About Petula
A story-world in which nothing is remotely conventional
How the hell do you grow up when the world around you is falling apart?
Pwdin Evans is on a mission. There’s so much in this world he can no longer deal with; his ridiculous parents, step-parents, the weight of his teenage worries, gravity, all of it. So, he launches himself into space, in search of answers and his missing cousin Petula.
In March 2022, we joined forces with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and August012 to present Petula, a brand-new production of Fabrice Melquiot’s extraordinary play. Directed by Mathilde Lopez with a script by Daf James that mixed Welsh, English and a little French.
An unforgettable and surreal mix of dark comedy and adventure. A visual feast about relationships, language and love.
Nominated for Best Show for Children and Young People at the UK Theatre Awards 2022
Image gallery
Production gallery
A story that could be Roald Dahl or early Spielberg…this production is nothing if not unique
Filled with stage images that expand the edges of the universe
This tender, affecting and utterly bonkers play is perhaps the ideal antidote to these challenging times
A dizzying mix of English, Welsh and French, which the cast negotiates with endless grace to great comical effect
The action may be absurd but the trauma and confusion of growing up are totally realistic
In rehearsal with Daf and Mathilde
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Useful information
Tour
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Pontio, Bangor
Ffwrnes, Llanelli
Torch Theatre, Milford Haven
Riverfront Theatre, Newport
Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon
Access
Audio description
Listen to the AD introduction note
AD performances at the Sherman Theatre were audio described in Welsh and English (on different nights) by Ioan Gwyn. They were accompanied by a live Welsh to English audio translation of the script by Carys Eleri.
British Sign Language
BSL performances were interpreted by Catheryn McShane at Sherman Theatre and Pontio, Bangor
Captioning
All performances of Petula were fully captioned with two captioning screens in the auditorium:
- One on the right in English with Welsh dialogue translated
- One on the left in English and Welsh with no translation
- A little of the dialogue was in French. This was captioned on both screens but not translated.
Cast
- Petula
- Kizzy Crawford
- Joe Potatoslouch
- Tom Mumford
- Dad
- Sion Pritchard
- Mami
- Clêr Stephens
- Amethyst Crappp
- Rachel Summers
- Pwdin Evans
- Dewi Wykes
Creative team
- Writer
- Fabrice Melquiot
- Concept and direction
- Mathilde López
- Translation and adaptation
- Daf James
- Assistant Director
- Siobhan Brennan
- Designer
- Jean Chan
- Composer
- Branwen Munn
- Choreographer
- Leighton Wall
- Lighting Designer
- Joe Price
- Video Designer
- Will Monks
- Script Consultant
- Arwel Gruffydd