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DIARY OF A MADMAN
Aberystwyth Arts Centre Wed 5 June The Riverfront, Newport Thurs 6 June Pontardawe Arts Centre Fri 7 June Complete tour dates online Living Pictures certainly know how to get your attention; this year they toured the provocatively named Sexual Perversity In Chicago with great success, and now they’ re back with the return of the intriguingly named Diary Of A Madman. The madman in this case is Poprishchin, a low ranking Russian civil servant who finds himself trapped by the bureaucracy of 1830s St Petersburg. He yearns to be noticed by a beautiful woman, but instead of having a love affair himself, he becomes convinced that two dogs are having a romantic relationship after finding love letters they have written to each other. As Poprishchin falls deeper into his fantasy he comes to believe he is the heir to the Spanish throne. By enveloping himself in a world of delusion, can Poprishchin make some sense of the confusion around him? This incredibly difficult role is being tackled by Robert Bowman, joint artistic director at Living Pictures. Olivier Awardnominated director Sinéad Rushe is sure that despite the play being set in 1830s Russia, a modern audience will still find the ongoing themes of“ insanity and politics” fascinating, going on to beautifully summarise Gogol’ s dark comedy as“ a timeless story that explores the human condition when it comes face to face with its own mortality.” Tickets: prices vary. Info: www. livingpictures. org. uk( CG)
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SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BEST KEPT SECRET
New Theatre, Cardiff Tues 18-Sat 22 June In recent years, one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’ s most well-loved characters, the legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes, has become somewhat of a cult figure with TV series on both sides of the Atlantic and an action packed Hollywood makeover. He now returns to the stage this summer in a thrilling, new and dangerous tale by award-winning writer Mark Catley. The production is directed by Nikolai Foster, designed by Olivier-nominated Michael Taylor and sees astonishing illusions by Scott Penrose. Set two years after the events at the Reichenbach Falls, Holmes( Jason Durr) has no appetite for detective work. Declining any new cases and reduced to making ends meet by selling stories of his past victories, he seems to have lost his way. However, when his brother Mycroft( Adrian Lukis) is arrested for treason, Holmes is shocked back into action and along with the ever reliable Watson( Andrew Hall) and the mysteriously alluring Irene Adler( Tanya Franks), he must fight powerful and unknown forces in a seemingly impenetrable world of magic. But with his own inner demons to battle, as well as his feelings for the beautiful Miss Adler, can Holmes really manage to save them all or will the world’ s greatest detective finally face defeat by the best kept secret’ s deadly puzzle? Tickets £ 9.50- £ 30. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www. newtheatrecardiff. co. uk( AW)
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HAIRSPRAY
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay Tue 18-Sat 29 June Move over Baltimore, Cardiff is the new home for Tracy Turnblad, the big girl with big hair and an even bigger passion to dance! Yes, Hairspray has arrived and the award-winning smash hit will park its considerable theatrical girth at Wales Millennium Centre this June as part of its UK-wide tour which contains a few names that you might recognise from some small screen adventures. It’ s the swinging 60s and tubby teen Tracy wins a spot on local TV dance programme The Corny Collins Show. Overnight Tracy is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But, can this larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the programme’ s reigning princess, integrate the city, and win the affection of heart-throb Link Larkin without mussing her hair? Waterloo Road’ s Mark Benton will be playing overweight laundress, Edna, while X-Factor runner-up Marcus Collins will play supremely good-hearted Seaweed, the black dancer who mentors the young white protagonist in the still segregated Baltimore. If you only see one musical this month that affectionately spoofs and pays homage to 60s youth culture, while featuring an oversized teenybopper rebel with a cause, make it this one. You can’ t help but embrace the big hair, and even bigger heart, that drives the larger-thanlife slice of fun that is Hairspray. Tickets: £ 18- £ 45. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www. wmc. org. uk( ZB)
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AWKWARD TURTLE FLIPS THE BIRD
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff Sat 22 June Interpreting the colloquial physicality of modern life, Notional Theatre’ s new project Awkward Turtle Flips The Bird invites you to an intimate and exclusive showcase that will do everything but break the bank. The free, one-day-only show is the latest edition in the curious portfolio staged by Notional Theatre, who are now expanding their horizons to accommodate international and commercial ambitions. The show itself has been dubbed as the first attempt to stage a dictionary, with the language of choice being colloquial slang facilitated by gesture. Artistic director Terry Victor engages this concept through vibrant yet somewhat random choreography alongside his own personal research into gestural slang as a theatrical language. The hour-long production displays a startling array of deep human emotion and playful humour that draws attention to the interesting application of body movement, and uses of ridiculous, modern gestural slang such as“ flipping the bird” and“ the awkward turtle”, along with an accompanying zoo of animals that are used to demonstrate the awkwardness of a situation. The show is intelligent and funny, swapping the positions of the audience and the performers to give greater depth of movement and spectator engagement. The production is performed three times throughout the day. Admission: free. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www. chapter. org( MC)
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