The exciting tale of intrepid adventurer Phileas P. Souper, world traveller, working class hero and distant cousin of Phileas Fogg from “Around the World in Eighty Days” comes to various community venues in south Wales in June courtesy of the Night Out scheme from the Arts Council of Wales.
If you enjoy great comedy and stunning music then this show is for you. It begins solemnly, at the wake of Phileas P. Souper, where his friends decide to celebrate his life and pay tribute to his global adventures, by inviting the audience on an 80 minute whirlwind world tour, including, amongst other adventures: a tandem ride through Paris; a trip on the late train in Siberia; a disturbed night in Egypt and a bit of mountaineering in the Andes.
The performance features two wonderful miming clown artistes from Theatre Mimi and four multi-talented musicians making up Northumberland based group Loon who play a plethora of musical instruments from Accordion to Zither, including marimbas, mbiras, saw, piano, peanut tins, bassoon, banjo, brass, percussion, drums, guitar, tuned wine glasses, and washboards. Inspired by the silent movie era and classic Marx Brothers films and of course the famous Jules Verne book, Phileas P. Souper is ideal for all the family and a must see for anyone seeking a joyous piece of theatre, a bit of escapism, a fun evening and a really good laugh.
Night Out Administrator Nia Wyn Jones states “We first saw this fantastic show last year in north Wales and it blew us away. We have worked really hard to bring it to the south and are delighted to be offering it to audiences in seven Communities First areas in south-east Wales. It’s so exciting to get to introduce community audiences to these six multi-talented performers who have been wowing audiences with this show throughout the UK over the last year. A Night Out promoter from north Wales who hosted the show earlier this year was thrilled with the performance and told us “when the audience stay chatting for nearly an hour after the show – it has been a success””.-
Phileas P.Souper will be making its first south Wales camp at St Winifred’s Church Penrhiwceiber on 14th June and then bravely riding the dangerous currents of the River Taff to East Moors Community Centre in Splott on the 16th June. Traversing the Ebbw Valley the boys will arrive in Llanhilleth Institute on 17th June for a show organised by the Youth Forum Young Promoters which will be followed by a an ascent to Canolfan Rhys in Penrhys in the Rhondda for a show on Saturday 19th June. A quick hike to the Cynon Valley on Monday 21st June for a performance as part of the Cwmaman Environmental Festival will be followed by an overnight stay in the Rhymney Valley for a visit to White Rose School in New Tredegar on Tuesday 22nd and their final show at Aberbargoed Primary School on Wednesday 23rd June organised by a group of Young Promoters and Gwent Police.
Further information on these performances can be found on the Night Out website at www.nightout.org.uk
