27 JUNE - 5 JULY 2011 PROGRAMME. International Arts Millennium Centre

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1 27 JUNE - 5 JULY 2011 PROGRAMME International Arts Millennium Centre

2 UNITY Welcome You ve landed - now check-in to the fourth Unity Festival! Our over packed suitcase full of goodies is finally ready to burst, setting free an explosion of international artists loose on Wales Millennium Centre. After a year of careful planning, researching acts, funding applications, hours spent poring over and perfecting publicity, endless meetings, staring at spread sheets, rehearsals, facebooking, twittering and countless other tasks which come with setting up the festival, at last the week is upon us - let the fun begin! I m going to make sure I savour every moment, I know that as soon as the week is over, we start the process over again! So why do we do it? It s simple - because we love it and we re sure you will too! Whether it s a workshop, part of our free performance programme or one of our Weston Studio Headliners, make sure you get down to the Centre to catch something, before we cram it all back in our suitcase, ready for next year. Ben Pettitt-Wade Hijinx Theatre CONTENTS Page 2 - WHO S HERE? Some information on our headline acts Pages WHAT S ON? Daily guide to performances and workshops Page 3 & 4 Page 5 & 6 Page 7 & 8 Page 9 & 10 Page 11 & 12 Page 13 & 14 Page 15 & 16 Page 17 - Monday 27 June - Tuesday 28 June - Wednesday 29 June - Thursday 30 June - Friday 1 July - MORE ARTIST INFORMATION Further information about companies providing free performances and workshops. - FREE WORKSHOP INFORMATION Including how to book your place - Unity Finale Gig Unity Maindee Festival Unity Grand Pavilion Porthcawl Unity Suitcase image by Tom Whitehead (Ed & Flo) WHO S HERE? Weston Studio Headliners Anna Rothlizberger Company (Switzerland) Anna Röthlisberger is an award winning director and choreographer and an established name not only on the Swiss dance scene but also internationally. With her company, Anna is setting a precedent in Switzerland with her new model of contemporary dance performance incorporating experienced dancers with and without disabilities. For the company, the most important factor in creating integrated art is always that the work has artistic integrity and can be enjoyed by all audiences. It is this ethos which has seen the company perform to mainstream dance audiences throughout Europe. Anna s production Pez Y Pescado is a collaboration with Danza Mobile of Spain, it will launch our festival on Monday, and Anna will be running workshops alongside Danza Mobile during the week. Mind the Gap Theatre (England) Mind the Gap are one of the UK s leading disabilityrelated theatre companies. Based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, they create great theatre and tour it nationally. Their work is driven by high quality standards and is more than drama about disability, it is professional theatre by disabled people. On Tuesday they will perform their award winning production Of Mice and Men in the Weston Studio. Also look out for workshops and their walkabout piece Chicken Coup as part of the free performance programme. Hijinx Theatre (Wales) Wales leading professional theatre company working with integrated casts, Hijinx creates beautifully crafted small scale theatre which tours nationally. The company also create performances for non-traditional theatre spaces with their Hijinx Pods, and run a large scale integrated community theatre project called Odyssey. Hijinx is dedicated to developing integrated arts within Wales and providing opportunities for learning disabled performers. Hijinx Theatre programme the Unity Festival. Throughout the week there will be workshops and Hijinx Pod performances alongside Weston Studio performances of their new touring production Old Hands. Danza Mobile (Spain) Based in Seville, Danza Mobile organise our partner festival Escena Mobile. Danza Mobile operate in the belief that everyone has the right to artistic expression, if they have something to say and access to the correct training. To facilitate this they run classes for dancers with Down s Syndrome from ages two to adulthood and an ongoing five day per week professional training course for their adult dancers. Once students reach the required professional standard they have the opportunity to work on the company s integrated professional productions. Working in this way has seen them become one of Spain s leading inclusive dance companies. Make sure you sign up for workshops and don t miss their performance of Dame Un Segundo. TICKET OFFICE Cover image: More information at wmc.org.uk/unity Malvina Matusiewicz 2

