| "Exactly What Theatre Should Be" |
Wales at Edinburgh Fringe in the 2020s |
| Circle of Fifths- Gavin Porter , Studio ZOO Southside, Edinburgh , September 12, 2026 |
The description read:“Circle of Fifths is an immersive theatre experience celebrating life in death. The show explores what connects us in times of grief and loss, using film, live music and real-life stories from Butetown, Wales' oldest multicultural community. "Director Gavin Porter, film and theatre-maker from Butetown, created this show with musicians and artists from his community. Together, they offer a moment of collective reflection and celebration. '[A] beautiful and moving portrait of a place and its people' **** (Guardian). Selected for Cymru Wales in Edinburgh 2026." * * * * The Edinburgh Fringe in 2026 had 917 plays, 168 musicals and 117 physical theatre and dance. The competition for attention is intense. Companies know they have to be there early and play several weeks for a reputation to grow and word of mouth recommendation to spread. As has been pointed out in prior years public funding from Wales backs runs that are too brief. “Circle of Fifths” arrived on 24th August for just seven performances. * * * * Theatre Weekly was there: "It is an incredibly moving experience. It is rare that theatre truly creates a room where audience and performer combine to collectively create meaning, with genuine energy shared between actors and their spectators. Circle of Fifths has created that rare thing. “Directed by Gavin Porter Productions and produced by Threshold, the show is a live documentary that explores how music and stories can connect us all in times of grief and loss. The audience is guided through a Welsh funeral, starting outside the venue, as actors recall their family memories from Butetown, Cardiff. It is an incredibly moving experience. The 5-strong cast bring such an authenticity to their memories of loved ones, with many a real tear shed, that it is impossible not to feel moved. “Anthony ‘Wella’ Corria holds a particular charm, immediately creating a bond with the audience as he recounts the absurd day his community believed him to be dead. It is testament to the cast’s ability to involve their audience that, though no audience members take up their invitation to dance at the start of the show, by the end an entire crowd is bopping to Welsh classics. “Yet this is not simply a dance show. Such is the incredible variety of the piece, grief is discussed through projected interviews, live speeches and trombone solos, keeping the piece ever engaging. Porter has directed a work that may feel spontaneous, yet has such incredible nuance, portraying both the devastation of death and the unity that can be generated through celebrating someone’s life. “There is a somewhat rough-around-the-edges, messy feel to the piece. Porter enters the stage at points to assist with moving the set, and the actors engage in unprompted conversation with their spectators. Yet this only adds to the genuine atmosphere on stage. “There are no ‘characters’ here. That is only epitomised by the end of the show, in which the audience is invited to join the cast in the bar next door to talk about their loved ones. This is a purposefully rough-around-the-edges masterpiece. To describe this as a play would be dishonest. It is more of a ritual, for both audience and performer. Circle of Fifths is exactly what theatre should be.” Abridged, with thanks and acknowledgement, from the full review which can be read at: https://theatreweekly.com/edinburgh-fringe-review-circle-of-fifths-at-zoo-southside-studio/ * * * * From audience members: “I loved it. A warm, heartfelt, moving and surprisingly funny portrayal of the funeral and musical traditions of multicultural port town Butetown/Tiger Bay, Cardiff. It blends filmed reminiscences with actors and musicians retelling their experiences of their own loved ones' lives and deaths. Embracing and immersive, this was meaningful and surprisingly joyous. I did not expect to be singing and dancing today, but there I was, doing just that. What a wonderful experience." * * * * “Taking part in a funeral isn’t necessarily my idea of what to do at the fringe, but this show is worth seeing. An emotional journey of life and death with moving stores being told on stage and on screen that make you smile, even laugh and tear up. Oh, and don’t forget to sing and dance!" * * * * “Saw the first performance of this short end-of-fringe run show today. It's wonderfully honest, touching, poignant and life-affirming. Great stories, great music and a whole lot of love. Made me think deeply about those dear to me who are gone now, but equally deeply about those who are still around.” From https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/circle-of-fifths |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
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