Tour DatesSeptember 2011

2/3rd September, Ammanford Miner’s Theatre, 7.30pm

5th September, Swansea Grand Theatre, 7.30pm

6th September, Carmarthen Lyric Theatre, 7.30pm

8th September, The Melville Theatre Abergavenny, 7.30pm

10th September, Cardiff Chapter Arts Centre, 2.30pm & 7.30pm

13th September, Ammanford Miners Theatre, 2.30pm & 7.30pm

2 CLICK

Strangers2 is an

international script writing and

performance project involving collaboration

between young people and professional

artists from Wales, New Zealand, Australia

and Hong Kong. Using multi-media and

communications technology, young people

have connected on a global scale, exploring

their cultural landscapes and celebrating

diversity through theatre. The project

has been led by Mess Up The Mess Theatre

Company LTD in Wales with delivery

partnerships through Australian Theatre

for Young People, Hong Kong Academy of

Performing Arts and Inspired Productions

in New Zealand.

The journey began the moment

the Strangers project curtains closed in

Feb 2008 and we at Mess Up The Mess Theatre

Company, inspired by an initial attempt

at international collaboration over the

internet, began looking for new partners

to create a new Strangers2 programme. What

wonderful and diverse partners we did find!

Hong Kong Academy of Theatre Arts is such an

amazing and dynamic organisation providing

first class higher education and reaching

out to the community by engaging in cutting

edge programmes. When we visited in April

2010 with our Peer Leaders we were blown

away by their resources, wonderful staff

and committed and talented young people.

Around our Strangers table we also have the

Australian Theatre for Young People in Sydney

who provide a very real training ground for

the Australian theatre industry and Inspired

Productions, a small but pioneering youth

arts organisations based in Nelson,

New Zealand.

All the organisations

differences including the languages we work

within has made for some creative challenges

that have gradually shaped the project.

The initial project camp

in Hong Kong enabled us to find a method

of working that meant it was possible

to work collaboratively but in line with

organisations differing needs. It was at

this camp that we devised a series of on-

line creative challenges designed to inspire

the dramatic content for two very different

final productions. Each group was asked to

respond to the projects theme with poetry,

characters, video, movement and song. The work

created was showcased on a project blog and

has inspired the full length English language

script written ‘Click’ by Dafydd James and an

abstract performance piece performed by the

young people in Hong Kong. The productions

are inspired by the same source material and

feature multi-media art that has been created

collaboratively between all 4 groups.

WHAT IS STRANGERS 2 AND CLICK?

INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE CHALLENGES AND

WORKSHOPS THAT INSPIRED CLICK:

Poetry

Character development

Filmmaking

Song writing

Script development

Rehearsal technique

Multimedia

Blogging/Skyping

Technical theatre

Stage management

Costume design

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG AThttp://messupthemess.co.uk/strangers2

3 CLICK

On reflection, I can honestly

say that this has been one of the most

stimulating devising processes I have ever

been part of. It has certainly been one of the

craziest, but that, as the young people of Mess

up the Mess well know, is not necessarily a bad

thing: the mess that such craziness brings can

often be creative. It all began with a trip to

Hong Kong, followed by a series of workshops

in music, film, character creation, poetry and

movement across three continents, and countless

e mail/Skype/MSN interactions with the young

people in Australia, Hong Kong, Wales and New

Zealand. We even interacted in ‘character’ via

chat, developing scenes across space and time

zones. In Wales, I had the honour of working

with a variety of groups: the Ethnic Youth

Support Team, the Carmarthenshire Barnados

Young Carers group, the Rising Stars Theatre

Company, 2active8 and the Monkton Priory

Project. It was always going to be a challenge

to creatively represent such a wide-spectrum of

communities, whilst avoiding the didacticism

that might accompany any play that engages with

youth issues. If the play succeeds to strike

that balance I have my young teachers to thank,

if it fails, the fault is all mine!

Everything that we developed

together was uploaded onto the project’s

blog (created by Carolina Vasquez, who’s

wizard-like skills in film and projection

have certainly extended the creative

horizons of the play). Click has evolved

directly from that blog but the play is

equally about the process which led to its

creation: the international relationships

that were forged, the problems and

advantages which come with communicating

via the Internet, the highs and lows

of negotiating cultural similarities

and differences. It is both created and

inspired by the young people that I have

encountered over the last two years; it

is very much their play. Finally, I am

sure all the young people involved in the

project won’t mind me turning the spotlight

for a moment onto Sarah Jones and Peri

Thomas, without whom Mess up the Mess nor

Click would have existed. It is a privilege

to know you and though you do not want it,

you never get the praise you deserve.

