Theatre puts brutal stories of
YOU could be forgiven for assuming actors treading the boards at one of Wales’ best-known theatres might be used to a life of dressing rooms, rehearsals, and glamour.
But for a group set to tell their stories at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay tonight, their path to the stage has been rather more challenging.
They have dealt with issues including the loss of a child, alcohol and drug abuse, and time in prison.
Now, though, the group – who have all experienced homelessness – have written and rehearsed a brand new theatre production.
It’s called Behind the Label and it’s all about people sharing their own experiences – from stories about addiction to homelessness and mental health.
It’s a chance for them to break the stereotypes of homelessness and make people realise that everyone has a different story.
The production asks its audience to look behind negative labels such as “junkie” or “criminal” and listen to the people behind them.
Behind the Label is being delivered by charity Theatre vs Oppression (TvO) in partnership with homeless charity The Wallich and the Wales Millennium Centre.
All of the people involved are clients of The Wallich – and one of them is Tony Watts.
Tony, 34, spent more than 10 years living on the streets before finding shared accommodation in Cardiff.
Before that he was a drug addict and spent years being in and out of prison.
“It was drugs,” he said.
“I was on heroin and crack. My grandparents brought me up but I started drugs at the age of 15.
“I got in with the wrong crowd. I was homeless.”
It was drugs that encouraged Tony to take a troubled path.
He explained the police kept catching him with drugs which is why he spent some time in prison.
But he spent a long time in Northampton before coming to Wales.
He said: “I had to go to prison about five times and I thought ‘no - that’s enough for me.’”
Speaking about life on the streets, Tony added: “It was a horrible way to live really.
“I had nowhere to go, no money, no job. I had enough of drugs and decided it.
“I wanted to get off it. I felt relaxed when I was off it.”
Tony has been clean for around three or four years and has since been working with The Wallich to get back on his feet.
It was The Wallich which helped him get involved with the production and he has since taken an interest in theatre production.
He intends to spend some time as a volunteer at Wales Millennium Centre in the future.
But, for now, he’s just forward to being able to story.
“It’s quite amazing to be able to tell people,” he said.
“It’s difficult to open up but it’s good that it shows what life is really like.
“It shows what people are going through. I’ve loved it.
“I’m a happy person when I’m off drugs.
“I was definitely less happy when I was on them. It numbs your feelings.”
Jules Avery, 50, will share a very different story on the stage.
Even though she’s never found herself directly living on the streets, she was in and out of hostels for the best part of three and a half years before
Ididn’t want to live like looking tell his finding
Cardiff.
Before that she was living in a flat in Newport but, tragically, her world was suddenly turned upside down.
Jules’ daughter died when she was just 15 months old.
Before she was born, Jules was told she was unlikely to survive the birth due to complications.
But, when she died, Jules said she endured further heartbreak.
“Someone started saying I had battered her to death,” she said.
“She had a brain hemorrhage caused by an epileptic fit.
“I was getting death threats so I just left.”
It was at this point that Jules found herself without a secure home.
Even though she found shelter at hostels she said the experience was still quite difficult – mostly because of what people would do around her.
She added: “I had been clean from drugs for 18 years and it was hard seeing people on drugs and drink.
“I just stayed in my room most of the time.
“It was quite lonely but I went to college once a week to study English and maths.” shared accommodation in Jules has been working with The Wallich for about three years now, and