Summer - Wales Millennium Centre

er Summ

2013

Wales Millennium Centre would like to thank the following organisations and individuals for their support:

02 - 03

wmc.org.uk/blysh

Partneriaid / Partners

Prif Aelodau Corfforaethol / Principal Corporate Members

Aelodau Corfforaethol Arweiniol / Leading Corporate Members

Aelodau Corfforaethol Cefnogol / Supporting Corporate Members

Cefnogaeth Arbennig / Special Support

Ymddiriedolaethau / Trusts

Noddwr Sefydlu \ Founding Patron Sir Donald Gordon Cylch y Cadeirydd \ The Chairman’s Circle Sir David Davies Dame Vivien Duffield DBE Diane & Henry Engelhardt Sir David Prosser The Lord and Lady Rowe-Beddoe The Turner Family 1 Di-enw \ Anonymous Rhes y Cynhyrchwyr \ Producers’ Row Stage Entertainment Cefnogaeth Arbennig \ Special Support Peter & Babs Thomas David Seligman OBE & Philippa Seligman Aelodau Addewid Platinwm \ Promise Platinum Members Raj Kumar Aggarwal OBE, DL Ms Ayesha Al-Sabah Mr David & Mrs Diana Andrews Dr Carol Bell Mary & David Beynon Andrea & John Bryant Mr Hugh Child & Ms Gwenda Griffith Mr & Mrs Alan Conway Sir Alan Cox CBE & Lady Rosamund Cox Paul Cornelius Davies Mr Peter & Mrs Janet Davies Mr Christian Du Cann Mr P Ellis & Mrs V Wood Sigi & Wynford Evans CBE Dr Grahame Guilford J Gwillim-David Russell Harris Q.C. & Mrs Nicola Harris Mr Ray Hulland & Miss Nicola Hulland

Dyfrig & Heather John Mr & Mrs Granville & Sheila John Robert & Philippa John Mr & Mrs William R Jones Mr Hopkin Joseph Dr Phillip Lane Dr & Mrs Richard Logan Dr Darren Owakee Mathew & Lucy Prichard Dame Anne Pringle & Mr Bleddyn Phillips Julienne Damaris Rowlands 2 Di-enw \ Anonymous Aelodau Addewid Aur \ Promise Gold Members Mr Geraint Anderson Cheryl Beach John Clissett Jonathan Davies & Jay Burrell Sir Michael & Lady Checkland Mr Paul Davies Mr Philip Hughes Davies Mrs Francesca Dawson Mr Jason Digby Sian Edwards Luke & Rachel Fletcher Dr Kirk Freeman Mr Stephen Griffiths Mr Bart & Mrs Patricia Haines Professor & Mrs A J Hazell Mr Peter Heathcote Gerald & Edith Holtham Mr Richard Hoyle Mrs Julie Jenkins Mrs Hilary Jones Professor Michael Levi Dafydd Bowen Lewis Glyn & Jane Mabey Davina & Howard Morgan Marie Navarro Mr Mike Newman

Dr Andrew Potts Mrs Eirlys Pritchard-Jones Dr Malcolm Puntis Paul Rothwell Miss Kerys Sheppard Ronald G Skuse Mrs Barbara Smith Derek Stabbins Mr Malcolm Stammers Geraint & Elizabeth Talfan Davies Brian & Gay Tarr Andy Thomas Mr Dyfrig Thomas The Turner Family Richard Tynen 6 Di-enw \ Anonymous Ymddiriedolaethau \ Trusts Angus Allnatt Charitable Foundation Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru \ Arts Council of Wales Cynllun Cymorth Buddsoddi Mewn Twristiaeth \ Tourism Investment Support Scheme Cyswllt Cymunedau Cymru Affrica \ Wales Africa Community Links Ernest Cook Trust Garfield Weston Foundation Jenour Foundation Oakdale Trust Simon Gibson Charitable Trust The Boshier-Hinton Foundation The Concertina Charitable Trust The John S Cohen Foundation The Joseph Strong Frazer Trust The Mackintosh Foundation The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust The Moondance Foundation The Paravicini Dyer Charitable Trust Urdd Lifrai Cymru \ Welsh Livery Guild Wrap Cymru

If you would like to become a supporter of the Centre and help us to continue to provide a home for the arts in Wales, please call our Development Team on 029 2063 6380 or visit wmc.org.uk/support. Thank You.