3 : MONDAY 27 June - Pez y Pescado Anna Rothlisberger Company Choreographer: Anna Röthlisberger WESTON STUDIO - Headliner 7pm Tickets: 8 ( 6 Concessions) To launch our week of Weston Studio performances we are excited to welcome Anna Röthlizberger Company to the UK for the first time. Pez Y Pescado, literally translated as Alive Fish and Dead Fish, features an international cast from Switzerland, Spain and France. Agile, dynamic but also hard and harsh, with moments of humour, beauty and pathos, Pez Y Pescado explores each performer s physicality and culture asking each of us are our differences also our strengths? Driven by Marc Rossier s live musical score, this show is a must-see, guaranteed to send us reeling into the festival week. Photo: Anna Röthlizberger What we see happening here in these concentrated and delicately played out movement sequences is both disarming as well as tender. (Basler Zeitung) Pez Y Pescado was originally created in 2007 as a collaboration with Danza Mobile of Spain, in co-production with BewegGrund of Switzerland. It has since toured to many European contemporary dance festivals, including STEPS in Switzerland. FREE PERFORMANCE - Highlight From 1pm Denni Dennis, Hijinx Theatre and Clownbaret - Unity Angels Tour Cardiff Bay Road Train: Pick-up point at front of the Centre Join the Angels throughout the week as a passenger on a half hour tour of the Bay. Sit back and relax as the Angels do their best to make you comfortable, enjoy their mercurial singing which seems to emanate from their very soul, but beware the devils in their midst, offering temptation... Also available on: Wed 29 Thurs 30 Fri 1 (see page day for details) Welcome: Meet the Artists Q&A The Pierhead Building 2pm Today s FREE PERFORMANCES Hosted by Amici Theatre s Wolfgang Stange, this is your chance to find out a bit more about the festival and some of the artists taking part. There will be presentations from Danza Mobile, Mind the Gap Theatre, Spare Tyre Theatre Company and Hijinx Theatre. Book your FREE place via the Centre s Ticket Office. 5.30pm Unity 2011 Launch Glanfa 6pm Denni Dennis, Hijinx Theatre and Clownbaret - Unity Angels Glanfa Who is your angel? Twenty five angels descend on the scene of a car crash, intending to whisk the recently deceased away, but will they go without a fight? Or will the angels get distracted by you, the very much alive audience? 3 4

4 TUESDAY 28 June WESTON STUDIO - Headliner 7pm Tickets: 8 ( 6 Concessions) Suitable for 11+ Of Mice and Men Mind the Gap Theatre Company George and Lennie are drifters who have only each other and their shared search for the American Dream. George is the sharp little guy who looks out for Lennie. Lennie is his big-hearted companion who, unaware of his own strength, seems unable to keep out of trouble. Finding work on a ranch in California, they plan to stay long enough to buy a little place of their own but their arrival triggers a tragic chain of events that threatens to destroy the very dream that unites them. This production should not on any account be missed" Kevin Berry, The Stage TUESDAY 28 June FREE WORKSHOPS APPLICATION-ONLY workshops (page 15 for full details) 10am - 1pm Danza Mobile & Anna Röthlisberger Workshop Urdd Hall TICKETED workshops - available through the Centre s Ticket Office (see p16 for full details) 10am - 1pm 15 Days in Clay Workshop Canfod 10am - 1pm Taking Flight Theatre Company Workshop David Morgan Room OPEN workshop - no need to book, just turn up 1pm - 2pm Touch Trust Workshop Glanfa FREE PERFORMANCES From 3pm Hijinx Theatre - Odyssey Invisibles Glanfa Watch out for sleepwalkers and strange goings-on this Tuesday afternoon. Mind the Gap Theatre Company - Chicken Coup Glanfa The chickens are revolting, tired with scratching a living, they hatch a plan, to overturn the pecking order. Enter wannabe celebrity chef, Crispin Duck. He has a fiery temper and a large frying pan, but is missing one vital ingredient for his signature dish Chicken Soup! Photo: Malvina Matusiewicz FREE PERFORMANCE - Highlight 5 C Tim Smith Photo: Rachel Alvarez 6pm Hijinx Pod - The Snooks Brothers Glanfa A touching tale of familiarity, routine, contempt and brotherly love unfolds, with you as the customers of the Snooks Brothers Bank. On an unusually busy day in their generally deserted bank you ll interact with the brothers who will be desperately trying to keep up with the audience s demands, while trying not to reveal they ve been caught with their trousers down! With Denni Dennis and Martin Vick as the brothers. 6

5 WEDNESDAY 29 June WESTON STUDIO - Headliner 7pm Tickets: 8 ( 6 Concessions) Suitable for 8+ Old Hands Hijinx Theatre Written by Glenys Evans It s another 1930 s summer season and times are hard for the Little Theatre at Skidbury-on-Sea. The acting Manager is struggling with the books, so all hopes are pinned on a renowned songbird from the City who, it is hoped, will bring the audiences flooding back in. With her she brings a wide-eyed young man, who trails behind her, and bears the brunt of her artistic temperament... and quietly, quietly in the wings sits the junior stagehand, watching and waiting as rehearsals begin... "If you want small-scale perfection, try Hijinx Theatre... little masterpieces, miniatures where every aspect of the product is finely crafted." The Guardian WEDNESDAY 29 June FREE WORKSHOPS APPLICATION-ONLY workshop (page 15 for full details) 10am - 12pm Mind the Gap Workshop Weston Studio TICKETED workshops - available through the Centre s Ticket Office (see p16 for full details) 10am - 1pm 15 Days in Clay Workshop Canfod 10am - 1pm Bridgend College Digital Storytelling Workshop Seligman Room OPEN workshop - no need to book, just turn up 1pm - 2pm Community Music Wales Workshop Glanfa FREE PERFORMANCES 3pm The Pierhead Community Programme Pierhead Building Hijinx Theatre Outreach, Celf o Gwmpas and Powys Dance Two short performances, one from Powys Dance and one from a collaboration between Celf o Gwmpas and Hijinx Theatre Outreach. From 3pm 6pm Denni Dennis, Hijinx Theatre and Clownbaret - Unity Angels Tours Cardiff Bay Road Train: Pick-up point at front of The Centre Ride the train with the Angels! See Monday for full details. Denni Dennis, Hijinx Theatre and Clownbaret - Unity Angels Glanfa The Angels once again land in the Centre. See Monday for details. FREE PERFORMANCE - Highlight From 3pm Mind the Gap Theatre Company - Chicken Coup Glanfa Another chance to catch the revoltingly fantastic chickens as they scratch about the Centre. Photo: Ceri Legg 7 C Tim Smith 8

6 THURSDAY 30 June WESTON STUDIO - Headliner 7pm Tickets: 8 ( 6 Concessions) Suitable for 8+ Old Hands Hijinx Theatre Written by Glenys Evans Last chance to catch Hijinx Theatre s current tour spinning an intriguing tale backstage at a 1930s theatre. UNITY CABARET FFRESH BAR 8pm - LATE After the evening performance of Hijinx Theatre s Old Hands, join us in ffresh Bar for the Unity Festival Cabaret Evening: Hosted by stand up comedian Dan Mitchell. Spare Tyre Theatre Company s David Munns - Enjoy a drink and a snack, while David charms and amazes you with his magic show. Mike Thomas Melodic singer and songwriter from Wales. Hijinx Pod - Vaguely Artistic - Funk songs about tea and toast, clad in capes and sporting moustaches, Vaguely Artistic make a triumphant return to the festival. FREE WORKSHOPS APPLICATION-ONLY workshop (page 15 for full details) 2pm - 4pm Spare Tyre Theatre Company Workshop Japan Room Spare Tyre Patrick Baldwin TICKETED workshops - available through the Centre s Ticket Office (see p16 for full details) 10am - 1pm 15 Days in Clay Workshop Canfod 10am pm Hijinx Theatre Workshop Japan Room 10am - 1pm Bridgend College Digital Storytelling Workshop Seligman Room OPEN workshop - no need to book, just turn up 12.30pm pm Community Music Wales Workshop Glanfa FREE PERFORMANCES Photo: Ceri Legg From 3pm Denni Dennis, Hijinx Theatre and Clownbaret - Unity Angels Tours Cardiff Bay Road Train Pick-up point at front of The Centre. Ride the train with the Angels! See Monday for full details. 5.30pm Disability Arts Cymru s Unusual Stage School in partnership with Mzansi Cymru - Life on Robben Island Glanfa Come and see what happens when David Attenborough and Margaret Thatcher visit Nelson Mandela on the same day! An exciting new piece of theatre devised for Unity as part of Legacy Trust UK's Power of the Flame Project. 6pm Hijinx Pod - The Snooks Brothers See Tuesday for full details. ffresh Bar 9 10

