Youth Theatre Director and Acting Head of Creative Learning at Sherman Cymru Phil Mackenzie comments:
“We’ve tried to view the temporary closure of our theatre building as an opportunity to take work out into some exciting and different spaces within the city and to engage with members of the local community in a new and meaningful way. With the help of an excellent design team we’re going to be transforming the inside of the church through the use of dramatic lighting and sound whilst all the while trying to maximise the performance potential that this beautiful church setting allows us.”
As part of the performance, the young people (aged between 10 and 25) will be seated at a table lit by a candle with an empty chair opposite. Each audience member is then invited to participate in a series of unique verbal and non verbal one-to-one encounters. Youth Theatre Director Phil Mackenzie continues –
"The central idea behind the performance is getting different generations to have contact with one another in a safe and comfortable environment. How often does an adult sit across from a table with a 15 year old and have a meaningful interaction or conversation? It’s a fascinating project for both the young people and the audience – the cast are not playing characters, there is no script and each performance is very different. It really stretches the boundaries of what theatre is and could be in an ever-changing world"
Since its first performance in 2008 the Kontakt format has been adopted by Birmingham Rep Youth Theatre and the Arcola Youth Theatre in London. The most recent version formed part of the Pierhead Sessions in Cardiff Bay with 20 Youth Theatre members and 20 politicians from the National Assembly for Wales participating in the event.
Sherman Cymru Youth Theatre offers young people in Cardiff the opportunity to create challenging and inspiring theatre and develop performance and confidence skills. Past productions have included Gospel, Cult – A Study and the large-scale performance installation Oedipus/Antigone which took place in the empty shell of the Sherman building earlier this year.
Kontakt 3 is on at St John’s Church, Canton on 28 October – 6 November at 7pm and 8.30pm (see Sherman website for full schedule). Tickets are £7 (Reductions £5) and can be booked from Sherman’s Box Office on 029 2064 6900. Please note that tickets are extremely limited.
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For more information, images or to organise an interview with Phillip Mackenzie please contact Bethan Way, Marketing Officer on 029 2064 6965 or at bethan.way@shermancymru.co.uk