Join us for some cheeky, old-fashioned fun this summer with Blysh , the Centre's annual festival of circus, cabaret and street art. Now in its 5th year, we're celebrating with the addition of a baroque-themed Spiegeltent that will play host to many of the performances, workshops and events throughout the festival. With cosy booths, rich fabrics and ornate wooden carvings, our Spiegeltent will be outside the Centre for three weeks, providing a bespoke outdoor festival venue and night-time haunt for you to immerse yourself in all that Blysh has to offer. As well as the events in the Spiegeltent, there are also loads of free performances and events throughout the festival for you to get involved with, whatever your age. This brochure is jam-packed with everything that is going on throughout the festival so take a look through and see what tickles your fancy this summer… Blysh Festival 2013 is supported by

wmc.org.uk/blysh 029 2063 6464

Blysh Festival 2013 is part of

GELTENT IN THE SPIE

wmc.org.uk/blysh

Ceilidh Liberation Front

Dance, skip and fling yourself across the dance floor and enjoy a bit of a giggle in the company of some damn fine musicians, callers and dancers. So grab your dancing shoes, bring along your mates and pop over for a wild night of organised chaos. Age Restriction: 18+

04 - 05

Blysh Speakeasy 20 & 21 July 7.30pm • Spiegeltent • £12 Our night-time haunt, the Spiegeltent, will host three of Britain’s most prolific cabaret acts for an unashamedly vice-filled evening of cabaret and live music.

19 July 8pm ’til late • Spiegeltent • £6 The Spiegeltent floor will be quite literally bouncing when the newest radical dance sensation roll up with their unique brand of cabaretinfused Ceilidh.

Ticket Office 029 2063 6464

In Full Swing 23 July 8pm ’til late* • Spiegeltent • £6 * Plus swing dance workshop from 6-8pm

In Full Swing throws together original swing samples and modern dance music to put the fun back into today’s music scene. Enjoy a tipple or two, take some vintage snaps in the photo-booth and learn some fancy footwork in this modern-day twist on the gin-soaked giddy frivolity of the Roaring Twenties – all under the canopy of our Spiegeltent. Age Restriction: 16+

Part cabaret, part theatre, the deliciously dark duo Bourgeois & Maurice will take to the stage with their bitingly witty songs and astonishing collection of outfits. They’ll be joined by Blysh regulars Frisky & Mannish who’ll perform a mishmash of pure comedy and parodies of your favourite songs. And with performance artist and legend of the comedy circuit David Hoyle as compère, your blushes may not be spared… Age Restriction: 18+

Oompah Brass 20 July 10pm ’til late • Spiegeltent • £6* * Free if you have a ticket to the Blysh Speakeasy on the same day

Think you’ve seen it all? How about a lederhosen-clad brass five-piece performing rock ’n’ roll oompah music…?! Giving Britney Spears, Queen and even Guns N’ Roses a run for their money, Oompah Brass blast out Bavarian-style re-workings of popular songs. Sure to leave the widest of smiles on your face, this cheeky five-some are a band like no other. Age Restriction: 18+

GELTENT IN THE SPIE

Briefs 24 – 27 July 8pm • Spiegeltent • £12 Fresh from glitter-bombing the globe, Briefs return to Cardiff to unleash the UK première of their brand spankin' new show, The Second Coming. Reinventing vaudeville and circus, dance and clowning, Briefs slams together a beef-caked and disorderly line-up of Australia's finest performers in a circus-infused variety show for the not-so-faint-hearted. Age Restriction: 18+

Followed by Bright Light Bright Light and Silent Disco.

wmc.org.uk/blysh

06 - 07


Bright Light Bright Light 24 & 25 July 10pm ’til late • Spiegeltent • £6* * Free with tickets to Briefs on the same day

Twinkling electro-pop, killer choruses and nostalgically-familiar 1990s-inspired vibes… Bright Light Bright Light, aka Neath’s Rod Thomas, fuses a love of classic song-writing with a love for the dance-floor. As well as appearing at Bestival and SXSW, Bright Light Bright Light has also supported Ellie Goulding and Scissor Sisters on tour. Age Restriction: 18+

Silent Disco By SilentArena

26 & 27 July 10pm ’til late • Spiegeltent • £6* *Free with tickets to Briefs on the same day

A unique alternative to a nightclub, Silent Disco is taking the world by storm with its completely new way to party. You’ll get a set of wireless headphones and the choice between 2 DJs at the flick of a switch. The room may be silent but inhibitions are soon lost; crowds of people sing along to one song while the other half hums a different tune. Age Restriction: 18+

GELTENT IN THE SPIE

wmc.org.uk/blysh


08 - 09

Brat Kids Carnival 26 & 27 July 3pm • Spiegeltent • £6 Calling all young theatre-goers with a taste for wild circus skills, loud music, ridiculous acts and eye-popping birthday party tricks… Welcome to the biggest brat-attack from Australia's finest circus artists and mischief-makers. In a kaleidoscope of cabaret, witness hula hoops at top speed, acrobatics at alarming heights and some seriously cheeky larrikins* Age Guidance: 4+ *A n Australian folk word we’ve just learnt to describe mischievous young people!

