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National Theatre Wales Feral Monster: a banging new musical celebrating teenagers and queer Wales takes to Theatr Brycheiniog’s stage this Spring on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd March 2024.
Feral Monster is the story of unremarkable teen, Jax, as she/they/whatever navigates love, sexuality, identity, family, and the many parts of her loud, opinionated brain.
Expelled from school and not even able to get a job at the chippy, Jax is a ‘cheeky, loveable teenage street rat’ living with her Nan in a ‘tiny, boring village’. Against a backdrop of neurons and axons singing in their head, Jax’s brain gives a running commentary on everything they do, don't do, or shouldn’t do. When Jax spots Ffion coming out of the chippy, with their unapologetically loud hair and clothes, sparks fly and queer teenage lust brings together this unlikely match in all its messy, clumsy and awesome glory.
Feral Monster celebrates all teenagers by choosing to spotlight the most mundane teenager in Jax. Anyone who’s ever been a teen will see themselves in this story, as writer Bethan Marlow’s script takes us from the high highs to low lows of the hormonal rollercoaster of adolescence. Alongside identity, sexuality and family, Feral Monster explores friendship, mental health, living in rural Wales, middle-class queerness versus working-class queerness, the impact of being abandoned by parents, and second chances.
Thursday 21st March welcomes Feral Fest pre and post show. Please visit the link below for further information:
https://www.nationaltheatrewales.org/collaborate/young-people/feral-fest
Cast
Lily Beau (she/her) - An actor and singer-songwriter who recently worked on Y Sŵn, the winner of Best Film at the 2023 Welsh BAFTA Awards.
Carys Eleri – As an actor she is recently seen as Delyth Fielding on Pobol y Cwm for BBC Wales, Nerys Evans in the feature film Y Sŵn for Cwmni Joio/S4C and as Ceri Jenkins in Save The Cinema for Sky Arts.
Nathaniel Leacock – A singer-songwriter who is most well-known for supporting Roots Manuva on his latest UK tour.
Geraint Rhys Edwards – Geraint Rhys is an actor and actor-musician whose notable work includes Hansh, Cymry Feiral and Brassed Off at Aberystwyth Arts Centre and Riverfront Theatre Pantomimes, and the role of ‘Keith’ on Hollyoaks.
Rebecca Hayes – Rebecca is an actor who has recently finished their run as Mayella in Bartlett Shers' multi-award-winning To Kill A Mockingbird in the West End, and has just originated the role of Trixie in the world premiere of The Invincibles.
Leila Navabi – Leila is a comedian, actor, presenter and writer from South Wales, who most recently met critical acclaim with her sell-out Edinburgh Fringe comedy show Composition, as well as being a writer on hit shows such as Bad Education and Never Mind The Buzzcocks..
Content information:
Feral Monster is recommended for 14+. It contains strong language as well as:
References to exploration of gender identity and sexuality, pornography, sex, death, self-harm, childhood trauma, mental ill health, poverty and drugs.
Depictions of alcoholism, violence, knife crime, sexual activity.
Theatrical representation of suicide
With thanks to Ayesha Rees Khan, a counsellor who read through the script and gave advice on the content information.
About the creative team:
The creative team all identify as LGBTQIA+, including:
Writer Bethan Marlow, a Welsh theatre-maker and screenwriter focused on telling queer and female stories. Past theatre credits include Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Theatr Clwyd, Pentabus Theatre, RSC and Sherman Theatre.
Director Izzy Rabey, also a musician and facilitator who won the Selar Award 2022 for contributions to Welsh language and culture and has worked at The Royal Court (where she was Trainee Director 2020-2021), Theatr Clwyd, Pentabus, English Touring Company and has worked in Kenya, the USA, India as well as the UK.
Movement Director Osian Meilir, a performer, movement artist and choreographer who has recently created a new work on the National Dance Company Wales as part of their 4x10 project this summer and has also been touring his own choreographic creation, QWERIN, in festivals and venues across the UK and Internationally.
Nicola T. Chang is an award-winning composer/sound designer for theatre and film, whose recent work includes acclaimed shows: For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy (Apollo Theatre West End / Royal Court Jerwood Downstairs / New Diorama) and My Neighbour Totoro (RSC / Barbican).
Vocabulary
This play offers an exploration of the uniqueness of the teenage brain, moving seamlessly between the action “in real life” and the action with Jax’s brain. The following information may help your learners when they come to develop their own creative responses to Scene 4 and Scene 12.
The Right Amygdala plays a role in the expression of fear and in the processing of fear-inducing stimuli.
The Left Amygdala is associated with verbal and sustained emotional processing.
The Cerebrum manages conscious thoughts; meaning, things that you actively think about or do.
The Pituitary Gland controls metabolism, growth, sexual maturation, reproduction, blood pressure and many other vital physical functions.
The Prefrontal Cortex is responsible for skills like planning, prioritising and making good decisions.
Praise for National Theatre Wales Feral Monster:
★★★★ “Original and smart… The hope, angst and anger will appeal to anyone who is, or has ever been, adolescent” – The Stage
★★★★ “A roaring success” – Buzz Magazine
“Entertaining but also thought-provoking… with an impressive cast” – LGBTQYMRU
“From the onset, you just know you’re watching something significant, important and ground-breaking” – Cardiff Mummy Says
“Theatre at its most challenging and best” – Ents South Wales
National Theatre Wales Feral Monster performs at Theatr Brycheiniog on Thursday 21st March and Friday 22nd March at 6pm. For further information and to book tickets, please contact a member of our Visitor Experience Team on 01874 611 622 where they will be more than happy to help. You can also book online and keep up with all the latest news and events at www.brycheiniog.co.uk
