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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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