7 FRIDAY 1 July - WESTON STUDIO - Headliner 7pm Tickets: 8 ( 6 Concessions) FRIDAY 1 July Dame Un Segundo (Give me a Second) Danza Mobile Choreographed by Manuela Calleja Directed by Ramón Perera Five poems, five dancers, five stages of life, five ways of living. Jose Manuel Muñoz is a 36 year old artist with Down s Syndrome whose poems are the inspiration for this piece. A poetic reflection, and at times an ironic look, at our way of life. Brimming with beauty, emotion and laughter, this is inclusive dance theatre at it s very best. A fantastic finale to the week of events at The Centre, this show really blew us away when we saw it in Seville and we re delighted to be able to bring it to Wales for you to enjoy. Hijinx Theatre (Photo: Rachel Alvarez) FREE WORKSHOPS APPLICATION-ONLY workshop (page 15 for full details) 10am - 12pm Spare Tyre Theatre Company Workshop Japan Room OPEN workshop - no need to book, just turn up 1pm - 2pm Touch Trust Workshop Glanfa FREE PERFORMANCES From 2pm 2.30pm FREE PERFORMANCE Highlight: 4.30pm & 6.30pm Glanfa Marc Brew Company Nocturne Denni Dennis, Hijinx Theatre and Clownbaret - Unity Angels Tours Cardiff Bay Road Train - Pick-up point at front of The Centre. Last chance to ride the train with the Unity Angels! See Monday for full details. Pierhead Community Programme Pierhead Building True Colours Dance Theatre Scenes through a Prism Extracts from a Rhondda Cynon Taff Community Arts production which combines expressive dance movement and Inclusive Communication to tell an array of stories - inspired by an exploration of spectral colours. In this urgent sleepless city restless, we are caught in motion nearly stillness almost lovers (Photo: Roswitha Cheshire) Marc Brew Company provide the perfect complement to our headline Weston Studio performance from Danza Mobile. Pulling back the sheets on exhausted embraces and near misses in the night. Inspired by JM Whistler's Nocturne, an exquisite contemporary dance quartet draw you into the unseen dreams of cities at dusk. UNITY CHILDRENS DAY - A first for the Unity Festival - featuring performances and activities specially created for young audiences. 9.30am pm Glanfa (repeated 1pm - 3pm) Suitable for children aged 5+ (younger children also welcome!) FEATURING: Taking Flight - Branwen s Starling A magical journey, bursting at the seams with original live music & puppetry. A new adaptation of the original Branwen story from The Mabinogion by acclaimed Welsh playwright Mark Ryan. Hijinx Pod - The Family An ode to the power of looking at the world with fresh eyes. About Face Theatre - The Boy Who Opened Doors Magical and powerful theatre featuring a beautiful set, puppets and original music. A moving story about a boy s journey into adulthood. (Photo: Ceri Legg 11 12

8 More Artists Information More Artists & Events Information Marc Brew Company (Scotland) Marc Brew has been working in the UK and Internationally for the past 16 years as a dancer, choreographer and teacher; with the Australian Ballet Company, the State Theatre Ballet Company of South Africa, Infinity Dance Theatre in New York, and for 5 years with CandoCo Dance Company. For the past year he has been Artistic Associate at Scottish National Dance. : Clownbaret (Spain) This Tenerife based company first worked with us to create free performances for Unity in 2009, then again in In previous years their experience and enthusiasm for the opportunity to work with an integrated cast has led to some wonderful creations (who can forget the marching chickens?), so this year we have invited them back. They will work beside local performers