What We Do
Even through all our shows, our mission has never wavered.
We aim to bring you high-quality, affordable, professional devised physical theatre.
We aim to create the feeling of Hwyl [pronounced “coil” but with a H instead of a C] in all our audiences. This is a Welsh word, with no direct interpretation. It is a stirring of emotional feeling and energy. You feel it in your bones and in your heart. It also is the welsh word for goodbye.
Where We Came From
Hwyl Theatre’s start date is ambiguous. We’re not sure whether it started with the first show we did together, with the first show under the banner Hwyl Theatre or with the company’s incorporation. So let’s tell you all of it!
Back in March 2019, Harry directed and Emma produced their first production together, Quiche and Whiskey, for DramaSoc at the University of Canterbury. We decided we worked well together, and we wanted to keep making opportunities for ourselves.
Our first show was called These Streets, in Little Andromeda in November 2019. This was the first show under the Hwyl Theatre name. We were so excited to put on our first profit share show, and with just about a month from audition to stage, we reckon we just about pulled it off! The show almost sold out, with an awesome number of door sales. We realised then that there was a real hunger for original physical theatre productions.
Our second show was called A Week in the Life (of you and me). We auditioned in February of 2020 – and you can guess what happened next. This musical would have explored the days of week, how time affects us, and what time means to us. Tragically, COVID-19 meant that we had to cease production on this show but we hope to reprise the show one day in the future!
Our third show was called Between a Clown and a Dark Place. Our most ambitious project yet, we again gave ourselves just over a month from auditions to show, in November 2020. This show was a discussion about fear, where it comes from and what we can do about it. We aimed to not make it a horror show, but a true exploration of these themes. It was also our first exploration into shadow theatre and working with light as a devising tool.
Coming into 2021, in March we were part of the Made in Canterbury festival at the Isaac Theatre Royal, with our show Distantly Connected. Performing with Harry’s family over the internet and Harry onstage, we tried to push the boundaries of what you can do with a Skype call.
We officially incorporated Hwyl Theatre as a company on the 16th of April, 2021.
In 2021, we took Distantly Connected on a tour of Dunedin, Motueka, Hokitika, Greymouth, and Kaikōura. If you would like to have Distantly Connected at a place near you, get in touch with us and we’ll see what we can do!
Harry started teaching at Canvas Bag Drama in June 2021. Canvas Bag are regularly accepting new students aged 5-17, for after-school or school holiday classes.
We staged The Internet According to George in September 2022 at Little Andromeda. This show took us into the world of George, a retiree being forced to grapple with the internet and computers for the first time. It was our second one-man show as Hwyl Theatre.
A Place to Stand was our November show for 2022, performed in Skillwise Theatre on Manchester Street. A Place to Stand was a return to our physical theatre roots, and it explored the land we live on and our connection to it.
November 2023 brought Macbeth to the Lyttelton Arts Factory stage, in our biggest show to date and our first scripted show. With shadows, clawed witches, and swordfighting showering wood chips everywhere, Macbeth was very exciting.
In January 2024, Harry became the Assistant Director of Canvas Bag Drama.
What’s happening next in the world of Hwyl?
We are currently accepting requests for audition slots for our upcoming November 2024 show, Under Milk Wood, where we’ll be getting back to Harry’s Welsh roots. Sign up here to audition.
For those aged 13-18, Hwyl Theatre is starting the Canterbury Youth Theatre, who will be performing Midsummer Night’s Dream in January 2025. Audition link coming soon!
Thank you for reading! Hwyl!
Hwyl Theatre 