Fusing new writing and co-creation, a major production to celebrate Sherman Theatre’s 50th birthday will tell the stories of a diverse range of communities.
Cardiff, with its unique character and spirit, is the city it is today thanks to the contributions of its diverse communities. Over recent years Sherman Theatre has focused on telling local stories with global resonance. It is therefore fitting that the stories of some of Cardiff’s communities will be told, often in their own words, on the Sherman’s Main House stage in a pivotal element of its 50th birthday programme. The show, which will take place this August (dates to be confirmed), promises a vibrant and authentic celebration of the contribution those communities make to the city. The production is the result of a community project made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the awarding of a grant of £55,607.
Throughout the show, writer Paul Jenkins, working in partnership with the Jewish History Association of South Wales, will tell the story of the Sherman brothers. Harry and Abe Sherman, children of East European Jewish immigrants, co-founded the famous Sherman Pools company in Cardiff which was a major employer in the city. The brothers were committed philanthropists, making generous donations to many communities across the city, and following their deaths, a large gift enabled the founding of Sherman Theatre.
Around the brothers’ inspiring story, five groups will tell stories of their communities. The groups are: Cathays Day Provision, Cardiff’s Deaf Community, Kurdish All Wales Association (KAWA), Waulah Cymru and the Welsh Ballroom Community. Over a fifteen week process the Sherman Theatre team, led by production director and Creative Engagement Coordinator Francesca Pickard and producer Mehdi Razi, will work closely with the communities to support them to identify the stories they would like to tell. The stories will be told on stage by a team of professional performers and members of the participating community groups.
This summer’s show follows hugely successful community-led productions in recent years including Home, with the Waulah community, and Love, Cardiff with communities living on and around the capital’s City Road. Like those productions, the 2023 project will be a vital act of the preservation of community heritage. The legacy of the production will include the sharing and archiving of the stories gathered during the process.
Artistic Director Joe Murphy said “Cardiff would not be the city we love without its rich and diverse mix of communities. The Sherman is itself is an example of the dynamic contributions made by our city’s communities. We’re excited to be telling the story of Harry and Abe Sherman and to be sharing our stage with communities who will tell their own stories, this would not be possible without the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.”
Further details including the title of the production will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets, which will be sold on a Pay What You Can basis will go on sale on 14 June.