Circle of Fifths

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About Circle of Fifths

Circle of Fifths is an immersive theatre experience celebrating life in death.

The show explores what connects us in times of grief and loss, using film, music and real-life stories from Butetown, Wales’ oldest multicultural community, and beyond.

Director Gavin Porter, a film and theatre-maker from Butetown, created this show with musicians and artists from his community. Together, they offer us a moment of collective reflection and celebration.

Join us for music, stories, samosas and Welsh cakes.

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First presented in Cardiff in 2022, Circle of Fifths is touring venues across Wales and to London.

Circle of Fifths is supported by John Ellerman Foundation, as part of NTWs’ Dramaturg programme.

4 Stars

[A] beautiful and moving portrait of a place and its people.

Guardian

5 Stars

You feel you are part of something real and stark and spiritual.

Buzz Magazine

A time capsule of this unique culture in Wales.

Image gallery

Production gallery

  • An individual is standing on a crate with their arms crossed in front of them. They're wearing a grey suit with no tie and a fedora. Behind them, an individual wearing all black is sitting on a crate with their legs crossed.
  • Three people are standing in a row on a stage. The person on the left is holding a guitar and looking at the person in the centre. The person in the centre is holding a trombone on is looking to their right. The person on the right is holding a trumpet in front of them at their waist, with their arms crossed.
  • In the foreground is an individual with their arms up in the air. They're looking up and singing with their eyes closed. They're wearing a black suit with no jacket, and are not the focus of the camera. In the background and individual is looking to the foreground and is also singing. They are in focus.
  • An individual is on the left, they are looking up and singing, and their eyes are closed. Their right arm is crossed in front of them and their right fist is clenched, and they're holding a trombone in their left hand. To their right is another individual wearing all black. They are looking up and ahead and are also singing.

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An individual is leaning back in a chair with their hands behind their head. They're wearing a yellow jumper.

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Four people are sat in a circle around a table. Two of them are holding microphones and have them pointed at one of the other individuals.

Young Storytellers

Thank you

We want to give a big shout-out to Rogue Welsh Cakes and Mam-Gu Welshcakes for supplying Welsh cakes across the tour, and Simla Spice, Newport; Valley’s Spice, Ebbw Vale; Mumbai Maska, Chirk; Ali’s Tandoori, Cardigan; Sitar Balti, Chepstow; Rice Box Indian Café, Pontypridd; Vegetarian Food Studio, Butetown and En Root, Clapham for the samosas.

Cast

Shakeera Ahmun
Francesca Dimech
Anthony Ward
Kyle Legall
Rose Beecraft Music
Wella

Creative team

Director
Gavin Porter
Dramaturg
Dawn Walton OBE
Designer
Ruth Stringer
Lighting Designer
Jane Lalljee
Assistant Designer
Sandra Gustafsson
Original Set & Costume Design
Jacob Hughes
Stage Manager
Weronika Szumelda
Video Design & Technician
Nic Finch
Lighting Technician & Relights
James O’Neill
Sound & Video Technician
Ian Barnard