Theatre & Dance

Es & Flo

“Hidden truths. Fading memories. Bomb-proof love. Es and Flo fell fiercely in love in the 80s. They’ve been secretly living as lovers ever since. As Es becomes more forgetful around their home, an unexpected carer arrives. Who sent this woman? Why? Can they trust her?” – Wales Millennium Centre

Directed by Susie Mckenna and written by Jennifer Lunn, Tic created the music and sound for Es & Flo. Tickets are currently available for the Weston Studio at WMC, Cardiff and Kiln Theatre, London.


Pijin | Pigeon

Tic created the music and sound design for the Welsh touring production, Pijin | Pigeon. The bilingual show is a Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Theatr Iolo production, in association with Pontio.

“If language – and the sound of language – is key, it’s a reflection of the excellent use of sound throughout the production. From birdsong to river-flow, nature plays an integral part in Pijin’s flights of fancy, but the soundscape grows darker as the story progresses” – nation.cymru on the TGC | Theatr Iolo production of ‘Pijin | Pigeon’.

Author of the novel: Alys Conran

Adapted for stage: Bethan Marlow

Director: Lee Lyford

Set and Costume Designer: Carl Davies

Video Designer: Hayley Egan

Lighting Designer: Ceri James

Assistant Director: Melangell Dolma

Assistant Designer: Ola Klos

Movement Director: Eddie Ladd


Right Where We Left Us

Written by Rebecca Jade Hammond for Chippy Lane Productions and directed by Chelsey Gilliard, Tic composed the music for Right Where We Left Us. The show was performed at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff in September and October 2022.

Rebecca Jane Hammond – Writer

Chelsey Gilliard – Director

Matilda Southcott – Designer

Jane Lalljee – Lighting Designer

Chris Laurich – Sound Designer

Tom Bevan – Producer

Del Roberts – Stage Manager


The Boy With Two Hearts (Cardiff & London)

The Boy With Two Hearts was performed at The National Theatre, London during October and November 2022. Tic continued her creative work on The Boy With Two Hearts following the 2021 performances at WMC, working as co-composer and sound designer. The Boy With Two Hearts is current available to watch on NTathome.

Photo by Jorge Lizalde

By Hamed and Hessam Amiri, adapted for the stage by Phil Porter.

Director: Amit Sharma

Movement Director: Jess Williams

Associate Director: Sepy Baghaei

Producer: Pádraig Cusack

Co-Composer and Performer: Elaha Soroor

Designer: Hayley Grindle

Lighting Designer: Amy Mae

Video Designer: Hayley Egan

Stage Management: Nicola Redfern, Andrew Speed and Zoe Wale

Sound Op & Engineer: Josh Bowles

Recording Musicians: Giuliano Modarelli (guitar), Al MacSween (keyboard/piano) and Gurdain Singh Rayatt (tabla)


the_crash.test

For Hijinx Theatre, Tic created the music and sound design for their production of the_crash.test. First performed at the Wales Millennium Centre in May 2022, the production is currently touring Wales and Germany as well as being available online. Please visit Hijinx for more info.

“Tic Ashfield’s soundtrack makes a noticeable contribution to the play’s atmosphere, giving tense scenes more emotional depth and momentum” – IWA

Ben Pettitt-Wade – Director

Tom Ayres – Production Manager

Ceri James – Lighting Designer

Chris Laurich – Assistant Sound Designer & Sound Engineer

Robin Moore – Digital Consultant

Ellis Wrightbrook – Senior Producer

Garrin Clarke – Technical Manager


Anthem

Tic created the sound design for Llinos Mai’s Welsh language musical comedy at the Wales Millennium Centre directed by Alice Eklund.

Four regions. Four songs. One prize. With the land of song judging from their sofas, who will come out on top?” – Wales Millennium Centre

Written by Llinos Mai and composed by Llinos Mai and Dan Lawrence

Director: Alice Eklund

Set Designer: Jacob Hughes

Costume Designer: Delyth Evans

Lighting Designer: Katy Morison

Video Designer: Gino Green

Movement Director: Sundeep Saini

Assisitant Director: Juliette Manon


The Boy With Two Hearts

From July – October 2021 Tic co-composed the music for the Wales Millennium Centre production of ‘The Boy With Two Hearts’ with singer and composer Elaha Soroor. Tic also created the detailed sound design for the show. ‘The Boy With Two Hearts’ follows the true story of the Amiri family, who flee persecution in 2000, while also hoping to find specialist medical help in the UK for their son’s life threatening heart condition.