Hitch 31 July – 3 August 8pm ’til late (doors open at 7.30pm) • Spiegeltent • £12 Blysh regulars and cabaret extraordinaires, Mary Bijou, return with a mysterious new show created especially for the festival. Taking inspiration from his movies, Hitch will take you on a journey into the extraordinary mind of Alfred Hitchcock. As you enter a dark world of suspense and intrigue, the performers draw you into the shadows as they balance on a knife edge. A thrilling adventure into the dark places of Cabaret's psyche, Hitch collects the bizarre and unnatural to amuse and tantalise but most of all to terrorise. Featuring a thrilling soundscape, you'll be kept on the edge of your seat in this atmospheric circus and cabaret spectacular. Fancy dress is optional but highly recommended! Come as your favourite Hitchcock character…victim, villain or hapless innocent. Or maybe you fancy yourself as the 'master of suspense' himself… Age Restriction: 18+ Commissioned for Blysh Festival by Wales Millennium Centre.

rmances FREE Perfo

wmc.org.uk/blysh

10 - 11


The Top Shelf Band

The Literary Launderette

19 July 6.15pm // 25 July 6.15pm • Glanfa • Free

20 July Midday – 4pm • Spiegeltent • Free Expect soundscapes, ukuleles and live literature on a cabaret theme as Literature Wales bring together Welsh poets, singers and comedians for a menagerie of sharp and snappy performances.

Restoring the era of the monocle, correspondent shoes and PG Wodehouse, The Top Shelf Band delivers a heady mix of crooning melodies, filthy swing and rakish banter.

Kitsch & Sync

Siren Sisters

19 July 7.15pm // 21 July 2pm & 7pm • Outside the Centre • Free

20 July 1.15pm & 6pm • Glanfa • Free

Join Kitsch & Sync and their walking wardrobe of strange and wonderful alter-egos, including seductive secretaries, gossiping hairdressers on roller skates and private detectives.

This titillating trio will have you humming along to the nostalgic tunes of yesteryear. Anticipate retro red lips, silk stockings and milk and honey harmonies.

Small Job

George Orange

20 July 4pm & 7pm • Outside the Centre • Free

20 July 2.30pm & 5.30pm • Outside the Centre • Free

These acrobatic fools will make sure you see the fun side to road works, traffic jams and burst water mains.

An eccentric clown and slack-rope dancer from The Windy City, George Orange has come to Cardiff from Chicago via the Moon… and brought some lunar magic with him.

UDIO WESTON ST

The Great SPAVALDOS

Combining theatre and film, Il Pixel Rosso creates immersive, dreamlike performances that blend the boundaries between reality and virtual worlds. Prepare to be plunged into a profound and physically interactive experience, where nothing is ever quite as it first appears.

19 – 21 July • Times vary (Please check the diary) • Weston Studio • £6

The Great Spavaldos is an immersive and multi-sensory theatrical experience for two people. Fitted with video goggles and headphones you will join the Spavaldo brothers as they perform their flying trapeze daredevil stunts without a safety net.

Il Pixel Rosso

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Age Guidance: 16+

rmances FREE Perfo

wmc.org.uk/blysh

NoFit State Circus Skills 21 July Midday – 4pm • Spiegeltent • Free

12 - 13


Rail Road Bill

24 July 6.15pm • Glanfa • Free

Rail Road Bill promises raw, fast, gutsy skiffle music, all created on the simplest of instruments; a washboard, a tea chest bass, a guitar and a mandolin.

Come and try your hand at juggling, unicycling, tight wire walking, diabolo and much more with friendly help and advice provided by NoFit State Circus.

SWICA CARNIVAL

Dan the Hat

21 July 4.30pm • Outside the Centre • Free

26 July 2.30pm, 4.45pm & 7.30pm • Outside the Centre • Free

Experience a powerful mix of movement and music and celebrate culture, colour and carnival spirit at this flamboyant fiesta for all ages.

A frenzy of comedy, circus and audience participation, Dan shows off his supreme yo-yo artistry, awesome hat manipulation, jaw-dropping juggling, along with many other tricks that are sure to impress.

THE INCREDIBLE HULA BOY

Touch Trust

21 July 3pm & 6pm • Glanfa • Free

Be part of an inclusive, vibrant performance led by Touch Trust as they use dance and music to showcase the pioneering work the charity perform every day at the Centre.

Combining his background in acrobatics with a well-honed skill in hula-hooping, Craig The Incredible Hula Boy performs a slick, high energy act for all ages to enjoy.

26 July 1pm • Glanfa • Free

Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band

Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar

22 & 23 July 6.15pm • Glanfa • Free

26 July 6pm • Glanfa • Free

The South Wales equivalent to The Commitments, Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band bring together an authentic blend of sultry soul and electrifying rock ’n’ roll.

Winners of the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, Greg and Ciaran perform a collection of old and new folksy tunes.

rmances FREE Perfo

wmc.org.uk/blysh

Wheel of Death 26 July 4pm, 5.30pm & 7pm 28 July 1.15pm, 3.15pm & 5.15pm Outside the Centre • Free Be shocked and amazed by gravity-defying stuntmen as they take on the spinning Wheel of Death in an act that truly has to be seen to be believed.


Magmanus 27 July 2.45pm & 5.45pm // 28 July 1.45pm & 4.30pm Outside the Centre • Free Witness a brilliant acrobat and loveable juggler who fuse together Bollywood juggling, teeterboard dancing, handstand balancing and high-flying acrobatics with stomach-turning comedy.

Zen Hussies 27 July 1.15pm • Glanfa • Free Undisputed masters of Party Jazz, Zen Hussies will blow you away with their inimitable punked-up swingska sound; guaranteed to get even the most stoic jazz fan jiving and gyrating.

14 - 15

rmances FREE Perfo

wmc.org.uk/blysh

Hot Club Gallois

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28 July 3.30pm & 6pm • Glanfa • Free

Caravania

Let Hot Club Gallois transport you back to 1930s Paris, as they perform a passionate mix of traditional gypsy music and sultry jazz.

27 July 1pm – 7pm // 28 July Midday – 6pm Outside the Centre • Free Come under the awning of Caravania for a variety of fun art activities for all the family and be part of a colourful caravan adventure.

PanGottic Mario Queen of the Circus 27 July 5pm 28 July 2.30pm • Outside the Centre • Free This Latin lothario’s unique mix of circus art and sex appeal can only find release with the arena-rocking anthems and daring stage costumes of his idol, Freddie Mercury. It’s a kind of magic you will not want to miss.

16 - 17


27 July 2.15pm & 4.30pm • Outside the Centre • 7pm • Glanfa 28 July • 2.15pm, 4pm & 5.45pm • Outside the Centre • Free Using a curious cocktail of circus, invention and humour, Pangottic brings to life a weird and wonderful piece of gadgetry. Be captivated right up until the moment the machine animates itself, with a little help from the audience and the wacky inventor.

rmances FREE Perfo

wmc.org.uk/blysh


18 - 19

La Navet Bete 2 August 7pm // 3 August 3.45pm & 6.30pm • Outside the Centre • Free Join an international touring troupe of clowns on a spectacular journey to the end of the rainbow, as they set off in search of their very own pot of gold.

BLYSH DANCE

By Kitch & Sync

2 August 6.30pm // 3 August 3.15pm & 6pm // 4 August 3.15pm & 5.45pm • Glanfa • Free Bringing together eccentric choreography with curious comedy, Blyshdance provides a unique movement experience that the whole family can enjoy and join in with. Commissioned for Blysh Festival by Wales Millennium Centre.

Klezmer Quartet 2 August 5.30pm • Outside the Centre • Free 3 August 1.30pm • Glanfa • Free Join this all female group for an exuberant celebration of Klezmer, the soulful music of Eastern European Jews.

rmances FREE Perfo

wmc.org.uk/blysh

20 - 21


Marawa

Mattress

3 August 12.30pm (including workshop), 3pm & 5.15pm 4 August 12.30pm (including workshop), 2.45pm & 4.45pm • Outside the Centre • Free

3 August 2.30pm & 5.30pm 4 August 2.15pm & 5.15pm • Glanfa • Free

Armed with 133 hoops and hypnotic hip-swinging, Marawa the Amazing will blow you away with her unbelievable hula abilities. See her shake, spin and swing like you’ve never seen it done before.

See for yourself a unique acrobatic show full of tumbles and tricks as three talented clowns use their physical differences to create comedy and chaos.

The Whale 3 & 4 August 1pm - 3.30pm, 4.30pm - 7pm • Outside the Centre • Free

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Prepare to dive into the jaws of a giant silver whale to be serenaded by a lovesick submariner, and you might leave with a gift from the sea.

