Inspired by the true story of 18th century baronet, Sir Herbert Lloyd of Peterwell in South Wales - a rich, powerful and duplicitous land owner - and the history of the once great estate of Hafod Uchtryd in the Ystwyth valley, west Wales, now derelict and reclaimed by nature, ‘Stags’ is an original piece of dance theatre by welsh company Citrus Arts about a tyrannical and narcissistic baron who aims to dominate everything he sees until one night a group spirits intervene, taunting him and conjuring up memories of people from his past that he had pushed aside.  A sinister blend of mask work, powerful choreography and acrobatic aerial dance, they haunt their captor into changing his ways and accepting the natural world.

 

‘Stags’ has been gathering place and interest towards a full outing of these savagely beautiful beasts later in the year.  Photographs (next page, click on the white petal) are from the R&D performance at the semi-derelict Olympus theatre in Gloucester and are taken by professional photographer Jorge Lizalde.