By Hamed and Hessam Amiri, adapted for the stage by Phil Porter.

Director: Amit Sharma

Producer: Pádraig Cusack

Designer: Hayley Grindle

Lighting Designer: Amy Mae

Co-Composer and Performer: Elaha Soroor

Movement Director: Jess Williams

Video Designer: Hayley Egan

Stage Management: Nicola Redfern and Sarah Thomas

Sound Op & Engineer: Josh Bowles

Recording Musicians: Giuliano Modarelli (guitar), Al MacSween (keyboard/piano) and Gurdain Singh Rayatt (tabla)


Rocket Launch Blaenavon

Working for Tin Shed Theatre, Tic created the music and sound design for their outdoor, site specific work ‘Rocket Launch Blaenavon’, presented in September 2021.

Directors: George Harris and Justin Cliffe

Production Design: Bethany Seddon and Rob Hill

Costume Design: Aled Williams

Lighting Design: Cara Hood

Faebian Averies: Writer

Company Stage Manager: Naomi Underwood

Jon Cox: Technical Manager

Grace Claire: Assistant Sound Designer


Y Teimlad

During August and September 2021 Tic created the score for ‘Y Teimlad’ presented by National Youth Theatre Wales and Theatr Clwyd. Written by Hanna Jarman and directed by Hannah Noone the performance was presented online from the 1st – 9th October 2021.

“Join the National Youth Theatre of Wales 2021 cast on an epic music-fuelled journey, where the world of ancient Love Gods collides with the reality of love in present day Wales. Written by Hanna Jarman and inspired by the ensemble cast, this vibrant, bilingual mash-up of film and theatre (with a smattering of psychedelic zoom) weaves together the stories of our young characters as they celebrate and re-define what love can be” – National Youth Arts Wales Website


Qwerin

In collaboration with composer Benjamin Talbott, Tic created the original music for ‘Qwerin’ by Osian Meilir. An Articulture Commission, Qwerin is an outdoor dance piece which is touring Wales in 2021 and was performance at Beyond The Boarder Festival 2021. The performance also features music by Pendevig and Gwilym Bowen Rhys.

Created by: Osian Meilir

Dancers: Osian Meilir, Cêt Haf, Elan Catrin Elidyr

Costume Designer: Becky Davies

Costume Maker: Amy Barrett

Mentor: Marc Rees

Producer: Carole Blade


Ghost Light

Working with Lighting Designer Jane Lallijee, Tic created the music and sound design for ‘Ghost Light’, an immersive sound and light experience presented at Theatr Ffwrnes, Llanelli.

Creative Director, Original Concept & Lighting Designer: Jane Lallijee

Production Sound Engineer & Sound Designer: Andy Evans

Designer: Carl Davies

Assistant Lighting Designer: Garrin Clarke

Lighting Programmer: Jonny J R Rees

Dramaturg: Julia Thomas

Writer: Tracy Jenkins


Are You O.K?

For Hijinx Theatre and No Limits (Hong Kong), Tic created music and sound for the online presentation of ‘Are You O.K?’.

“We wake, we get dressed, we brush our teeth, we eat our breakfast, we hydrate, we exercise, we hydrate again, we grow plants, we look out our window. If we are lucky we go outside, we see people, at a distance, we laugh, we cry. We go to bed. Then we do it all again. But are we OK? 

A diverse group of performers from Hong Kong and Wales (UK) reflect on a world in lockdown, on how life has changed, or stayed the same, on what and who we miss, on how we can help each other without being able to be with each other. 

Are you OK? is a live performance, created on Zoom and presented via zoom from the performer’s own homes. The performance will be in Cantonese and English”Hijinx Theatre Website


BolSHE Branding Campaign

During Oct – Dec 2020 Tic collaborated with BolSHE, an organisation ‘aiming to celebrate and utilise creatives who are Welsh/Wales based women’, to create music for their branding campaign.


Heart of Cardiff

For Sherman Theatre, Tic is currently creating music and sound design for 5 of the 10 plays in the ‘Heart of Cardiff’ audio theatre series.

These radio plays include ‘Goodbye Memory Lane’ written by Emma Cooney and directed by Matthew Holmquist, ‘See For Yourself’ written by Claire Boot and directed by Alice Eklund, ‘Rodney and The Shrieking Sisterhood’ written by Hannah McPake and directed by Joe Murphy and ‘Housemates’ written by Tim Green and directed by Joe Murphy.

A big thank you to emerging composers Niamh O’Donnell & Tayla-Leigh Payne providing additional music on the ‘Rodney and The Shrieking Sisterhood’ score.