Gideon Conn 4 August 3.45pm • Glanfa • Free An original and gifted songwriter, Gideon Conn utilises a unique spectrum of music to conjure up songs that you will never have heard the like of before.

Wonderbrass

4 August 1pm • Glanfa • Free

A funk, ska, latin, jazz juggernaut, with an irrepressible hurricane of horns and whirlwind of irresistible rhythms, Wonderbrass are a whole music festival wrapped up in one 25 piece band.

y ALLWED D / Ke

Dyddiadur • Diary /07 19

WS The Great Spavaldos*

GL

5pm, 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm

WS Stiwdio Weston Studio GL Glanfa SP Spiegeltent OC Tu allan i’r Ganolfan \ Outside the Centre

27/07

OC

Caravania*

GL

Zen Hussies

1pm – 7pm

The Top Shelf Band

6.15pm 7.15pm

OC

Pangottic

2.15pm & 4.30pm

8pm

OC

Magmanus

2.45pm & 5.45pm

Canol dydd \ Midday – 4pm

SP

Brat Kids Carnival

3pm

1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm,

OC

Mario Queen of the Circus

5pm

3pm, 3.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm,

6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm

GL

Pangottic

7pm

OC

Kitsch & Sync

SP

Ceilidh Liberation Front

SP

Y Londrét Lên \ The Literary Launderette


20/07

GL

OC George Orange

OC

Small Job

SP

Blysh Speakeasy

Siren Sisters

SP

Oompah Brass

SP

NoFitState: Sgiliau Syrcas \ Circus Skills


21/07

1.15pm & 6pm 2.30pm & 5.30pm 4pm & 7pm 7.30pm 10pm Canol dydd \ Midday – 4pm 1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm,

SP

Briefs: The Second Coming

SP

Silent Disco

28/07

OC

Caravania*

OC

Magmanus

OC

Pangottic

8pm 10pm Canol dydd \ Midday – 6pm 1.45pm & 4.30pm 2.15pm, 4pm & 5.45pm

OC

Mario Queen of the Circus

GL

Hot Club Gallois

3.30pm, 6pm 1.15pm, 3.15pm & 5.15pm

OC

Wheel of Death

6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm

31/07

SP

Hitch

3pm, 3.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm,

1.15pm

2.30pm

7.30pm

OC

Kitsch & Sync

2pm & 7pm

1/08

SP

Hitch

7.30pm

GL

The Incredible Hula Boy

3pm & 6pm

2/08

OC

Klezmer Quartet

5.30pm

OC Carnifal SWICA Carnival

4.30pm

GL

Blyshdance

6.30pm

7.30pm

OC

La Navet Bête

6.15pm

SP

Hitch

/07 22

SP

Blysh Speakeasy

GL


SP

Gweithdy Dawns Kitsch & Sync Dance Workshop

GL


SP

In Full Swing

23/07

/07 24

GL

Rail Road Bill

SP


10.30am - 11.30am 6.15pm

3/08

OC

Marawa

OC

Y Morfil \ The Whale*

8pm

GL Klezmer Quartet

6.15pm

GL

Mattress

8pm

GL

Blyshdance

SP

Bright Light Bright Light

10pm

OC

La Navet Bête

SP

Gweithdai Drymiau Dur \ Steel Drum Workshops 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm

SP

Hitch

GL

The Top Shelf Band

4/08

OC

Marawa

SP


8pm

OC

Y Morfil \ The Whale*

10pm

GL Wonderbrass

25/07

SP

Bright Light Bright Light

6.15pm

7pm 7.30pm 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.15pm 1pm – 3.30pm & 4.30pm – 7pm 1.30pm 2.30pm & 5.30pm 3.15pm & 6pm 3.45pm & 6.30pm 7.30pm 12.30pm, 2.45pm, 4.45pm 1pm – 3.30pm & 4.30pm – 7pm 1pm

GL

Touch Trust

1pm

OC Mattress

2.15pm & 5.15pm

OC

Dan the Hat

2.30pm, 4.45pm & 7.30pm

GL Blyshdance

3.15pm & 5.45pm

SP

Brat Kids Carnival

3pm

GL Gideon Conn

OC

Wheel of Death

GL

Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar

/07 26

SP


SP

Silent Disco

3.45pm

4pm, 5.30pm & 7pm 6pm 8pm 10pm

* Perfformiadau ar gael yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg. Dewiswch pan fyddwch chi’n cyrraedd!

* Performances available in Welsh or English. Just let us know when you arrive!

Ffi archebu'n gymwys ar bob tocyn. Ewch i yganolfan.co.uk am delerau ac amodau.

All tickets subject to booking fee. For full terms and conditions visit wmc.org.uk