nationaltheatrewales.org

What If This Road

What if this road, that has held no surprisesthese many years, decided not to gohome after all; what if it could turnleft or right with no more adothan a kite tail? What if its tarry skinwere like a long, supple bolt of cloththat is shaken and rolled out, and takesa new shape from the contours beneath?And if it choose to lay itself downin a new way; around a blind corner,across hills you must climb without knowingwhat’s on the other side; who would not hankerto be going, at all risks? Who wants to know a story’s end or where a road will go?

Sheenagh Pugh

nationaltheatrewales.org

YOUR NATIONAL THEATRE WALESENGAGED / INNOVATIVE / INTERNATIONAL

Imagine a new National Theatre Wales. What do you want? The possibilities are infinite. The story so far is that we have created a brand new flexible, non-building based organisation to develop and enrich English language theatre in Wales. So what next? Well, we aspire to be engaged, innovative and international. And what do we mean by that?

ENGAGED /We will create theatre in a surprising variety of places, in big venues and community spaces, indoors and outdoors, in real time and online. Our productions will involve and engage you in surprising ways and respond to the places where you live or spend your time. We will build strong relationships with theatre makers, creative talents and audiences in and beyond Wales. There will be a wide range of ways for you to get involved as well as seeing exciting shows, you can help us spread the word about our work, find out more about what goes on behind the scenes, take part online, join our debates and become part of our creative community.

INNOVATIVE /We will open up new possibilities in theatre, identifying topical issues and expressing them in surprising and imaginative ways. We will collaborate with a huge variety of artists and find new ways for audiences to be part of our work. In our partnerships we will always be looking to add the ‘unexpected extra ingredient’. We will address our environmental impact from day one and make informed and innovative choices about our operations and processes. Our digital presence will provide a year-round home for audiences, participants, artists and collaborators as a resource, archive, debating chamber and network. You will have a National Theatre Wales that is open and eager to hear new ideas, and together we will find extraordinary new ways of doing things.

INTERNATIONAL /We will invite directors and companies from across the world to work with Welsh artists, actors and participants, creating new kinds of theatre from this international mix. We will link with key festivals and venues all over the world to present Welsh work on the global stage. We will partner with companies in countries where we have strong connections – through historical links, similar stories, or shared ambitions. And you will have world-class theatre on your doorstep.

Join our online community at nationaltheatrewales.org

nationaltheatrewales.org

YOUR NATIONAL THEATRE WALESCREATE /DEBATE /RESPOND

We want to make each show and event unique by focusing on place and people. Every theatre performance is a one-off – a meeting of these performers and this audience – here, now, together. Our first year’s programme will emphasise the uniqueness of the live theatre event through a focus on three distinctive elements – Create, Debate, Respond. There is a lot of room for you to influence what you would like to see, and where you’d like to see it.

CREATE / Our first year-long programme will feature 12 new theatre productions – one a month every month for a year – from March 2010 to March 2011. Each production will take place in a different part of Wales, in unexpected places as well as at established venues. As a whole the shows will create a ‘theatrical map’ of the country. Each show will be distinctive and different and all together will say something extraordinary about the future of theatre in and beyond Wales. Inspiration will come from landscape, people, shared histories and future hopes.

Whether you like world-class drama, circus, young people’s theatre, games based performances, spoken word, family shows, documentary theatre, musicals or online events, or even if you don’t usually go to theatre at all, there will be something literally right up your street.

DEBATE / Alongside our main performance programme we will be exploring theatre as a space for debate and discussion. How would you like to share your ideas? What would you like to hear about? How can we debate the future of theatre, of Wales, of anything that is on our minds?

RESPOND/ Life is never predictable. So, while there will be an ambitious first year of shows, there should always be room for something unexpected. That’s where our Response programme comes in. Teams of writers, performers, directors, designers will respond to events that are happening today – across the road or around the world. It will be an opportunity to see tomorrow’s artists respond to today’s issues and for your world to be on stage.

We want to hear your ideas. Where should we create? How should we debate? What should we respond to?

Join our online community at nationaltheatrewales.org

nationaltheatrewales.org

‘ …it’s not matter that matters, or our thoughts and words, but the shadows they throw against the lives of others.’Owen Sheers From ‘Shadow Man’

nationaltheatrewales.org

‘ …it’s not matter that matters, or our thoughts and words, but the shadows they throw against the lives of others.’

nationaltheatrewales.org

YOUR NATIONAL THEATRE WALESGET INVOLVED TODAY

Imagine theatre without an audience. A production without anywhere to show it. A show without anyone or anything on stage. A world without stories, or anyone to tell them. National Theatre Wales will be nothing without you. Engaged, innovative, international.

NATIONAL THEATRE WALES TEAM / If you’d like to be part of this exciting new journey, helping to shape the future of theatre in Wales – as a participant, audience member, artist, advocate, supporter or organiser – join the National Theatre Wales Team by registering online, calling us, dropping us a note, or popping in for a visit at our shop in Castle Arcade, Cardiff.

National Theatre Wales, working in the English language, is a dynamic new non-building based company with key aspirations to be engaged, innovative and international.

All poems printed with the kind permission of the authors.

Sheenagh PughWhat If This Road and Other Poems (Corgi Series, 2003)

Owen SheersSkirrid Hill (Seren, 2005)

Gwyneth LewisUnpublished

Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information provided at the date of publication, National Theatre Wales reserves the right to make alterations if necessary.

National Theatre Wales is Registered in England and WalesRegistered Company No. 6693227 Charity Registration No. 1127952

Design & photography elfen.co.uk nationaltheatrewales.org

YOUR NATIONAL THEATRE WALESKEEP IN TOUCH /KEEP INFORMED

We are starting by getting to know you. Visit nationaltheatrewales.org and join our online local and global community.

Share your views, ideas and comments. Receive details of shows, events and ticket offers once we announce the full programme in November 2009.

National Theatre Wales30 Castle Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1BWPhone +44 (0)29 2035 3070admin@nationaltheatrewales.org nationaltheatrewales.org

This information is available in large print and audio formats. Please contact us for a copy.

nationaltheatrewales.org

‘ Look to the dark, it’s full of company, though dust obscure the birth of a star. Waiting creates a wider way to see. Galaxies breathe out their chemistry in cosmic rays, which our bodies bear. Look to the dark, it’s full of company.’

Gwyneth LewisFrom ‘Spectrum’