NATIONAL THEATRE WALES

In Butetown, Cardiff

The Soul Exchange

January 2011

Directed by
KULLY THIARAI

Designed by
JANE LINZ ROBERTS

Lighting by
CERI JAMES

Artists
ALI GADEMA
BORHAN MOHAMMADI
GAVIN PORTER
YUSRA WARSAMA

Take the taxi ride of your life through hidden corners of Cardiff. Hear the stories of sailors, millionaires, lovers and survivors. When you and a thousand guests arrive at your destination you’ll be part of a new piece of history.

The Soul Exchange background and booking information

Devised by a team of international artists, working with the communities of Butetown

It was in Butetown Coal Exchange that the world’s first ever million-pound deal was struck, paid by a cheque from the local bank in 1901. Butetown is one of the most ethnically diverse regions of Wales. It has a Welsh-Somali population of around ten thousand - the largest Somali community outside Somalia itself. Soul Exchange will see a team of international artists blend these and many other facets of Butetown’s history in a year of work with the local community.

At the year’s climax, one thousand audience members will be given the riotous, raucous taxi ride of their life through Butetown, all converging at the Butetown Coal Exchange. Music from across the seas will mix with local lives and distant wars to create love stories, millionaires, tower blocks and unforgettable voices. Then, when these members of Butetown’s diverse population all arrive at the Coal Exchange, they will be photographed, recreating a famous picture of a thousand coal traders, which hangs in the Exchange.

BOOKING OPENS MONDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2010

Booking

January 2011

Community

Butetown from an international mancunian perspective

I'm on a Creative Visit with two other artists from Contact in Manchester. We are looking into a pot… by borhan mohammadi

Leanne Rahman, Artist & Community Coordinator

‘I’ve grown up in Butetown, described as the greatest multicultural community in Europe. Our history lies in people coming from all over the world to work in the coal trade. My grandfather stowed away from St Lucia, at the age of 12 years, and married my grandmother, from Pontypridd, and together they raised a family here so big, I couldn’t give it justice to count! Here is where the first million pound cheque was written at the Coal Exchange; a landmark building currently closed but which has been used as an arts and music venue in recent years. I’m fascinated about the opportunity to share stories from the diverse communities who live here, through developing an amazing production together. I look forward to seeing what stories emerge from our rich heritage, helping to co-ordinate the process of bringing people together and to us sharing them with you.’

Leanne Rahman, Artist & Community Coordinator

Butetown Taxi Ride

Whizz through the streets and historic buildings of Butetown, Cardiff and arrive at the Coal Exchange to view the famous picture which hangs there of a thousand coal traders.

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