About
A world première of two short plays (As a Man Grows Colder and The Modesty Men) by Welsh writer Rhys Hughes, directed by Volcano and performed by two talented actors from Wales.
Rhys Hughes is a versatile and highly regarded writer of speculative fiction, known primarily for his novels and short stories. In this world première, Volcano introduces a double bill of two of his short plays written in 2019 and 2020. They are precise, acute, observational works that use absurd humour to remind us that life remains mysterious and it is better not to trust those who claim to have the answers.
Volcano is an independent theatre production company that also runs a diverse inner-city arts centre in a large former supermarket building in Swansea High Street. The company produces ground-breaking original work and distinctive adaptations. Its mission is to be Swansea's radical catalyst for a confident, healthy, and creative culture in Wales.
As a Man Grows Colder
A cleaner and a company CEO discuss work, the weather, and the meaning of life. A scathingly funny assault on work, the division of labour and the impending collapse of the ecosystem.
The Modesty Men
A man walks into a bar and claims he has done many good things in his life. A bystander shares his belief in goodness and claims to have done even more – sacrificing even his limbs to help his fellow men. And so it goes: a battle of two Panglosses in search of goodness and modesty.
"It's a crime that Rhys Hughes is not as widely known as Italo Calvino. Brilliantly written and conceived, Hughes' fiction has few parallels anywhere in the world." Jeff Vandermeer