I’m glad that when we encountered each

other, we ‘Clicked’

DAFYDD JAMES Writer

NOTES FROM THE WRITER

"As a Latin American living in Wales it has been fantastic for me to get the opportunity to

work on 'Click' with such a diversity of cultures, languages and ethnicities. Mess Up The

Mess have, once again, managed to create a production where young people get the opportunity

to learn new skills and discover what they're good at. I have definitely learnt lots creating

the digital media for 'Click'. The biggest challenge for me was to use, create and treat

social networks in a way that was realistic for young people- spelling mistakes and all!

Social media is such an important part of our lives

and I'm very excited to see how it all comes together on stage."

CAROLINA VASQUES Multi-Media Artist

4 CLICK

Tonight has been a long time

coming! What started life as the Strangers2

project a creative collaboration with young

people and professional artists from around the

world has, as intended, finally given birth to

a play that is being performed over the next

month in 3 countries around the world!

The aim of this project

was to write, rehearse and perform one play

inspired by a collective process (previous

MUTM international collaborations have led to

sharing the process but not the full final

product) and this was a big enough challenge

without the added pressure of making it

entertaining, relevant and engaging for

young people and audiences around the world.

Dafydd has super-exceeded these expectations,

including those of the young people engaged

in the project, and created a play that is

honest, relevant,

funny and challenging. I hope that our play,

while presenting the reality of the world

in which young people live, celebrates the

tenacity of youth, at a time when society

is in danger of marginalising young people

further, particularly those most at risk of

slipping through the net.

It is both refreshing and

scary to direct a play that so clearly

explores youth culture. This reality is not

often one which adults are invited to be

part of, so while I hope our young people in

the audience connect with the play I also

challenge adults to listen, watch and be

open with what they have to share. Dafydd has

grasped the voices of the young people we

have encountered on our journey and it is a

huge honour to present this production this

evening

As I write this note two

weeks before opening night, my mind is a

little bit blown away by the concept that

three other wonderful youth theatres around

the world are sharing the same journey as us

right about now!

MESS UP THE MESS SARAH JONES

Artistic Director

Mess Up The Mess & Strangers 2 Project

South West Wales

5 CLICK

CREW LIST

Natasha Nicholls /// Stage Manager

Katy Stephenson /// Lighting Mentor

Charlotte Neville /// Designer Mentor

Jess Hughes /// Deputy Stage Manager

William Harley /// Sound

Robyn Elias /// Sound

Jacob Thomas /// Lighting Tech

Cei Jordan /// Lighting Tech

Cerian Wilshere /// Costume

Jade Lewis /// Costume

Ellis Davies /// Projection

Amy Davies /// Props /// Set

STRANGERS 2 PEER LEADERS:

Alex Griffiths

India Marsh

Jacob Thomas

Natasha Tylka

CAST LIST

Dan Morgan /// Isaac

Russ Beer /// Sam

Lucy Tootle /// Ellie

May Auyeung /// George

Llyr Williams /// James /// Welsh Ninja

Katie Searl /// Vicky

Kieren Jones /// Abe

Taylor Spencer /// David

Lynsey Rees /// Kerry

Tashy Tylka /// Cathy /// Alexandria

Cerain Fitzgerald /// Robert

Sam Dighton /// Craig

6 CLICK

ATYP

CHRIS TOMKINSON

Director

ATYP

Sydney — Australia

Click has been an amazing

journey of exploration and discovery. It

has been very challenging on an artistic

and technical level and very rewarding

too. We’ve learnt a lot and also learnt how

much more there is to learn.

The core of the experience,

as always at ATYP, has been the cast who

have thrown themselves with enthusiasm at

everything that has been thrown at them.

To be a part of a group of people getting

to know each other and bravely exploring

worlds with details simultaneously both

far from and close to their own has been

an honour.

This touching of worlds

with people on the other side of the

globe, in South Wales from New South

Wales, and closer yet just as far away,

in Hong Kong and New Zealand, has opened

up new perspectives on things we share

and the small things that mark us out

as Australian. It’s always good to know

yourself more clearly in the reflection of

other people’s lives.

We are only a click away

from everyone — and that has brought us

closer together too.