Listen now at www.heartofcardiff.co.uk


Metamorphosis

Working with Hijinx Theatre, Tic created music and sound for their online show ‘Metamorphosis’. The show was performed live via Zoom for Green Man Festival’s ‘Field of Streams’ on Saturday 22nd August 2020. The show also appeared as a guest performance at the Grenzlos Kultur Festival in Mainz, Germany in September 2020 via Zoom.


It Takes A Town

Tic collaborated with designer and theatre-maker Becky Davies on Becky’s National Theatre Wales Located Residency ‘It Takes A Town’.

Created in collaboration with director Elise Davison, poet-musician Rufus Mufasa, and sound artist Tic Ashfield, It Takes a Town is a playful, multi-sensory journey in which the whole community is encouraged to play a creative role. This period of artistic research will culminate in the production of a prototype of an interactive book filled with at-home activities designed by Becky. The town’s bustling Prince’s cafe, and its sensory potential, will act as a springboard into the many anecdotes and associations residents of Pontypridd might bring to the work.”NTW Website


Lung Water

Tic created the music and sound for ‘Lung Water’ written by Jacob Hodgkinson during May – June 2020. The show was produced by Chippy Lane Productions with National Theatre Wales, Sherman Theatre in partnership with BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Arts. Watch the trailer here.

Director: Hannah Noone

Writer: Jacob Hodgkinson

Stage Manager: Amy Wildgoose

Technicians: Gareth Brierley & Dewi Jones


Constellation Street

Tic created the music and sound for the online presentation of Constellation St by Matthew Bulgo during April and May 2020. The production was presented by National Theatre Wales and Sherman Theatre in partnership with BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Arts. Dan Jones directs for The Other Room assisted by Nerida Bradley. The cast includes Rakie Ayola, Matthew Gravelle, Rebecca Hayes and Julian Lewis Jones.

Director: Dan Jones

Assistant Director: Nerida Bradley

Writer: Matthew Bulgo

Stage Manager: Amy Wildgoose

Technicians: Gareth Brierley & Dewi Jones


Ripples

In April 2020 Tic created the music and sound design for the online presentation of Ripples by Tracy Harris, produced / supported by National Theatre Wales, Sherman Theatre, RWCMD, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Arts. Directed by Matthew Holmquist.

Director: Matthew Holmquist

Writer: Tracy Harris

Videographer: Jorge Lizalde

Deputy Stage Manager: Demelza Monk

Technician: Dewi Jones


CoDI Move

During December 2019 to April 2020 Tic acted as mentor for the Ty Cerdd and Hijinx Theatre CoDI Move collaborative project. Five Welsh and Wales based composers were embedded in the the five Hijinx Theatre Hubs across Wales where they collaborated with actor/movement performers and choreographers to create a short movement piece.

“Five composers/sound artists from a broad stylistic range (shown above) were recruited to work in the Hijinx Academies – which train learning-disabled actors in Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Carmarthen and Prestatyn. Lead composer Tic Ashfield provided mentoring in writing for movement / theatre / dance while support in working in a learning-disabled training setting came from local choreographers and course leaders. The selected artists were resident in their local Academy for one session per week creating a work for the Academy actors to perform with in their end-of-term sharing.” Ty Cerdd


Pryd Mae’r Haf?

Tic created the score for the Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Criw Brwd production of Pryd Mae’r Haf? during January and February 2020.

“Pryd Mae’r Haf?, Gwawr Loader’s Welsh translation of the play Christmas is Miles Away by Chloë Moss, is presented by Criw Brwd and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru in partnership with Theatr Soar and The Other Room.” – TGC Website.

Director: Sion Pritchard

Assistant Director: Elin Phillips

Writer: Chloë Moss translated by Gwawr Loader

Lighting Designer: El Higgins

Designer: Luned Gwawr Evans

Movement Director: Eddie Ladd


Violence

Tic created the music and sound design for the ‘Violence’ season at The Other Room theatre, Porters. The Season features three new plays:

American Nightmare by Matthew Bulgo. Dir. Sara Lloyd.

The Story by Tess Berry-Hart. Dir. David Mercatali.

Hela by Mari Izzard. Dir. Dan Jones.

Assistant Director: Alice Eklund

Lighting Designer: Katy Morrison

Designer: Delyth Evans

Associate Director: Matthew Holmquist

Video Designer: Simon Clode

Production Manager: Rhys Williams

The season toured in England and Wales from the 15th Jan to 14th Feb 2020.


