Video conferencing has become an integral part of our lockdown lives and it is no different for Cardiff theatre company Hijinx. Due to perform street theatre at Green Man Festival this summer, Hijinx’s productions took on a new form when the festival moved online following the Coronavirus lockdown. The company’s newest show Metamorphosis, which is part of Green Man Festival’s online programme Field of Streams, offers a reinterpretation of the Franz Kafka classic novella, whilst exploring the advantages, limitations and the comedic value of video calls.
Hijinx Present Metamorphosis Online
One morning Gregor Samsa woke in his bed from uneasy dreams, to find he had turned into a monstrous verminous bug. He becomes incapacitated, confined to the house, unable to work and unable to hold his family close. This metadrama sees the cast of 12, all of whom have awoken to a different world, forced to reinterpret their profession, their identity, their very worth to the world.
Metamorphosis is an experiment in recreating the highly interactive nature of Hijinx’s productions via the functionality that Zoom offers. The audience will be able to interact with Zoom’s polling functions and may even become part of the action, so should be dressed appropriately, or at the very least, dressed. The Hijinx cast will perform live from their own home, where an unexpected extra (dog, cat or child) could appear at any given time.
Hijinx Academy actress Ffion Gwyther, who has recently become a YouTube sensation with her lockdown videos and catchphrase ‘cwtch in and have a drink’, will feature in the online theatre production, alongside a further six Hijinx Academy actors and five freelance performers. The Hijinx Academy is the only professional performance training course for actors with learning disabilities in Wales. The production also features original music by Bafta Cymru winner Tic Ashfield.
Metamorphosis has been commissioned by the Green Man Trust and is supported by Arts Council Wales and Tŷ Cerdd. Green Man Festival’s Field of Streams is made possible by Arts Council of Wales, Green Man Trust & Visit Wales.
How To Watch Metamorphosis Online
Watch Metamorphosis live on Green Man’s social platforms on Saturday 22 August at 6pm. The event is free but ticketed.
- For more information and to book tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/green-man-presents-hijinx-metamorphosis-tickets-116596813207
- For more information about Hjinx, visit: http://www.hijinx.org.uk/