LOVECRAFT (NOT THE SEX SHOP IN CARDIFF)
After festival success and winning the Best Cabaret award at the Adelaide Fringe, Welsh singer and actress Carys Eleri is taking her first-of-its-kind “one-woman-comedy-science-music show about the neuroscience of love and loneliness” – on a tour around Wales. According to her, Lovecraft (Not The Sex Shop In Cardiff) “takes you on an autobiographical journey of my life… we as humans are more connected than ever and yet we are far less physically present in each other’s lives. This is basically a TED talk on acid with grime, garage, jazz, heavy metal and some rats, where we communally understand the scientific importance of our friendships.”
Despite such a Welsh-centric title, Eleri says people outside of Wales still get and appreciate the joke. In Australia, the show drew Cymru-connected crowds. “One girl had run to Australia having split from her boyfriend and came to the show. I was like, ‘girl, this is made for you right now – let’s chat after.’ We’re still in touch.”
After premiering at WMC’s Festival Of Voice in 2018, Eleri is “super chuffed” to be touring the show around Wales, aiming to “spread these seriously important messages to the most rural of places where isolation can take its toll”. The show is touring in Welsh as well as English. “It will represent how I live my life most of the time – It’s going to be way more personal in Welsh and the naughtiness will be ramped up pretty high as Welsh is so sweet, kind and not at all brash or at all sexy!”. Some of the humour will also be more surreal due to a lack of simple translations, including the title which just sounded “lame” as a direct translation, Eleri says.
Speaking of the title, Buzz wonders if she needed permission from Lovecraft the shop, or whether they’re just glad of the plug?
“What kind of plug are you talking about?!! Mwhahahaa!! The shop owner has been delightful –we’ve filmed trailers in there. The disclaimer’s in the title – I just want to teach you how to craft your love, babes, in a different way to the shop owners on Cowbridge Road East…”
words CHRIS WILLIAMS
Various venues, Sat 2-Sat 30 Nov. Tickets: £10-£15. Info: www.wmc.org.uk