Lewis Carroll’s much loved nonsense poem, The Hunting of the Snark is to be performed by a cast of actor-musicians at Sherman, Cardiff, in a family summer adventure.
This musical comedy adventure will feature puppetry, lashings of silliness and an original soundtrack that will delight, excite and entertain in this new summer family production by the Sherman Theatre in association with Alice House Theatre and RGM Productions.
After the shows in Cardiff, from July 19 to 30, the show heads off on a world tour, including The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Art’s.
Audiences will join the riotous ragtag band of bold adventurers including the Banker, the Boy, the Butcher, the Baker, Mr Bellman, the Bandersnatch, the Boojum and the knitting Beaver, as they set off on an epic quest to catch the elusive Snark.
Written by Annabel Wigoder and directed by Gemma Colclough, this production has an original composition by Gareth Cooper. Producer Garry McQuinn said of The Hunting of the Snark: “When my daughter and I laughed out loud together, I knew this was the show I had to produce.”
Following the sell-out success of the Sherman’s family Christmas show, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, this promises to continue the tradition of perfect family entertainment at the theatre.
Under the artistic leadership of Rachel O’Riordan, The Hunting of the Snark will follow on from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Princess and The Pea / Y Dywysoges a’r Bysen Fechan Fach and Arabian Nights (Winner of Wales Theatre Awards Best Children’s Production category) as well as a wider programme of work which has included A Doll’s House, Iphigenia in Splott (UK Theatre Award for Best new Play and transferred to The National Theatre in January 2016) and their latest success, Bird, a co-production with Manchester Royal Exchange.
After seeing the show in its early stages at the Edinburgh Festival 2015 Rachel O’Riordan said: “The Hunting of the Snark is an anarchic, joyful, bold show bursting with brio! We’re delighted to be working with Alice House and RGM Productions developing the show further to create something really special for audiences in Cardiff and beyond.”
The full cast includes: Jonathan Glew as Steve/ Musical Director; Glew trained at LIPA and has since worked across the UK, including winning an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a musical for Springer The Opera.
Neal McWilliams as The Baker/ Bandersnatch; McWilliams has been performing extensively in Cardiff including Black Stuff & Seagull (Volcano Theatre Company), A Sunny Disposition, Constellation Street & Silence (The Other Room), Reluctant Love (Dirty Protest).
Alex Parry as The Bellman et al; Parry trained locally at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and recently toured in Theatr Na n’Og’s hit new show Tom: A story of Tom Jones.
Vedi Roy as The Banker; Roy trained at DNA Studios, Pineapple Arts, and The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and his recent theatre credits include Laila the Musical UK tour.
Polly Smith as The Butcher; Smith starred in the original version and has since toured across the UK with Scarlet UK’s Alan Ayckbourn’s acclaimed comedy Table Manners and A Party to Murder.
Kate Spencer as The Boy; Trained in Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance and Columbia College Chicago. Kate has recently finished a tour enlightening children on the wonders and curses of Macbeth before returning to Cardiff.