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MEET FRED The Other Room at Porter’s, Cardiff Thurs 23 June-Sat 2 July Meet Fred is a charming, hilarious and touching production with puppetry skills that really are a wonder to watch. Drawing on the puppetry forms of bunraku (a three-man puppetry style that originates in Japan), Hijinx developed it with the puppet company Blind Summit, who coined the term ‘extreme puppetry’ for the extremes of emotion it creates. The skill of the puppeteers and the actors in responding to Fred are a credit to the joint work of Hijinx and Blind Summit, and the hard work in the workshops and in the rehearsal period in making Fred really come to life. The puppetry team (Dan McGowan, Morgan Thomas, Craif Quat) work in harmony to control and give life to Fred. They simultaneously blend into the background so the audience cease to see ‘Fred the Puppet’ but see him as another actor, while the puppeteers also reflect and create Fred’s emotions through their own bodies. The way in which the three other actors (and one rogue director) work with Fred shows just how much of a ‘real person’ he has become by interacting with him seamlessly, and despite the constant reminders that he is ‘a puppet’, it’s really hard to see Fred as anything but a real person. Fred has encounters with the job centre, a date, a disastrous job and an ill-advised evening in a bar. Parallels between everyone’s lives and Fred’s soon become apparent, in particular people with disabilities, echoing the work Hijinx does with actors who have learning disabilities. A highly entertaining, moving and brilliantly produced piece of theatre, Meet Fred asks some challenging questions about society and inclusion in keeping with Hijinx’s remit of providing inclusive and equal performance opportunities. They also show that inclusive theatre can be all of these things, and much more. Hijinx challenges their actors to produce high calibre work, and continues to break down barriers in doing so. Tickets: £5-£12. Info: www.otherroomtheatre.com EMILY GARSIDE
OPERA FOR THE UNKNOWN WOMAN
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Wed 8-Sun 12 June Opera For The Unknown Woman is an exciting twist on opera and a treat for those who like theatre with a science fiction twist. Set 300 years in the future, the global economy has fallen into disarray. Human cities are abandoned, and humans are in a crisis situation, threatened by vicious climates. Aphra is the last hope for life on Earth, but only has two weeks to live. Back in 2016 women from around the world are mysteriously united with a mission to create a new future for their planet and save Aphra. Although opera and operatic influences feature heavily, as per the name, Opera For The Unknown Woman is by no means a traditional piece and audiences should expect a reimagined format quite like any other opera they’d have seen before. The piece was commissioned by the Wales Millennium Centre for the Festival Of Voice and Yorkshire Festival in association with Warwick Arts Centre, while it was written and directed by the sound artist Melanie Wilson and co-composed by Wilson and Polish composer Katarina Glowicka. The cast includes Patricia Rozario OBE and Adey Grummet (Jerry Springer The Opera). Tickets: £25. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www. wmc.org.uk (EG) BUZZ 38
MEET THE REAL MAGGIE THATCHER
Grand Theatre, Swansea Fri 10 June When it comes to political leaders who are renowned for dividing the opinions of an entire nation, Margaret Thatcher definitely springs to mind. Whether her name conjures up images of her tackling overly powerful unions and defending the Falklands, or brings back bitter memories of record high unemployment and closures of the coal mines, the former Prime Minister’s name continues to provoke a reaction from people since her death in 2013. This original modern drama examines the ways in which the Iron Lady affected the lives of various British people, including a police officer, a solider and a schoolteacher. Delving into a variety of key issues, such as the Miner’s Strike, Poll Tax, Clause 28 and the Falklands War, the monologues provide a chance to show her rule from a personal perspective. The play is written and performed as a one-man show Mike Francis Carvalho, who is most recently known for his 80s themed drama Vienna and controversial Edinburgh Fringe production Breathe In. A must-see for those curious about the Iron Lady. Tickets: £10/£8. Info: 01792 475715 / www.swansea.gov.uk/ swanseagrandtheatre (LH)
ROMEO AND JULIET
Thompson’s Park, Cardiff Thurs 16-Sun 19 June This summer, Romeo And Juliet, as performed by Taking Flight Theatre, will tour all over Wales in beautiful outdoor spaces – kicking off in Thompson’s Park and later taking in the likes of Tintern Abbey and Cyfarthfa Castle. It’s Verona 1963, the annual college Boat Race, a high society courtship event for the rich and beautiful. In this tale of two feuding families, a boy and a girl, driven by youthful passion and blind love, enter a forbidden affair. The families’ reactions end in a fallout of murder, betrayal and heartbreak. Faced with separation and banishment, the star-crossed lovers hatch a drastic plan with terrible consequences. Times are turbulent, and as the undersiege lovers, Romeo and Juliet, struggle to make sense of their respective families’ bitterness, you’ll need to really support your house, whether it be Montague or Capulet, as they battle it out on the river. Shakespeare’s most memorable verses are brought to life in a promenade performance that invites you to move with the travelling performance. This brand new take on the tale brings out Taking Flight’s signature traits – exciting visual theatre coupled with comic relief and live original music. Tickets: £6-£14. Info: 029 2023 0020 / www.takingflighttheatre.co.uk (ZB)
THE 39 STEPS
New Theatre, Cardiff Tue 14-Sat 18 June After spending nine years in London’s West End, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps has made its way to Wales. This classic spy thriller is a brilliant and hilarious stage play, recreating the smash hit Olivier Award-winning comedy. Originally adapted from the 1915 novel by John Buchan, and turned into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935, the play has an aesthetic inspired by the 1930s. Adapted by Patrick Barlow, from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon, this play follows the fantastical adventure of a handsome man named Richard Hannay. Get ready for all the classic British stereotypes; the stiff-upper-lip, gung-ho attitude and, of course, a pencil moustache. Laugh out loud as you watch our hero encounter dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents and don’t forget the devastatingly beautiful women. Amazingly performed, this inventive comedy thriller contains only four actors: Richard Ede, Olivia Greene, Rob Witcomb, and Andrew Hodges.Together they play 139 roles, keeping us on our toes with their fast-paced acting. Get ready to laugh at this classic thriller that will leave you wondering who was playing who. Tickets: £8.50-£26. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk (MM)