A new production of Fabrice Melquiot’s unique play blends language, surrealism and (sometime) rising actor Kizzy Crawford for a trip unlike any other this Spring.
A boy searches in deep space for his missing cousin, Petula. But is it he, Pwdin, who has long been lost? With a script by Daf James that is almost trilingual in its use of Welsh, English and a little French, this production is a three-way collaboration between National Theatre Wales, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and August012. Known for her immersive, deeply affecting and often totally bonkers productions, August012’s artistic director is at the helm for this play, with original score by the company’s go-to composer Branwen Munn.
After 2020’s lockdown-restricted Singing The Subject, which showed just how much August012 can achieve even within the parameters of a pandemic, Petula’s surreal, dark, yet touching and humorous story of a boy so sick of the world he blasts himself into space, can be the only apt follow-up.
While the show was in production, one of its stars, Kizzy Crawford – perhaps better known for music than acting so far – found the time to exchange a few words with Noel Gardner.
What led to you taking this role?
When NTW asked me if I’d be interested in being a part of this play, I felt lucky as it’s such a unique and interesting one. I have worked with Matilde [Lopez, director of Petula] before on another project but this is my first acting role with NTW – it’s exciting.
As a lead actor in a play translated from French to English and Welsh, how much input do you have into the specifics of that translation – or your lines at any rate?
I don’t have any input into the script or translation aside from obviously the way I deliver the lines. It’s very interesting to be working with three languages, and important to be able to convey what is being said in a way that the audience will be able to understand, even if they don’t speak the language.
This is a play touring Wales, performed partly in Welsh: would you say its subject matter, as reimagined by Lopez/Daf James, is specific to Wales?
The way this play has been reimagined is definitely specific to Wales: the language used, some of the references, the culture and humour… whilst at the same time, also being specific to French and English.
Petula also tackles serious/relatable issues in a comedic/fantastical manner – as an actor, is it hard to get the tone right?
It is challenging. I’m fairly new to theatre acting as well and I’ve not played a role like this before.
Before Petula, on the acting side of things you’ve also done some TV, notably Keeping Faith – do you have anything else in the pipeline that you can tell us about?
Not at the moment but this is still really only the start of my experience as an adult in theatre. In the past six months, I have been in three different plays, which is new for me. It is an interesting journey.
You call yourself an “occasional” actor in your Twitter bio and indeed would be better known for music by most people, I’d think. Are you happy with your personal career balance between those two pursuits, or is there always a worry that you can never do everything you’d like to?
I feel very lucky to have two different pursuits. Of course, music will always be my main passion but it’s such a fun and interesting experience to be doing some more acting at the moment. What’s great about my role in this play is that I get to combine live music-making and acting! The opportunity to act is also enabling me to learn more about myself, as someone with autism who already has to mask a lot and cope with social anxiety, so it is an interesting experience indeed.
Petula opens in Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from Sat 12-Sat 19 Mar, touring to Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Pontio in Bangor, Y Ffwrnes in Llanelli, the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven and Newport Riverfront before concluding in Brecon’s Theatr Brycheiniog on Fri 8 Apr. Info and ticket links: petula.cymru
words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES & NOEL GARDNER
