyond our theatre – and beyond Bristol – and this hugely exciting co-production with Cardiff’s Sherman Cymru continues our instinct to collaborate. Katherine Chandler’s script sings; at times uproariously funny, at others, thuddingly poignant and full of colloquial attitude and swagger. Before It Rains – and its deeply compelling central character – won’t be forgotten in a hurry.” Sherman Cymru and Bristol Old Vic’s Before It Rains will be at Bristol Old Vic from 10 – 22 September (press performance 11 September) and at Sherman Cymru, Cardiff from 25 September – 6 October. Further information and tickets for the production can be found at: www.bristololdvic.org.uk / 0117 987 7877 www.shermancymru.co.uk / 029 2064 6900 |
| Sherman Cymru web site: www.shermancymru.co.uk |
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Wednesday, August 29, 2012 |
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