So why the devil was I there? Well, Sadler's Wells were producing a contemporary dance mixed-bill under the billing Sadler's Wells Presents and I was acting as tour / company manager, ensuring that everyone and everything was at the right place at the right time, essentially looking after the team and sorting out any issues that cropped up {fortunately there were only a few}.
I haven’t acted in this capacity before as the Wales Millennium Centre’s not strictly speaking a producing or touring house. The aspiration has always been there and we have dabbled with small scale stuff previously {although we didn't inhale}. All in all it made us realise that we have the potential to become an eminent and hopefully respected producing house. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to replicate what Sadler’s Wells have achieved over the last few years {they have many productions on tour world wide}, and how awesome would it be to produce and tour our own Welsh productions world over? It's so exciting.
So there was a lot to be learnt, which is one of the reasons that I’m on my secondment to Sadler’s Wells: to get some experience and a greater understanding of large scale touring and to see it from the other side {and it was an eye opener}. There's much to consider, so many details that need to be put in place to pull a programme like this together, and to do it well.
So what of the programme? Truthfully, the performances were phenomenal, particularly the duet Faun {impressively danced by both Daisy and James} which captivated, enthralled and honestly brought tears to my eyes during their second rehearsal run. Daniel Proietto's performance, AfterLight Part 1, is simply beautiful. I can't imagine anyone else ever wanting to perform this piece as it would take a lot for anyone else to do it justice. To finish the programme, Hofesh Shechter's Uprising smacked the audience back into their seats after the interval - what a contrast and equally brilliant.
Having seen the reaction to the programme and been involved in its production I honestly believe it’s a winner and an intelligent (and prudent) way of presenting a mixed bill of contemporary dance - and I’m so on it... as soon as I get back to my desk at the Centre (sorry Steve).
The little time we had spare we spent discovering St. Pölten, which left us with just about as much spare time as St. Pölten is no London or Cardiff or Carmarthen in fact. An Abergevenny almost. The place has a very underground feel; cold, quiet, empty streets are dotted with the occasional restaurant, coffee shop and haberdashery with the constant faint sound of music mingling with the cold breeze... and hidden in the warmth behind {almost} secret doors are the bars and the inhabitants {still smoking inside which was very peculiar}.
We ate well... Thai, Greek, Indian and amazing pizza slices from what was pretty much an Austrian Greggs. Oh yes, we also had schnitzel burgers from the greasiest fast food outlet that left us stinking of fatty-lard-laden-food from midday to midnight. Dirty schnitzel.
It really was a great experience. I laughed hell of a lot, the whole team involved were wonderful and it was indeed a pleasure to have had the opportunity. So I feel a bit danced out so at the moment, which is why this weekend I’m coming back home to visit another favourite theatre, the Millennium Stadium. Seriously, I don’t know why I go, especially when the odds are so very amply stacked against us; watching Wales play it’s the most frustrating, tense and nerve-trapping experience… But I loves it I do!
Come on bois bach! Wales! Wales! Wales!
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