Hugh Hughes in... 360

Synopsis
Biography
Information

WINNER Three Weeks' Editors Award 2009

It's been over three years since Hugh Hughes' last visit to Northern Stage with his award-winning hit, Floating. Since then, the emerging Welsh artist has travelled across the world to perform in Colombia, Russia, Singapore, the USA and enjoyed a sold-out run at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Following an award-winning run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Hugh headed back to Newcastle only to join in the Northern Stages project. He invites you into his wonderful world to share an evening of delightfully comic stories of friendship, mountains and the sculpture of the excitement of building the dam.

Hugh is finding things tough. People keep telling him to 'grow up'. He returns to his childhood home in Anglesey to climb Snowdon with his best friend Gareth. But as the journey to the summit descends into a farce, Hugh starts to ask some big questions about fantasy, friendship and bottling things up.

A comic and compelling adventure through white lies, first love and imaginary super-hero alter-egos all told in Hugh's uniquely charming style.

"Life-affirmingly uplifting... a tale rich in detail, emotion and personal nostalgia. Guaranteed to put a spring in your step."
Chortle, UK

"Entertainment is first-rate when the audience has to be encouraged to rejoin the real world"
Sydney Morning Herald on Floating

"Few performers provoke such a warm response from an audience as Hughes. But then, correspondingly few treat us with such courtesy and charm."
The Times, UK

Photo by Geraint Lewis

Approx running time: 80mins

Hoipolloi

Hoipolloi are committed to creating new work that imaginatively engages their audience and makes them laugh. It is these two things, imagination and laughter, that drives them. Since 1994, when the company was formed by Shôn Dale-Jones (Artistic Director) and Stefanie Müller (Associate Director), they have toured 15 new shows nationally and internationally.

Their work involves the creation of strong stage worlds that are unbound by the confines of reality. The work is celebratory, colourful, and gleeful, full of physical energy and visual excitement. Most importantly, it is always their aim to appeal to a wide range of people - to entertain them as well as to playfully challenge their sense of reality.

Hoipolloi has received 4 Total Theatre Award nominations; a nomination for Best Actor from The Stage Awards, as well as winning a Total Theatre Award for Floating (2006), a Scotsman Fringe First award for Story of a Rabbit (2007) and a Three Weeks Editor's Award for 360 (2009).

Hoipolloi is now one of the leading award-winning, critically-acclaimed British companies, both nationally and internationally, making innovative new theatre. In the past year their work has been seen around the world including London's Barbican Centre, the National Museum of Singapore, the Spoleto Festival, UCLA Los Angeles and Sydney.

For the latest tour dates, videos and exclusive backstage news, please visit www.hoipolloi.org.uk or follow them on Twitter via @hellohoipolloi

Hoipolloi and Hugh Hughes

Hoipolloi and Hugh Hughes began collaborating in 2005, when Hoipolloi created Hugh's first ever theatre production, Floating. The partnership continued with the development of two further shows, Story of a Rabbit and 360. All three shows have won awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Over the past few years, Hugh Hughes has performed all over the world, making friends and winning legions of fans with his uniquely comic and big-hearted take on life.

An introduction from Hugh Hughes

"It's been five years since I created my very first stage production, Floating. Following the success of Floating, came second show, Story of a Rabbit. And now I'm thrilled to be returning with a new show, 360.

In 360, I wanted to get to the heart of some big questions to do with honesty and friendship. I'm very grateful to my oldest friend Gareth, for giving me permission to share an experience that we went through together once.

I use this story to examine why certain things happen inside certain feelings. I hope the show will make people laugh and help shed light on some things which can be difficult to understand."