in creating Unity Angels, under the direction of Denni Dennis. The Wedding Planner (photo: Ceri Legg) Spare Tyre Patrick Baldwin Disability Arts Cymru (Wales) - Unusual Stage School Disability Arts Cymru are the development agency for Disability Arts in Wales. They have helped us in producing the festival each year since we began this adventure in They are committed to working with individuals and organisations to celebrate the diversity of Disabled & Deaf People's arts and culture, developing equality across all art forms. The Unusual Stage School is Disability Arts Cymru s unique training ground for talented Deaf and Disabled Artists. 13 Photo: Denni Dennis Denni Dennis (Denmark) Denni combines his experience of working as a clown and training in the European style of Jaques Lecoq, Russian character clown, and the Pochinko method (Native American/European spiritual clown) taught by Sue Morrison in Canada. This wealth of experience provides Denni with his own unique style, and has led to him performing and leading workshops at festivals all over the world, including the New York Clown Festival and Escena Mobile. Photo: Ceri Legg Spare Tyre Theatre Company (England) Spare Tyre uses and makes theatre that enables voiceless communities and individuals to share and celebrate their untold stories transforming lives and challenging prejudice. Spare Tyre has a substantial recognised track record for pioneering participatory arts focussing on vulnerable adults. Spare Tyre s practice is inclusive, enabling and challenging, using immersive media and multi-sensory theatre. Photo: Roswitha Cheshire Photo: Ceri Legg COMPANIES TAKING PART DURING UNITY CHILDRENS DAY alongside our own Hijinx Pod - will be: Taking Flight Theatre (Wales) A new and exciting Cardiff based inclusive arts company. Their usual playground is in the open air, innovatively using beautiful locations around Wales to re-tell captivating tales. To Unity they will be bringing Mark Ryan s adaptation of the Mabinogion s Branwen. About Face Theatre (England) Based in Leominster, the company has an ongoing training course for its learning disabled performers in theatre and puppetry. They produce beautiful, small scale theatre, weaving magical folklore tales with universal themes. After their first visit in 2009, we are delighted to welcome them back. Unity Finale Gig The Unity Finale Gig returns with performances from local bands and a special guest from: Carousel (England) An award winning learning disability led arts organisation based in Brighton. Founded in 1982 Carousel works to promote the active involvement of people with a learning disability in the arts, teaching new artistic skills and developing existing talents. Their art provision is recognised nationally and internationally for its high quality and unique approach. For the past three years they have brought their fantastic Oska Bright Film Festival, but this year we re delighted to be able to welcome pop punk outfit Beat Express to the festival for the first time. Photo: The Pierhead Community Programme A platform for community arts projects to showcase their work. The programme includes: Celf o Gwmpas (Wales) See Wednesday Powys Dance (Wales) - See Wednesday True Colours Dance Theatre (Wales) - See Friday Malvina Matusiewicz Legg Ceri Photo: 14

9 UNITY WORKSHOPS There are 3 types of FREE workshops APPLICATION ONLY For further details and application forms call Hijinx on or unity@hijinx.org.uk TICKETED Book your place by contacting the Centre s Ticket Office: or online at wmc.org.uk OPEN No need to book, just turn up and get started. Photo: Malvina Matusiewicz TICKETED WORKSHOPS These workshops are FREE but places are limited and available through the Centre s Ticket Office on You must be 18 or over. 15 Days in Clay - Ceramics Workshop June 10am 1pm Canfod Area A project which inspires and nurtures the creative development of learning disabled artists, in a professional ceramic art environment. Artists on this project now exhibit and sell their work all over the country. Founder Janna Edwards will lead these workshops, helping you through the process of working in ceramics. You can book on one day or all three if you wish the more you