South Wales Echo

Theatre project features stories from City Road

-

STORIES from one of Cardiff’s most diverse roads are set to be performed in a play written and performed by its residents.

Love, Cardiff: City Road Stories features tales from residents, shopkeeper­s, restaurant owners, community gardeners and even the owner of a sex shop along one of the city’s most well-known streets.

The stories of the dozens of people involved will be performed on stage at the Sherman Theatre in a series of shows after months of the project being embedded in the area.

Director Andrew Sterry said: “The whole process has felt like such a privilege.

“To bring together the participan­ts to tell their own stories and share their unique experience­s has been very rewarding.

“With the exception of the family groups in the play none of the participan­ts had actually met each other yet over the course of the past few weeks they have travelled together on a journey of discovery – they have shown such warmth and generosity.

“Through their stories the participan­ts have helped us discover the value of the everyday and we look forward to sharing those stories with audiences at Sherman Theatre.”

The play is made up entirely of words from people in the community, with the production hoping to reveal the stories of the people who live and work along City Road.

Once the three-night production run is complete the Heritage Lottery Fund-supported project will form its own archive at the Cardiff Story Museum.

Manager Victoria Rogers said: “The Cardiff Story Museum tells our city’s history through the voices of those who know it best – its people.

“That’s why we are so pleased to be part of the Love, Cardiff project.

“City Road is one of the most vibrant and historical­ly-interestin­g roads in Cardiff and we’re collecting its stories for the museum now so future generation­s will be able to learn about and be inspired by its diversity too.”

Sherman Theatre’s artistic director Rachel O’Riordan said: “Love, Cardiff: City Road Stories is a project which places the citizens of Cardiff at the heart of the Sherman, on our stage, telling their stories. As a producing theatre making work is at the core of what we do.

“Providing opportunit­ies for people to work with us on a major production using their own words is a vitally relevant way to exchange ideas with our community and generate genuine engagement with the Sherman. Our local community working with the Sherman team and, crucially, being the lead artists on this piece of theatre is something I am proud of.

“Love, Cardiff brings together key partners and funders in an exciting and innovative collaborat­ion.”

The project is a co-production between the Sherman Theatre, the Cardiff Story Museum, and the artist-led group madeinroat­h.

Project co-manager Becca Thomas said: “It’s been a real pleasure to be part of the Love, Cardiff project. As a festival embedded in the local community of Roath, we really delight in the opportunit­y to help tell the real stories of City Road, one of the most exciting and diverse roads in Cardiff.

“We’re looking forward to continuing the conversati­ons begun by this project for many years to come.”

Alongside the stage production an exhibition about City Road by various artists will be displayed.

Love, Cardiff: City Road Stories will run from April 13 to April 15 at 7.30pm at the Sherman Theatre, with tickets costing £5.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom