THE INSATIABLE INFLATABLE CANDYLION | MUSIC PREVIEW
Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys is staging a one of a kind performance at the SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff, this Christmas. Set in a magical world filled to the brim with imagination, colour and good vibrations known as Pixel Valley, the insatiable, inflatable Candylion invites you on a psychedelic adventure with Polar Pear, Sledgehog and Cheffyl in this fusion of great musicians, writers and actors. Based on Rhys’ concept album Candylion, this promising National Theatre Wales production looks to be one of the most inventive works in the country this year. Starring Sweet Baboo, one of Wales’ top psychedelic musicians, alongside the likes of Dyfan Dwyfor (Pride), Lisa Jên Brown (9Bach), Kliph Scurlock (The Flaming Lips) and Emma Daman Thomas (Islet), this innovative production tells the story of the citizens of Pixel Valley when negative vibes take over. Promising to be a mix between theatre and a sing-a-long live music gig, this show looks to be fun for all the family, children and adults alike.
Gruff Rhys has joined forces again with writer Tim Price and director Wils Wilson to create The Insatiable Inflatable Candylion, who previously worked on the inventive immersive concept piece Praxis Makes Perfect, which was also produced by National Theatre Wales. The piece, which was based on an a concept album by Rhys’ electro project Neon Neon, debuted in a Cardiff warehouse in 2013. It told the story of the millionaire Italian columnist Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, who published the likes of Doctor Zhivago, and saw him smuggle a manuscript out of Russia, be tortured by the CIA and run into Fidel Castro. The show was a success and was later staged in Bristol, London, Latitude, and Festival No. 6.
With the same team reunited on this National Theatre Wales Christmas show, we can surely expect great things, so make sure to join Gruff and the gang on this wonderful psychedelic adventure.
The Insatiable Inflatable Candylion, SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff, Wed 16 Dec-Sat 2 Jan. Tickets: £8.50-£17.50. Info: www.nationaltheatrewales.org
words LUKE OWAIN BOULT
photo SPIKE CLARK
