In a double first for Bristol, Mayfest welcomes National Theatre Wales to the city and stages theatre at Motion, the vast club at the heart of Bristol’s Enterprise Zone.

Praxis Makes Perfect is a collaboration between National Theatre Wales and Neon Neon, led by Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals).  An immersive gig, which explores the life of Italian communist politician Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, Praxis Makes Perfect is directed by Wils Wilson (National Theatre Scotland’s The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, Mayfest 2012), and written by Tim Price.

This unique event will happen in tandem with the release of Neon Neon’s much-anticipated second album, also entitled Praxis Makes Perfect, which will be released on 29th April. The new record follows the duo’s 2008 debut, Stainless Style, which was inspired by the life and times of playboy engineer, John DeLorean.

Praxis Makes Perfect brings together the unique experiences of a live gig and site-specific theatre. Neon Neon and their band will take to the stage with a cast of professional actors at every performance, which will include some unexpected interactions with the audience.

Born into one of Italy’s wealthiest families, Giangiacomo Feltrinelli was a life-long left-wing political activist and founder of the publishing house Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore. He discovered and published some of the greatest literary works of the last century including The Leopard and Doctor Zhivago, the latter following lengthy battles with Soviet censors. He died in suspicious circumstances in 1972.

The Bristol performances of Praxis Makes Perfect are part of the Bristol Temple Quarter Commissions, a series of events coordinated by Watershed, Knowle West Media Centre and MAYK, with support from Bristol City Council and Arts Council England.

Writer Tim Price‘s theatre credits include: The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning (National Theatre Wales, tour), For Once (Pentabus, Hampstead Theatre and national tour) Salt Root and Roe (Donmar Warehouse, Trafalgar Studios) which was nominated for the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, Demos (Traverse Theatre), Will and George shortlisted for the Verity Bargate Award 2011, and Café Cariad (National Youth Theatre of Wales).

Director Wils Wilson is a freelance theatre director. She was co-founder and co-Artistic Director of wilson+wilson (1997-2007), making innovative site-specific theatre, installation and art in diverse locations across the UK. Her award-winning work continues to explore the boundaries between audience, story, site and performance, through collaborations with theatre makers, writers, musicians, artists, academics and inspiring people of all ages and from all walks of life. Most recently Manchester Lines (for Library Theatre Manchester) took audiences into a bespoke Lost Property Office created from lost objects (winner of TMA Award) and the multi-award-winning The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart (National Theatre of Scotland) is currently touring internationally.

The cast includes: Alex Beckett, Lisa Jen Brown, Matthew Bulgo, Dyfan Dwyfor, Daniel Hawksford, Bettrys Jones and Naomi Waring.

Praxis Makes Perfect premieres in Cardiff before touring to Bristol and London’s Village Underground.

Box Office: www.mayfestbristol.co.uk / 0117 987 7877

Tickets: £15