do the more you can achieve. You will be able to take your creations home at the end of the session and we advise you to wear old clothes, it could get a little messy! Photo: Anna Hill APPLICATION ONLY WORKSHOPS Suitable for you if you can commit to all sessions, have an interest in creating inclusive performance, finding out more about the individual companies and work or have some previous experience in dance, theatre or performance. To receive an application form unity@hijinx.org.uk or call Unity Performance Project Unity Angels Denni Dennis (Denmark), Hijinx Theatre & Clownbaret (Spain) June 10am 5pm Performers from Hijinx Theatre and Clownbaret will work under the direction of Denni Dennis, a professional clown from Denmark, to produce our Angels. Performances will then take place throughout the week of Unity. NB There are limited spaces available on this four day workshop leading to performance. Danza Mobile and Anna Rothlizberger Company Dance Workshop June 10am 1pm Urdd Hall A practical and inspirational insight into both companys ethos and methods in creating integrated dance. This will be a physical workshop led by Danza Mobile choreographer Manuela Calleja and Anna Röthlizberger. Mind The Gap Theatre - Of Mice and Men Workshop 29 June 10am 12pm Weston Studio In this workshop you will learn about the processes used in creating Of Mice and Men, alongside Mind The Gap performers. It is advisable that you also see the show on the Tuesday. Spare Tyre Theatre Company - Creating Learning Disabled Theatre June 30 2pm - 4pm / 1 July 10am 1pm Japan Room Led by Artistic Director Arti Prashar, an in-depth look at creating and developing learning disabled led performance. 15 Taking Flight Theatre Company - Puppetry Workshop 28 June 10am-1pm David Morgan Room Learn puppetry skills working with this exciting Cardiff based inclusive company. Bridgend College - Digital Storytelling Workshops 29 June 10.00am 1.00pm / 30 June 10:00am 1:00pm Seligman Room Learn how to create your own digital story with help from tutors and Bridgend College Pre Vocational Education students. You can attend one day or both days, the more you do the more you can achieve.. Hijinx Theatre - Inclusive Theatre Workshop 30 June 10am 12pm Japan Room Take part in games and exercises used by the company s Artistic Director Gaynor Lougher, in the creation of inclusive theatre. It is advisable you see the company s show, Old Hands, on Wednesday and Thursday in the Weston Studio. Don t forget to reserve your tickets for the above workshops: Places are limited, so you will need to reserve a ticket on or wmc.org.uk OPEN WORKSHOPS These workshops are open to all, no need to book, just turn up and get started. Touch Trust Photo: Dave Daggers 28 June 1pm 2pm / 1 July 12pm 1pm Glanfa Touch Trust have been a Unity associate since we began in 2008, they return with two relaxed and fun dance workshops, bringing colour and laughter to the Glanfa. Community Music Wales 29 June 1pm 2pm / 30 June 12.30pm 1.30pm Glanfa Community Music Wales have worked with as Unity associates since the beginning, they return to the Glanfa with two loud but rhythmic percussion workshops. 16

10 UNITY FINALE GIG GIG DIWEDDGLO UNDOD UNITY PRESENTS UNDOD YN MAINDEE FESTIVAL Sat 2 July/Sad 2 Gorff With/Gyda: Hijinx Pods: The Family Vaguely Artistic Unity Angels Taking Flight Theatre AspiERation SUNDAY 3 July \ Dydd Sul 3 Gorff 7.30pm - 11pm CF10 Room, Cardiff Students Union Park Place, Cardiff PORTHCAWL PAVILION Tues 5 July/Mawrth 5 Gorff With/Gyda: Hijinx Pods: The Snooks Brothers The Family Vaguely Artistic & Hijinx Theatre s Old Hands Ystafell CF10, Undeb Myfyrwyr Caerdydd, Parc-y-Plas, Caerdydd Tickets on the door 5 The Unity Finale Gig will be a safe environment for you to enjoy a night out. Please note: Tickets are NOT available through the Ticket Office for this event. This event is open to anyone over 14. Bydd gig Undod yn fan diogel i chi fwynhau noson allan. Sylwer: nid yw tocynnau ar gael trwy linell docynnau Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru ar gyfer y digwyddiad hwn. Mae r digwyddiad hwn yn agored i unrhyw un dros Ar y drws In association with: Ar y cyd â: Supported by: Cefnogir gan: 17