7 CLICK

CAST LIST

Julia /// McNamara

Sydney /// Nicholas

Jimmy /// Pucci

Jake /// Bayssom

Isabel /// Griffin

Naomi /// Hastings

Daniel /// Tauber

Sami /// Tauber

Billy /// Coulthurst

Andrew /// McGregor

Tanisha /// Sundaram

Director /// Chris Tomkinson

Production /// Manager: Liam Kennedyw

“It is one of the most exciting new plays for young adults that I’ve read in the past 18 months.” FRASIER CORFIELD

Artistic Director for Australia Theatre for Young People

8 CLICK

HKAPA ESTELLA WONG

Co-Director

HKAPA

Hong Kong

When I first learnt that

“Strangers 2” was an international devising

project involving young people from four very

different countries, I couldn’t actually

visualize how it’s going to be like.

Nevertheless, I was exactly excited by this

unknown! During Easter 2010, representatives of

MUTM (Wales) and HKAPA (HK) met for the first

time in the intensive day-camp, where artists

and youngsters of both sides worked closely

together to set the common “point of departure”

for our wonderful devising journey.

In the past one and a half

years, “Strangers 2” teams from Wales, Sydney,

New Zealand and HK kept each other updated

through skype, facebook, youtube, blog etc,

sharing and celebrating the bits and pieces of

our creative work-in-progress. The exchange

trip to Sydney ATYP in June 2011 was also

a highlight to me. To be able to visit the

rehearsals and discuss the project in-person

with Fraser Corfield (artistic director) and

Christopher Tomkinson (director of “Click”

production) was extremely valuable and

enjoyable! The enthusiasm and liveliness of the

Sydney young people are also remarkable….they

are such a wonderful group of young artists!

The HK Strangers team is

entering the final stage of our creative work

in July 2011. I am confident to say that

we have all gone through a transformative

journey – we are all transformed in some

ways. The English word “Click” has different

meanings: it can be a small action done by a

finger on a mouse, but it can also be the big

action happens in a man’s brain – the sudden

realization of something.

TSANG MAN TUNG

Co-Director

HKAPA

Hong Kong

The world is like a matrix,

all things are connected by ley lines,

while subtle energies awaken people’s

collective sub-conscious.

“Strangers” is a project

which teenagers understand and experience

their life through collective creativities.

In the process, participants’ awareness has

been activated; they are not only knowing

but understanding life.

Strangers effect is just

like “butterfly effect,” evolves from one

small movement to a huge consequence.

Here, I hope this Strangers effect will

continue in the future.

9 CLICK

CREW LIST

Producer /// Anna Chan

Project Coordinator /// Ritchie Law

Co-directors /// Estella Wong/Tsang Man Tung

Assistant to Director/ Kelvin Tsang

Stage Manager /// Luby Lam

Sound Designer /// Swing Leung

Sound Operator /// Brian Chan

Lighting Designer /// Zoe Cheung

Lighting Operator /// Fong Ka Yin

Deputy Stage Manager /// Joanna Ko

Assistant Stage Manager /// Yu Wai Lam

Stage Crew /// Victor Sham

ARTISTS

Dance /// Felix Ke

Videograpy /// Kiwi Chow

Photograpy /// Leo Yuenww

CAST LIST

Chang Fai Wing /// Catbi

Cheuk Hiu Fung /// Satan

Chiu Tsz Ying /// Hedy

Chu Pun Tung /// Chor

Kong Wing Chi /// Billy

Kwan Chun Cheung /// Ero

Kwan Ka Lam /// Tracy

Lam Cheuk Fung /// Xavier

Lam Yuen Chun /// Crystal

Ng Tsz Ying /// Sophia

Ng Wing Yan /// Vienne

Shek Wing Chi /// Trista

Sze wei /// Cecilia

Tam On Ki /// Angel

To Ching Man /// Do

Tsang Yuen Yuen /// Kennis

Tse Tsz Kwan /// Chris

Tse Yuen Mei /// Domin

Wong Chun Yin /// Sam

Wong Ho Yin /// Thomas

10 CLICK

TABITHA BESLEY Age 19

Co-Director

Inspired Productions

New Zealand

INSPIRED PRODUCTIONS

It has been amazing for me to

watch this project grow and

still be here now to see it

flourish. I was in the first

Strangers play in 2008 so it's

really cool to be involved in

Strangers 2. It was hard work

to pull everything together

and make it happen in NZ so

I'm pretty proud of what we've

accomplishded! I think Click is

such an awesome script which

is really relevant to a lot of

young people around the world

and I'm so happy to be sharing

it with them.

