The Soldier’s Tale

Igor Stravinsky
Text by C.F. Ramuz

Stefano Boccacci, Creative producer & Conductor

Emily Bishai, Director
Matthew Gough, Choreographer
Tegan James, Leah Norton & Valentine Gigandet: Set/Costume designers 

CHARACTERS 
Narrator: Ayo Adegun
Soldier: Jerome Lister
Devil: Matilda Rowe
Princess: Courtney Sellick (dancer)

DANCE ENSEMBLE (BA Hons Dance (Contemporary), University of South Wales)

Georgia Davies
Isaac Griffiths
Victoria Ioannou
Emily Mae Lloyd-Reed
Courtney Sellick
Samantha Underwood

ENSEMBLE
Violin: Dayna Townsend
Double Bass: Callum Duggan
Clarinet: Sarah Jenkins
Bassoon: Bryn Swiatek
Cornet: Emily Stokes
Trombone: Benjamin Holford
Percussion: Daniel Lauro

Special thanks
Sean Browne and Lorna Hooper
Igor Stravinsky

Born: June 17th, 1882, Lumonosov, Russia

Died: April 6th, 1971, New York City, United States
Story by: Charles - Ferdinand Ramuz (1878 - 1947)
Première: September 28th, 1918. Lausanne, Switzerland 
Conductor: Ernest Ansermet (1883 - 1969)

Background

The tale in question is taken from a collection of over 600 folk tales collected in the mid
19th century by Alexander Afanasyev, who hoped that disseminating native Russian folk
tales would help promote the Russian language against the aristocratically-preferred
French. Stravinsky's text though is a French retelling with the Lausanne writer Charles
Ferdinand Ramuz to whom he had been introduced in 1915 by the conductor Ernest
Ansermet. Stravinsky and his family were then living in exile in the Vaudois Alps, a move
necessitated by his wife developing tuberculosis following the birth of their fourth child.
Ramuz, who spoke no Russian, and Stravinsky worked closely together on French libretti
for Reynard (1916) and for Les Noces (1917), and then, both strapped for cash (no
royalties or estate income for Stravinsky from revolutionary Russia), turned to the idea of a
small travelling theatre production: small cast, small orchestra, small space. The
patronage of the piece's dedicatee, the philanthropist and amateur clarinettist Werner
Reinhart of Winterthur, allowed their idea to be realised. 

The piece was originally written for a troupe of three actors (the soldier, the devil, and a
narrator), two dancers, and a conductor with 7 instrumentalists: “the most representative
types in treble and bass, of the different instrumental families” (Stravinsky). The
instrumental line-up is similar to that of the New Orleans Dixieland Jazz band of whose
repertoire Stravinsky was aware. Ansermet conducted the first performance in Lausanne
at the end of September 1918, with Lausanne University students taking some of the
acting roles. Unfortunately, it did not solve Stravinsky's money worries.

Chris Darwin
 Stefano Boccacci Currently studying his MMus in Orchestral
Conducting, Boccacci has assisted Mark Wigglesworth with
BBC NOW and Maxime Tortelier with the North Devon Sinfonia.
In 2019, he conducted the Welsh National Opera Orchestra,
and was the assistant conductor of the Havant Symphony
Orchestra. Has assisted the Petersfield Orchestra, Bristol
Metropolitan Orchestra and Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra.
Has collaborated with Ballet Cymru and has been developing interdisciplinary
projects and both educational and family concerts.  

Emily Bishai Stage director Emily Bishai hails from the USA
and South Africa. Recent credits include Scenes from the Tower
(Dell’Arte Opera Ensemble), The Four Note Opera (RWCMD)
and as assistant director The Marriage of Figaro (WNO), Don
Giovanni (ROH). Before coming to RWCMD to complete her MA
in Opera Directing, she completed an apprenticeship at The
Juilliard School in New York and holds a BA in Anthropology
and Music from Harvard University. www.emilybishai.com

Matthew Gough A performer, choreographer,

dramaturge, and lecturer, Matthew has worked
internationally in Musical Theatre, Theatre,
Contemporary Dance, Film, and Education. Matt
has recently worked with Cwmni’r Frân Wen (Llyfr
Glas Nebo), and Theatr Iolo (Chwarae), whilst holding the post of senior lecturer in
Dance at the University of South Wales.
Ayomide Adegun attended The Brit School where he
studied theatre for two years before he joined The Royal
Welsh College of Music and Drama on the BA Acting course.
Professional credits include: The Jumper Factory, Young Vic.
Run It Back, Talawa Theatre Company, Red Pitch, Harts
Theatre Company, Daniel Bailey.

Jerome Lister was born in the east end of Plaistow. His love
for acting sprouted after taking part in workshops at Theatre
Royal Stratford East since the age of fifteen. He then joined
the amazing organisation that is Open Door in order to take
him to the next level in terms of auditioning. Which has
landed him in the wonderful school that is Royal Welsh
College of Music & Drama. 

Matilda Rowe grew up and studied in London. She first

performed professionally at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 and
2017. Since starting studying at RWCMD in 2018 she has
performed with the Richard Burton Company in Road dir. by
Michael Fentiman and Wolves dir. by Rania Jumaily. She
then transferred with Wolves for its run at Theatr Clwyd. 
 Georgia Davies is a third year student studying dance at
USW. She has competed in many dance competitions
across Britain winning titles including ‘lyrical contemporary
soloist‘ for six years. She has represented Wales in the
Dance Worlds in 2015, 2017 and 2018. She is a former
member of Ballet Cymru Associates and has worked with a
wide range of dance and theatre practitioners including
Mathilde Lopez, Matteo Marfoglia, Emma Lewis and Krystal
Lowe.

Isaac Griffiths is currently in his second year at USW. He

has been involved in competitions and sharings with Sarah
Burnell School of Jazz and Moya Vahey School of Russian
Ballet. He is a former member of National Dance Company
Wales Associates. More recently Isaac has worked with
aspiring choreographers and artists in the Lucky Trimmer
Festival held in Germany which was produced by Romain
Guion.

Victoria Ioannou is a dancer in her third year of training at

USW. She has performed in various shows and concerts in
Cyprus, Greece and Wales. She has worked with a wide
range of dance and theatre practitioners including Jo Fong,
Mathilde Lopez, Matteo Marfoglia, Emma Lewis, Krystal
Lowe, Charis Savvas, Helena Paparizou and Sakis
Rouvas. She is a former Rhythmic gymnast and
participated in competitions in Cyprus and Greece.
 Emily Mae Lloyd-Reed is a dancer in her second year
training at USW. She has performed at a variety of venues
such as the Royal Albert Hall, St David’s Hall and Her
Majesty’s Theatre.  She has worked with practitioners such
as Emma Lewis, and Krystal Lowe. She has been a
member of County Youth Dance Company since 2016.

Courtney Sellick is currently in her third year studying

dance at USW. She has competed in dance
competitions in the past winning titles including the
‘Barbara Sharp England Champion’ award in freestyle
Jazz. She has worked with a wide range of dance and
theatre practitioners during her university experience
including Mathilde Lopez, Matteo Marfoglia, Emma
Lewis and Krystal Lowe.

Samantha Underwood is currently in her third year at USW.

She has performed in prestigious venues including the Royal
Albert Hall, Disney Land Paris, Her Majesty’s Theatre and
Sadler’s Wells. She has worked with a wide range of dance
and theatre practitioners including Caroline Finn, Mathilde
Lopez, Matteo Marfoglia, Emma Lewis and Krystal Lowe.
She is a former member of National Youth Dance Wales and
National Dance Company Wales Associates.