Welsh fringe theatre company Dirty Protest is delighted to announce it's next show will be a co-production with Clwyd Theatr Cymru.
The two companies are coming together to stage the debut play of Welsh writer Matthew Bulgo. For Dirty Protest, 'Last Christmas' follows the success of their Welsh premiere of Dennis Kelly’s After the End and the recent sell-out night of plays reacting to MTV’s The Valleys.
Last Christmas will be directed by Clwyd Theatr Cymru’s new writing director Kate Wasserberg and star Sion Pritchard.
Dirty Protest’s Tim Price said, “Last Christmas is one of the most beautiful plays I've read. Matthew is a fantastic talent and Dirty Protest is delighted to bring his debut play to Welsh audiences.
“Five years ago when Dirty Protest was first conceived over a coffee in Milgi, we dreamed that one day we'd be able to present a new play by a new Welsh writer, and finally that day has come.
“It's the culmination of a long journey for our messy collective.”
The company is also excited to be teaming up with directing talent Kate Wasserberg.
Mr Price said, “'We're also delighted to be working with Clwyd Theatr Cymru, it's a huge honour for us to be partnered with one of Wales' most successful companies and are privileged to have a director as talented as Kate Wasserberg at the helm of our next show.”
Starring Sion Pritchard (Blink, Muscle) the play will follow Tom who is
confronted with the ghosts of Christmas past when he returns home to Swansea for the festive period. With no-where to escape to Tom is forced to deal with his demons, with his family and Christmas at stake.
For writer Matthew this has been a whirlwind after just writing the play in August.
He said, “Tim Price bullied me into writing this play, and I'm very glad that he did. He's had an unerring faith in me as a playwright and in the play itself, and for that I'm hugely grateful.
“I'd been terrified about putting pen to paper with this particular play. I'd been putting it off for months, actually more like a couple of years. It's about a man returning to his home city, and the demons he has to face – I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil it – but there was a lot of stuff in there that felt a little close to home.
“I dedicated this past August to get the first draft completed, from start to finish. I'd sent it to Tim first thing in the morning on the last day of the month and by that evening he'd called me to say Dirty Protest should produce this, and we should get it on before Christmas.”
The company then got in touch with Clwyd Theatr Cymru and Kate Wasserberg to see if they would be interested in co-producing it.
Matthew said, “The pessimistic part of my brain kept telling me “They won't like it. Why would they want to produce a play by me?!” so I was relieved to hear that Kate loved the play and really wanted to direct it...and so it all started to fall into place.
“I'm still trying to get my head around the idea of writing a play in August and having it staged by Christmas.
“I've been a huge fan of Kate's from afar for some time – both her work at Clwyd and at the Finborough before that. I can't think of another company to whom I'd rather give my debut play, and I'm delighted that Kate is going to be directing it.
“I'm pleased as punch and also utterly terrified, but with both Dirty Protest and Kate Wasserberg I feel in the safest of hands.”
*Last Christmas, at Sherman Cymru Venue 2 from December 12-15th 7.30pm
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About Dirty Protest
Dirty Protest is Cardiff’s leading fringe theatre company. Launched in 2007 the company has worked with over a 100 Welsh writers, staging new sell-out plays in alternative venues, from pubs and clubs, to kebab shops, hairdressers and a forest!
Ever since it has been drawing attention to itself, shaking up the arts world along the way. If you don’t believe us The Guardian called Dirty Protest “cracking” and The Big Issue “spellbinding”.
We put on established and wannabe writers on the same platform creating new work and new writing We are Tim Price, Mared Swain, Claire Hill, Ellie Carter, Matthew Bulgo, Catherine Paskell
In the past 12 months, we have produced 31 plays - 1 full length, and 30 shorts and had a run of sell out shows at Sherman Cyrmu with the Welsh premiere of Dennis Kelly’s After the End. |