TABITHA BESLEY Age 19

11 CLICK

It's a really cool and

interesting play... I"m

nervous but so excited

because it's the first

real production I've been

involved in

[ KATE ]

CAST AND CREW LIST

Directors /// Jasmine Turner, Tabitha Besley

Stage Manager /// Pollyanna Besley

Technician /// James Walton

Isaac /// Jordan Paenga Cullen

Sam /// Jack Knowles

Ellie /// Caitlin Lee Gladstone

George /// Kate

James /// Harry Coutts

Robert /// Peter Croft

Vicky /// Leah Jacksties

Abe /// Dali McDonald

David /// Hayden de Jong

Craig /// James Tanner

Kerry /// Adele Tunnicliff

Alexandria/Cathy /// Ellora Virtue

It's amazing to see how

the initial draft script

has developed into

something like this

[ ADELE ]

It's been really exciting

and fun, it's been great

to work with all these

awesome people and be

part of a big production

[ HARRY ]

12 CLICK

A STRANGER FROM MY LIFE

Her life is a patchwork of stories

From many times and many places,

And though she speaks mostly of glories

Photographs tell of missing faces.

Several languages, multiple lands

She was supported by work of her hands.

BY E.M., Australia

STRANGERS NO MORE

Gazing through the windows of the world:

Fleeting intimacies,

So far, and yet so near.

By young people involved in Strangers Wales

12 CLICK

"What I love is that i can

play a gay character without

the play being focussed

on gay issues. The play

is not afraid of being

controversial, which will

make it awesome to perform."

DANIEL MORGAN, aged 18

OUR JOURNEY

13 CLICK

STRANGERS NO MORE

Gazing through the windows of the world:

Fleeting intimacies,

So far, and yet so near.

By young people involved in Strangers Wales

"When I first read the script I was

worried that audiences may be offended by

particular scenes, but it's important to

show people the reality of situations

young people face in life and make them

more aware of them."

LYNDSAY REES, aged 17

13 CLICK

STRANGER TO MYSELF

It was time to peer through, the secret windows of the soul. The secrets that lost its

curtain for protection. For the veil had been removed. All that was left was the core.

The heart, the soul. There was an aura of emotions, a rainbow pallet of emotions….

Like an onion, life is a constant discovery. It has its layers gradually peeling, peeling

and peeling away. ‘Till the heart and innermost core is discovered.’ It add taste, zest

and a sharp and sweet quality that enriches our lives. I now know the truth. I am all of

these things – I am complex, unique and am constantly changing and evolving. Who am I?

Where is my true self? What stranger lies within….

BY SAMI TAUBER aged 15

Thankyou to all the people we worked with during stranger2 to develop ideas:

—Monkton Priory Project

—Ethnic Youth Support Team

—Rising Stars Theatre Company

—African Community Centre

—Barnardo's Carmarthenshire Young Carers Project

—2Activ8

—YMCA Swansea

—Carmarthenshire Theatres

—Australia Theatre for Young People

—Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

—Inspired Productions

—MUTM Youth Members

mutmstrangers

14 CLICK

PANTO

This Christmas 'mess up the mess' brings you their most sensational

panto ever! Join Aladdin on his magic carpet ride to a world of sorcery, illusion,

fun & frolics. Help Aladdin win the heart of his beloved princess. Laugh out loud at

the amazing antics of the genie of the lamp. Get up close to Widow Twanky's dirty

laundry. And if you want to avoid the Evil Abanazer you'd better look behind you!

Coming soon

Audition Date: Wednesday 7th September 6pm Pantyffynnon Social Club

Show Dates: 9th,10th and 11th December 2011 at Ammanford Miners' Theatre

15 CLICK

Coming soon

Express themselves, have their voices heard and celebrated

Develop key transferable personal and social skills

Play an active part in their communities

Make informed choices about the issues that affect their lives

Reach their potential

Have fun in a healthy environment

PROJECTS INCLUDE:

Weekly youth theatre sessions

DVD and music projects

Peer Leader Training

Apprentice Theatre

Accredited Performing Arts Training

Issue based workshops and productions

Ready for work courses

ork placements

Mentoring schemes

MUTM successfully uses theatre creatively to inspire and engage disadvantaged and hard to reach young people through transformative learning experiences. We empower them to:

16 CLICK

Design: www.matthewtyson.co.uk

Get In Touch Mess Up The Mess are currently recruiting both young and old people for volunteering placements.

If you’d like to find out more about this or any of our events/projects, please;

Call:07966 294188Email:messupthemess@hotmail.co.uk