The Invisible Woman

Touring Wales during October and November 2019, Tic created music and sound design for ‘The Invisible Woman’ by Ailsa Jenkins. This one woman show was performed by Nicola Reynolds and directed by Chelsey Gilliard.

Director: Chelsey Gillard

Writer: Ailsa Jenkins

Lighting Designer: Angharad Evans

Designer: Ruth Stringer


On Bear Ridge

For John Hardy Music, Tic created the music for the National Theatre Wales and Royal Court co-production of Ed Thomas’ new play On Bear Ridge. For more information please follow this link.

Directors: Vicky Featherstone & Ed Thomas

Writer: Ed Thomas

Emerging Director: Izzy Rabey

Lighting Designer: Elliot Griggs

Designer: Cai Dyfan

Mike Beer: Sound Designer


Rygbi – Annwyl i mi | Dear To Me

Tic collaborated with National Dance Company Wales on the outdoor performance of Rygbi – Annwyl i mi | Dear To Me. She is working alongside Artistic Director and Choreographer Fearghus O Conchuir, creating bespoke, new music alongside the new choreography. For more information please follow this link. 

Choreographer: Fearghus Ó Conchúir and performers

Costume Designer: Carl Davies


Storm.3_

During March and April 2019 Tic created the score for National Theatre Wales’ production of Storm.3_ created by Mike Brookes. Here, Tic collaborated with electronic composer and hardware designer Odilon Marcenaro in the creation of the score.

Odilon developed hardware and software using MAX/MSP and Arduino technologies to map the heart rate of a single performer in real time during the performance. This heart rate mapping was then converted to MIDI data; allowing the heart rate of the performer to control the tempo of the underscore.

Creator: Mike Brookes

Mike Beer: Sound Designer

Software & Hardware Developer: Odilon Marcenaro

Storm III, performed at The Neon, Newport

Peeling

During March 2019 Tic composed the music and sound design for Taking Flight Theatre’s production of Kaite O’Reilly’s play Peeling. Peeling toured across the UK.

Director: Elise Davidson

Writer: Kaite O’Reilly

Producer: Beth House

Lighting Designer: Jane Lalljee

Designer: Becky Davies


Cracked

Tic created the music and sound design for Emily Hinshelwood’s play Cracked. Cracked toured across Wales in February 2019.

Director: Louise Osborn

Writer: Emily Hinshelwood

Designer: Becky Davies


Blue

Tic created the score for Chippy Lane Productions’ world premiere of Rhys Warrington’s play Blue.

Blue ran from the 5th to the 16th Feb, at Chapter in Cardiff.

“Ashfield’s sound design and composition is heartstring-tuggingly crafted” – Cardiff Theatre Review

Creator | Producer: Rebecca Jade Hammond

Director: Chelsey Gillard

Writer: Rhys Warrington

Lighting Designer: Ceri James

Designer: Oliver Harman


The Awkward Years

Returning to The Other Room theatre at Porter’s, Cardiff, Tic created sound design and music for Matthew Bulgo’s work The Awkward Years. The one woman show was scored with environmental sound and EDM.

Producer: Jenny Sturt

Director: Dan Jones

Assistant Director: Alice Elkund

Writer: Matthew Bulgo

Lighting Designer: Angharad Evans

Designer: Hilary Statts

“Tic Ashfield’s electronic sound design, alternating between ambient underscore and aggressive dance beats, is darkly menacing throughout.” – British Theatre Guide


The Tide Whisperer

Alongside fellow John Hardy Music composer Sam Barnes, Tic created the sound and music for the National Theatre Wales production The Tide Whisperer written by Louise Wallwein for promenade performance in Tenby.

Writer: Louise Wallwein

Director: Kully Thiarai

Emerging Director: Nia Morris

Designer: Camilla Clarke

Lighting Designer: Ceri James

Sound Designer: Mike Beer

Video Designer: Simon Clode


Bottom

Tic created music and sound for Willy Hudson’s new play Bottom directed by Rachel Lemon. The work has been toured and performed across the UK.

Director: Rachel Lemon

Writer: Willy Hudson


As Long As The Heartbeats

Tic created the sound and music for National Theatre Wales’ show As Long As The Heartbeats. The show was performed at the Royal Gwent Hospital outpatients ward on the 21st and 22nd July 2018, the performance was a part of the NHS70 festival – celebrating 70 years of the NHS.

Directors: Ben Tinniswood & Marcus Romer

Designer: Becky Davies

Movement Director: Jennifer Fletcher


Lovesick

Tic created the music and sound design for The Other Room Theatre’s Spring Season at Porter’s, Cardiff. The 2018 Spring Season featured three plays; A Number by Caryl Churchill, dir. Ed Madden, All But Gone by Matthew Trevannion, dir. Dan Jones and The Effect by Lucy Prebble, dir. Dan Jones.

