PERFORMANCES FOR THE CURIOUS
The Wales Millennium Centre’s Performances For The Curious season returns this autumn, with an eclectic mix of 40 productions incorporating comedy, circus, burlesque, dance and drag. These will be held across the Weston Studio and cabaret bar Ffresh, and opening on Thurs 17 Oct will be The Invisible Woman, dark comedy about aging also previewed in this month’s Stage section.
Many of these Performances incorporate fairytales into modern-day stories. A rendition of Herman Hesse’s tale, I Wish I Was A Mountain (Tue 29 Oct-Fri 1 Nov) combines rhyme, live music and metaphysical philosophy; circus show Drudwen (Fri 25 and Sat 26 Oct) will be a modern-day fairytale telling the story of an enchantress and twins she encounters in the forest. Later on, indeed spanning Christmas, Red (Sat 14-Sun 29 Dec) will trail into wintry forests with a family-friendly tale in the spirit of Little Red Riding Hood.
More far-reaching topics will be delved into, such as Hive City Legacy’s redefined narratives based around social activism, race, mental health, and sexuality (Thurs 7-Sat 9 Nov). A lot of weightier topics will be still be grounded in comedy: Amy Vreeke’s endometriosis-themed The Year My Vagina Tried To Kill Me (Thurs 7 Nov), or Leroy Brito’s standup show Stereotype (Sat 15 Nov) – an exploration of his identity and misconceptions following this.
The UK’s first deaf-launched and led theatre company, Deafinitely Theatre, will tackle mental health through a combination of British Sign Language and spoken English in 4.48 Psychosis (Wed 20-Sat 23 Nov). Likewise, community-orientated theatre company Hijinx’s The Curious Muchness Of Stuff And Nonsense (Thurs 5-Sat 7 Dec) will feature a cast of disabled and non-disabled actors.
Music will feature, too, particularly towards Christmas with swing-meets-pop ensemble 50 Shêd O Santa Clôs (Thurs 5 Dec) and laugh-out-loud Christmas carol singers Cabarela Nadolig (Thurs 12 Dec). Conjuring up pre-existing sing-alongs will be the Shirley Bassey tribute act, Rachel Roberts (Thurs 24 Oct), and The Greatest Of Shows with its mixture of film and musical hits (Sat 14 Dec).
With such a wholly diverse assortment of acts, Performances For The Curious defines itself by leaving Cardiff eagerly awaiting what is to unfold.
words MEGAN FROST
Tickets: prices vary. Info: www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/seasons/performances-for-the-curious
