Recent posts
Pentabus and Thickskin present Driftwood
Pentabus and Thickskin present an intoxicating and mystical new play by award-winning writer Tim Foley in a distinctive physical and cinematic production at Theatr Brycheiniog on Friday 27th October.
Directed by Neil Bettles (Thickskin) & Elle White (Pentabus), Driftwood, an inspiring new play by Tim Foley tells the story of the relationship between two brothers, their father, and the sea.
The two brothers, Mark and Tiny, go for walks along the beach at Seaton Carew. Their dad is dying, and their town is crumbling. Family rifts and political divides try to pull them apart, and a figure made of driftwood stalks the shore at night… An expansive story about hope, love, belonging and the tides within us.
About Elle White:
Elle grew up in rural Herefordshire and recently moved back to Hereford. She is an Associate Artist at Shakespeare’s Globe, where she directed The Merry Wives of Windsor, As You Like It and Hamlet. She was also the revival director for the West End production (Gielgud 2015-17), UK and international tour of the award-winning production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Her most recent directing work includes Private Peaceful at Nottingham Playhouse, which was postponed due to the pandemic and Blue Stockings at Storyhouse Chester. She developed and directed the award-winning production of Glory Dazed which played at Edinburgh and Adelaide festivals before transferring to the Soho Theatre. She has worked prolifically as an associate and assistant director with directors including Lucy Bailey, Marianne Elliott, Nancy Meckler, Ian Rickson, Thea Sharrock and Alex Timbers in the West End and at the RSC, The Old Vic, the National Theatre and the Young Vic.
About Neil Bettles:
Neil is a Theatre Director, Choreographer and Movement Director. Recent work includes Movement Director for James IV, Queen Of The Fight, (Raw Material and Capital Theatres) Scottish tour 2022. Choreographer for Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks, UK and Ireland tour 21/22. Movement Director for Private Peaceful, UK tour 2022. As co-founder and Artistic Director of ThickSkin, his directing credits include How Not To Drown, Chalk Farm, The Static, Blackout, Boy Magnet, White Noise. Neil was Associate Director for Frantic Assembly and was nominated for the Off West End award for Best Director for The Unreturning (2019). He also directed This Will All Be Gone and No Way Back for the company as well as Co-Directing 11 Frantic Ignition performances. As Movement Director, Shade (ThickSkin); Carmen (Opera Wuppertal, Germany); The James Plays 1,2 & 3 (National Theatre of Scotland, EIF and National Theatre); Blood Wedding and The Bacchae (Royal & Derngate). As Associate Movement Director, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 2016 – 2021; Heisenberg (Wyndhams Theatre); The Light Princess (National Theatre) and The Full Monty (Sheffield Theatres and West End) Other credits include, Associate Director Disco Show (La Mama, New York).
About Thickskin:
Extraordinary stories told in unexpected ways!
ThickSkin is reinventing theatre for the next generation. We are reimagining what theatre can be and looking to share human stories through quality, future-facing, multi-disciplined formats. We’re developing 360° artists of the future for a hybrid world where physical and digital collide in more ways than ever before.
An award-winning theatre company based in Wigan, ThickSkin creates work across live and digital platforms. We produce bold and ambitious theatre; using our distinctive physicality and cinematic style to reach and inspire young, new and diverse audiences across the world. We nurture talented theatre makers, providing a springboard for artists who are ready to take a leap.
Our work includes a wide range of creative approaches to tell stories in new and inspiring ways. From live stage productions to virtual reality experiences, to immersive audio plays, we make theatre that is rooted in contemporary culture.
The company was founded by Neil Bettles and Laura Mallows in 2010 to create space for under-represented young people to be heard and celebrated in theatre. Since then, we have strived to tackle barriers to the arts for young people and early career artists. Our desire to make theatre accessible and exciting for young people underpins all our work.
Visit https://www.thickskintheatre.co.uk for further information.
About Pentabus:
Pentabus is the nation’s rural theatre company, based in Shropshire. We are the only rural touring company that is committed to producing new work & tours to communities across the UK and beyond.
Our work brings communities & young people together, bringing outstanding contemporary productions with sector leading creative teams, directly to isolated rural communities, as well as platforming rural stories in urban settings.
Over five decades we’ve produced over 300 new plays, supported 120 playwrights and reached over half a million audience members. We’ve won awards and created lasting relationships with artists, venues and audiences across the country, and were the first to live stream from a village hall.
We excel at finding & nurturing new talent & have hosted Writers in Residences since 2014. These playwrights have gone on to be commissioned by the Birmingham Rep, Bristol Old Vic, Hampstead Theatre, HighTide, Manchester Royal Exchange, Nottingham Playhouse, Royal Court, The Bush, and the National Theatre.
We champion people of all ages to explore their creativity with particular emphasis on creating pathways into careers in the creative industries for those underrepresented, & people who live rurally under 30. Pentabus Young Company is our initiative offering playwriting workshops in schools and further and higher education, work experience and mentorships, as well as the opportunity to join our Young Writers’ Programme, which celebrates its 10th year, and has catapulted many writers into careers in the arts.
Visit https://pentabus.co.uk for further information.
Drftwood Cast:
Jerome Yates – Tiny.
Jerome trained at LAMDA.
Theatre credits includes: Peter Pen and the Battle for Neverland (Ruined Theatre).
Film credits includes: The Children (Black House Pictures).
James Westphal – Mark
James is a neurodiverse actor and writer, trained at ArtsEd.
Theatre credits include: A-Typical Rainbow (Turbine Theatre, OFFIE nominated), Other Hands (Bridewell Theatre), Wake in Progress (Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe), Child Of Science(Bush Theatre, R&D), Wanamaker Festival (Globe Theatre).
Screen Credits include: The Paramedics (sitcom); You Got A Face On (short film); SweetHeart and Honey (short film); In June (music video, Charlie Vaughn).
James' play Better Yet was shortlisted for the Original Theatre Playwrighting Award in 2022. James is also the Co-leader of ArtsEd's Part Time Acting Foundation, Resident Acting Tutor at Identity, a Creative Director for Arts International, visiting Lecturer at IC Theatre in Brighton and Coach for London's PUSH Mind And Body Ltd.
The 2023 tour of Driftwood is part of a promoter development programme developed in association with Arts Alive.
Suitable for ages 12+
Access: all performances have integrated creative captions.
Content Warnings: CW// this production contains themes of death and dying.
Driftwood performs at Theatr Brycheiniog on Friday 27th October at 1pm and 7.30pm. for further information (including full list of concessions and prices) and to book tickets, please speak to a member of our Visitor Experience Team on 01874 611 622 where they will be more than happy to help. You can also keep up to date on all latest news, events and book tickets at www.brycheiniog.co.uk.
We look forward to seeing you soon!