Six original short plays, six sets of cast and six weeks to put on a show!
Cardiff’s 3D Theatre Company returns to the newly renovated Chapter Arts Centre in Canton with its latest production, ‘Angel‘.
Following the great success of its production, ‘Zufall‘, last year, the company decided to follow the same ambitious format with a bilingual production over four nights between November 3 and November 6 2009. The Welsh language plays will be presented over the first two nights with the English language plays to follow over the last two nights.
The production is supported by Arts Council of Wales and this time around, 3D Theatre Company looks at the concept surrounding ‘Angels‘, exploring intriguing themes such as guardian angels, life and death, heaven and hell and fallen angels.
The company has again been working with the next generation of young talented Welsh writers to produce short plays that reflect these themes. And with renowned Welsh actors taking part in ‘Angel‘ including Yoland Williams and Ieuan Rhys there’s something for everyone.
The darkly comic ‘Ieuan Bythwyrdd‘ (Ieuan Evergreen), by author, Joanna Davies, was awarded the best Welsh language play award by the Drama Association of Wales earlier this year. The play tells the tale of a dangerous Guardian Angel whose obsession towards her handsome hero pushes her over the edge. Whilst ‘Sawl yn Syrthio‘, (Someone Falling), which featured at the 2009 National Eisteddfod at Bala and is written by the actor, Glenn Jones, explores the notion of four people falling from grace in very different ways.
Things take a surreal turn in Chantal Lee -Gan’s play, ‘My Friend Death‘, when a visit from the Grim Reaper leads to an unlikely friendship. Continuing with the paranormal theme, ‘Black Ice‘, by the writer of ‘Richard Parker‘, Owen Thomas, is an exciting new play about chance encounters and unexpected salvation.
‘Sponge for the Ducks‘ by Alastair Sill, explores one man’s relationship with his angel; an angel who has a preference for mature gentlemen, earl grey tea and Battenberg cake!
‘Heb Fwg Heb Dân‘ (No smoke without fire) written by television producer, Dafydd Llewelyn, explores people’s perspectives as they face their end, in a dark otherworldly tale of regret and lost loves.
Hannah Jones, co-producer, explains why ‘Angel’ is the company’s most ambitious production to date:
“We’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with the great artist and designer, Kim Fielding of tactileBOSCH for this production. He’s really encouraged us to push the boat out with our set and stage design. We’re also combining specially filmed action with the live performances and there’ll be some other surprises in store for the audience on the night!”
3D Theatre Company was established in the summer of 2003 at Aberystwyth University by three young women who shared the same interest and enthusiasm for one thing – the theatre.
Good friends and now business partners, Nia Wyn Jones from Aberdaron, Hannah Wynn Jones from Colwyn Bay and Catrin Wyn Jones from Llanelli, all work in full time jobs but also run the theatre company as a highly successful part time venture.
Catrin, 27, co-producer explained the ethos of the company:
“When we graduated from the University of Wales Aberystwyth in 2003, many of our friends and fellow students started rock groups, and were asked to hold gigs on a frequent basis. We thought -why couldn’t we be part of something creative? Why do rock groups of all standards have a platform and an audience in Wales, but not theatre groups? We believe that drama is very similar to a gig. A night out to enjoy – that’s what people want and that’s what we aim to give them!”
Thanks to support from organisations such as Entrepreneur Action, Arts Council of Wales and Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre, the company is going from strength to strength with the company celebrating its seventh birthday and with ‘Angel’, its ninth production!
So if you want a night to remember, go along to the spanking new Chapter Arts Centre between November 3-6, and enjoy the ‘Angel’ plays. It would be a SIN to miss them!
