Wales Millennium Centre & National Theatre Wales have announced further details about City of the Unexpected, Cardiff’s landmark celebration of Wales’ foremost storyteller in his centenary year.
On Saturday 17 September, Cardiff’s city centre will become a place where reality is turned on its head, and where the laws of physics, logic and the predictable will give way to magic and the surreal, as if Roald Dahl himself is at the helm. Wherever audiences find themselves, they’ll make extraordinary discoveries. Featuring a cast of thousands, there will be unexpected sights, performances, pop-ups and spectacles appearing on the streets and in buildings throughout the city centre, culminating in a finale that evening.
On Sunday 18 September, audiences will discover some of Roald Dahl’s biggest (and well-known) fans reading extracts from his stories in some unusual and extraordinary locations across the city centre. And in the afternoon, large-scale mayhem will burst out again, with audiences invited to join an unprecedented mass picnic in Bute Park – in their pyjamas – and to bring with them some food inspired by the man himself. This event will bring together all the themes, stories, characters and cast of the weekend in an unexpected, all-day festival of Dahl-esque food, music, story and of Cardiff’s community.
More information about Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected, including travel and accommodation advice and answers to FAQs, can be found on the event’s website: http://www.cityoftheunexpected.wales/
Following a hugely successful call-out for participants made by Wales Millennium Centre & National Theatre Wales in April, more than 6,000 people from across Wales and beyond have signed-up to take part in Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected. This army of performers will dance, sing, dangle, interrupt, leap out, fly, animate and cause pandemonium in unusual locations across the Welsh capital.
It is hoped that Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected will be an extraordinary weekend-long event to celebrate Roald Dahl’s centenary year, showcasing both his distinctive voice and the jewels of his birthplace.
SCHEDULE
Saturday 17 September
1pm – 9.30pm (Free)
Cardiff’s city centre will explode into the weird and wonderful world of Roald Dahl. Look out for unexpected happenings on the streets and buildings throughout the city… but don’t be fooled, not everything is what it seems! The day’s main event will finish by 9.30pm, and its location will be revealed during the day.
Sunday 18 September
10.30am – 2pm (Ticketed*)
Come on an adventure and discover unexpected spaces around the city while you sit back and enjoy extracts from Roald Dahl’s stories read by some familiar faces. The locations and surprise storytellers will be announced in August, and tickets will go on sale at the same time.
2pm – 5pm (Free)
The Great Pyjama Picnic in Bute Park will bring together all the themes, stories, characters and cast of the weekend in a huge celebration of food, music, story and mass participation. Come in your pyjamas and bring your own Roald Dahl-inspired picnic.
Luke Kelly, Managing Director of the Roald Dahl Literary estate and Roald Dahl’s grandson, said: “Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected is undoubtedly going to be one of the highlights of the Roald Dahl 100 celebrations this year. We cannot think of a more fitting or creative way to honour Roald’s Welsh beginnings than by transforming his birth city into a place of magic, cooked up by such a dynamic team in Wales Millennium Centre, National Theatre Wales and Nigel Jamieson. To borrow a phrase from Roald, we will be watching with glittering eyes as the spectacle unfolds. We hope everyone who participates has a wonderful time.”
Follow City of the Unexpected on Twitter:
#UnexpectedCity
@cityunexpected
on Facebook:
Facebook.com/cityoftheunexpected
and on Instagram:
@cityunexpected
Nigel Jamieson, Director of Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected. Image by Magenta Photography