If lockdown has shown us anything, it’s that music and the arts will always find a way. We’ve seen new and ever more inventive ways to be entertained where we’ve had artists performing shows from their own homes, T.V shows being presented likewise and even artists performing on computer games and it’s in that spirit, that Welsh performers, writers and directors have come together through Cardiff’s very own Sherman Theatre to present its new series of online plays (Ten).
In an effort to continue bringing world class shows to its audience, the Sherman Theatre challenged writers to come up with a paragraph long pitch which would be transformed into a 1-5 minute monologue.
The best ten would then be performed and recorded by emerging and familiar faces from Welsh TV and Theatre. Among the names that answered the open call, were Dave Coaches himself, aka Steffan Rhodri of Gavin and Stacey fame, Rakie Ayloa of Holby City and Catrin Stewart, who among other things has been seen in Doctor Who and Stella.
The Cardiff born actress will be taking on Owen Thomas’s (Grav, Benny Hill, Who Runs Towards a Fire) which promises to be one of many highlights of this series. Other highlights include Love is Blind written by Sarah Louise Madden with Samantha Alice Jones in the directors seat overseeing, the brilliant Non Haf (Hinterland, Being Human), while the aforementioned Steffan Rhodri will be front and centre in (No Sleep ‘Till Filton Abbey Wood) written by Rick Allden, who himself, was shortlisted for Wales Writer in residence 2019 for his audio drama (Moonlight Grey).
A monumental effort by all involved will see two of these plays released every week on YouTube and on the Sherman Theatre website, with the first two out now. If you are missing the thrill of performance theatre, then this a must see series of events for you and the Sherman Theatre really should be applauded in their efforts to make lockdown just a bit more bearable.
Sherman Theatre has also set up Your Platform, to ensure artists and freelancers can be considered for as much work as possible across the sector as soon as this situation abates. Sherman Theatre will champion a different person on its social media channels and then share each profile again as the situation returns to normal.
Words: Chris Andrews