Designer: Carl Davies

Lighting Designer: Joe Fletcher

AV Designer: Zakk Hein


 Hard Times

During Oct – Nov 2017 Tic created the music and sound design for Lighthouse Theatre’s production of ‘Hard Times’ by Charles Dickens, adapted by Stephen Jeffreys.

The show opened at Pontardawe Arts Centre on the 9th November 2017 and toured Wales.

Director: Joe Harmston


Moment(o)s 

Tic created the sound design for Elaine Paton’s presentation of Moment(o)s in June 2017. The show, focused around mental health awareness was performed at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

This piece was created for Elaine Paton’s presentation of ‘Momentos’ performed at Chapter Arts Centre June 2017.

The piece was created using out of tune piano samples recorded by the composer after she found an old, abandoned piano backstage at a theatre. These samples have been edited and arranged to create the distressed piano sound heard in the piece.


Romeo & Juliet

In February 2017 Tic created music and sound for Omidaze Productions on a presentation of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. This has been her third time collaborating with the company and director Yvonne Murphy.

Director: Yvonne Murphy

Designer: Saz Moir

Lighting Designer: Joe Fletcher


Moment(os) of Leaving

Created by Elaine Paton, ‘Moment(os) of Leaving’ was a site specific work which explored issues of mental health and marked the closing of Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff.

Tic worked closely with a team of dancers, actors and visual artists to create this promenade performance. The audience were taken through a series of ‘treatments’ during the show, which consisted of individual but thematically connected performances including solo and group movement pieces, monologues and video / design / archive installations. Each part of the production took place within a different part of the psychiatric wing, including the male and female wards.

To create the score, Tic predominately used found sounds from within the hospital itself as well as brass, woodwind and piano writing.


Henry VI

In 2016, Tic worked with Omidaze Productions once more to create the sound design and music for the all female Shakespeare production of ‘Henry VI’ at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Using the idea of leitmotif as inspiration, Tic created a series of textural pieces to underscore the drama based upon the characteristics of each of the leading characters. Sound was used as a key structural indicator throughout the performance, with sudden bursts of sound indicating the death of each character. Thunderous sounds of war were also used as a signifier for the many alarums within the play.

Director: Yvonne Murphy

Designer: Gabriella Slade

Lighting Designer: El Higgins

The performance was held within the dark roof void space in the Wales Millennium Centre with the audience moving around the space lead by the actors. The sound was dispersed throughout the space to help draw the audience through to the next location.


Saturday Night Forever

Alongside Benjamin Talbott, Tic composed the score for Roger Williams’ ‘Saturday Night Forever’ in 2015. The one man play tells the story of a man, living in Cardiff, who finds love and then tragically loses it because of hate crime.

Music and sound was used throughout the show to give the impression of clubs, bars and pubs as well as supporting the emotional journey of the story.


{150}

Created by National Theatre Wales and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru in 2015, Tic composed the score for ‘{150}’ alongside John Hardy.

Director: Marc Rees

Sound Designer: Mike Beer

Producer: Sian Thomas


Richard III

‘Richard III’ was an all female cast and crew Shakespeare production created by Yvonne Murphy and Omidaze Productions. Tic created the score for the production in 2015.

Director: Yvonne Murphy

Designer: Gabriella Slade

Lighting Designer: El Higgins


The Gathering

‘The Gathering’ was a sight specific theatre performance by National Theatre Wales and The Louise Ann Wilson Company which took place on a Snowdonian Hill Farm in 2014.

The soundscape below showcases the variety of sounds collected during the development of the show.

Director: Ann Louise Wilson

Writer: Gillian Clarke


My People

Tic worked alongside fellow JHM composer Benjamin Talbott to create the score for Gwyn Emberton Dance’s ‘My People’.


Tir Sir Gar

Tic worked alongside Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru to create the score for the promenade theatre piece ‘Tir Sir Gar’ in 2013.

Director: Marc Rees

Writer: Roger Williams

Producer: Sian Thomas

Sound Designer: Mike Beer

Film: Simon Clode


Cold Rolling

‘Cold Rolling’ was a contemporary dance work created for the Adain Avion Cultural Olympiad in collaboration with Marc Rees, Tanja Raman, Ballet Cymru and John Hardy.

Director: Marc Rees

Choreographer: Tanja Raman

Co-Composer: John Hardy