Stuart Cox

Stuart Cox and Nigel Watson are the actors and directors who founded Theatr Taliesin Wales in Cardiff, 1982.

Summary of interview with Stuart Cox

What follows is a summary of a small portion of a long 2003 interview by Farley Richmond with Stuart Cox published online [ [http://www.mssu.edu/projectsouthasia/TSA/VIIN1/Richmond.htm Link to full text of 2003 interview] ] in "Teaching South Asia":

That interview recounts in detail how Nigel Watson asked Stuart Cox to direct him in a solo performance when they were trying to source new stage material. They wanted dramatic stories that allowed them to test their observation that audience attention was always most riveted when strong narrative captured it and drove it forward.

In a telephone conversation Watson mentioned that he had just read a modern version by Ramsay Wood of The "Panchatantra", a cycle of stories within stories which are probably the oldest ever written down.

They decided to work on rehearsing these stories as a solo performance and from the very first rehearsal it was clear they had stumbled on something special. This material seemed perfect as they had first worked together in very physical experimental theatrical performance, and were thus fascinated by theatre from around the world, especially non-Western and particularly from India.

Together they created more than thirty characters for Nigel Watson to play in telling "Panchatantra" stories, including animals, and suddenly they had a strong vehicle for being physically expressive in finding different ways to dramatize the stories.

Their company was based in Cardiff and called Theatr Taliesin Wales after Taliesin, the first known Welsh bard, magician, and shape changer — as a metaphor for the style of performance they were pursuing. The show had the title "A Word in the Stargazer's Eye" and was so well received by every kind of audience that they toured with it on and off for two years ending up with a music theatre version, collaborating with musicians from Calcutta who played sitar, tabla, and tambura integral to the performance.

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