Stand clear of the doors please... Gareth is about to depart

Siwd mae pawb? Iawn gobeithio. So this will be my last London-based blog. Don’t cry now. The next time I contemplate caressing the QWERTY I’ll be comfortably back in Cardiff. The last 14 weeks {or 98 days if you prefer} have whizzed by like a runaway tube train; stand clear of the doors please, Gareth is about to depart.

Seriously though… what an outstanding opportunity and thoroughly enjoyable experience this has been. I’ve had the chance to {almost} disappear for a while and immerse myself in a completely foreign culture and wander its remarkable landscape {I even learned the language – well you have to these days or you’re accused of all sorts}. I’ve tried to use my relatively limited time here to re-engage with the business side of the work that we do plus develop my understanding and get an overview of the finer detail needed to produce and to tour… I really hope I’ve made some kind of a mark here as well.

It’s been inspirational at times and it’s definitely left me feeling re-energised. The undoubted reason of my new found zest is this simple change of scene {26.8% of 2010 to be precise}. Up until my secondment I’d been at the Centre for just over 6 years {it’s without contest the longest place I have spent my working life}. Now this isn’t supposed to sound negative, I just want to offer some clarity about where I felt I was at earlier in the year. There was a part of me that felt like a failing remote control, you know what I mean? No? Sometimes there’s just no use in teasing the least zap of energy out of the batteries with a quick rub or a gentle roll of the fingers {I find a sharp blow works best}. Now and again you just need to slap in some new Duracell’s and toy with the red button to explore the exciting additional extras. I hope that’s cleared that up.

So I feel like I’m returning with oomph and with passion reignited. I just hope I can sustain the energy and enthusiasm of a Duracell bunny when I return; I’ll certainly be drumming the message home that I believe we have the potential to develop and create some truly outstanding Welsh work – whatever that work may be – and I really want help to make it happen. You might have gathered that I’m extremely thankful to both Sadler’s Wells and the Centre for making my secondment a reality and a pleasure; it’s not often that something like this occurs so I feel very fortunate {I really will miss everyone, the team here are fab}.

I feel that there are exciting times ahead. I’m especially looking forward to getting to work on this year’s Blysh festival. There isn’t much time to pull everything together but thankfully Louise, Rob and Simon have been on the case, diolch yn fawr bois. I’m also preparing to get back to grips with the development of our Welsh language work and what that might actually mean for 2011 and beyond, starting with and building on last year’s Calan Mai event which I loved. Any ideas? Let me know. See, we inadvertently produce quite a lot already; now I think it’s time to take the next step. Let’s throw those curtains wide.

By the way, my elbow is feeling much better, thank you for asking.
Well, anyway {from one elbow to another} as it’s looking like a beautiful day… I’ll leave you with this uplifting tune…

Diolch am ddarllen and I’ll see you all in ffresh very soon.
Hwyl a Nadolig Llawn i chi gyd x

“Are you ready to board sir?”

Two weeks today on Wednesday 22nd December, I would have worked my last day at Sadler’s Wells {sad face}. I’ll probably be strolling slowly towards Victoria Coach Station with my polka-dotted bindle bag slung over my shoulder waiting to board the splendid and luxurious coach (!) back home to Cardiff… Cue ‘The Lonely Man’ theme from The Incredible Hulk...

Gareth takes a step onto the coach. He pauses, looks over shoulder and give his best ‘I’m gonna miss you kid’ face.
Coach Driver: “Are you ready to board sir?”
Gareth’s reflects upon the last 4 months. His eyes well and a tear rolls down his cheek.
Coach Driver: “Sorry Sir, are you ready to leave?”
Gareth: “Yes driver. Yes… I’m ready”
Gareth boards and the coach departs. Coach takes 12 hours to reach Cardiff.

Well the journey only cost £4, what do you expect?

Yes my time here is almost at an end, I have contracts to complete and Christmas parties to attend and that’s it: wedi bennu. It is going to be strange not living in London, I’ve grown accustomed to its pace. I’ll miss the constant journeying - I've really have become fond of the routine. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to spend time in the Big City and have honestly loved the experience of working at Sadler’s Wells. You know how it is, you meet nice people and you have a giggle – what’s not to like? That said, I am really looking forward to being back in the Pod* come January 4th, although I have no doubt I’ll be coming back east in next to no time as there are so many things I want to come and see here. By the way I hope you’ve had a chance to see the Centre’s new programme, even I didn’t know Avenue Q was confirmed on its way to Cardiff! I can’t wait to see this again, it hilarious, rude and very naughty. Perfect.

With Christmas upon us the perpetual conveyor belt of productions has halted with only 3 offerings from now until the New Year; The Snowman, Bourgeois & Maurice and Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, which I saw last night. Now I'm a fan of his work, I think he's a bit of a genius. His last production to visit the Centre, Dorian Gray, was witty, sexy, dark, which are all very good things to be. Cinderella, although very watchable, for me feels too comfortable. The shoe fits neatly as a slipper should. Hmmm... it felt safe, much like Prokofiev’s score which it's nice but bit dull perhaps {and you can't do much about that}. The design {as always} is massive and magnificent and the character driven performances really pull you in. I don't know how I feel about it, it’s definitely not my favourite MB piece but I would recommend you see it {I'd love him to take on Romeo & Juliet, although I suspect it would become Romeo & Julian}. Here’s a clip, what do you think?

Oh yes, there is one more thing to tell you. I’ve fractured and chipped my elbow {proper sad face}. I slipped on ice outside the Co-op in Tulse Hill last Wednesday {there’s glamour for you now} much to the delight of Jamie who stood over me crying with laughter: “You looked like a teddy bear, legs apart and arms thrown in the air!"... So I’m Sad Sack the raggiest of dolls and to make matters worse, it was my Birthday. My elbow is now less a hinge and more a bracket and in dire need of lubrication, so I've been given arm exercises to perform by Dr Fracture Clinic, which are best done in private as they make me look as if I’m pretending to be a robot; a robot that can’t move its arm.

Siarad cyn hir. G

*The Pod is where I sit with Louise, Rob, Simon, Sarah and Tabi. Our Pod rules.

Matilda, a Musical

Hi
I just thought I'd update you on my weekend in Stratford to watch 'Matilda, A Musical' at the RSC. I've always been a massive fan of Roald Dahl, to me he is still the best children's writer of all time. The music and lyrics were written by Tim Minchin so the combination of Dahl and Minchin was too much to resist.
I was a little worried that it would be too much like a kids show but it is written in such a way, much like the Dahl books, that it appeals to both adults and children.
The cast were fantastic, especially as half of them are children. None of them were 'stage school brats' and Arianna Bertola, who played Matilda, held the show beautifully.

Bertie Carvel played Miss Truchbull and was truly terrifying. He had the perfect mix of revolting personality, beastly behaviour and overall creepiness.

The songs had Tim Minchin written all over them. They were funny, memorable and catchy.
The RSC did a great job on the production. Designed by Rob Howell, the set was beautiful with hidden school desks, coloured squares covering the ceiling and walls and really clever use of flats used as the library or fireplaces.
Overall I thought the production was fantastic, it made me smile and I would love to bring it to the Centre in the future (should it ever tour). Well worth a visit - it will playing at the Courtyard Theatre until the 30th January.