DRAMA WORKSHOPS

15 / 07 / 2008
28/07/08 - 1/08/08 Drama workshops for 7-11 year olds.

Looking for something to entertain the children this summer holidays? Look no further! We at Arad Goch are organising drama workshops for
7-11year olds. They will be held twice a day (at Arad Goch, Bath St.) from the 28th of July to the 1st of August – morning sessions are 10am to 1pm and afternoon sessions start at 2pm and finish at 5pm. Children are very welcome to attend either the morning workshop or the afternoon workshop for the duration of the week. We have room for up to 20 children in each session. At the end of the week, the children will have the opportunity to perform in front of their families and friends here at Arad Goch . Leading the workshops this summer are two experienced actors that have been working with Arad Goch for several years – Ffion Wyn Bowen and Rhiannon Morgan. They are used to leading workshops – either at schools as part of a TIE project or in the community. Ffion is also a qualified teacher.
For more information, and to secure a place for the workshops, please contact us BY 21 July. Remember we only allow 20 children in each workshop!

New play by Caryl Lewis to tour in the autumn

09 / 07 / 2008
The Waiting Room - on tour between 27 October and 29 November 2008

The Waiting Room/Yr Ystafell Aros
Drama for young people and adults. Suitable for 13+ by Caryl Lewis

The Author:
Caryl is a very talented author who has won numerous prizes for her work. Her novel Martha, Jac a Sianco won her the Welsh Book of the Year prize in 2005 and her novel for young people Iawn Boi! was awared the Tir-Na-Nog prize in 2004. This is the second time for Arad Goch to commission a play by Caryl.

The Play:
There are waiting rooms everywhere – in the health clinic, in the driving test centre, in the train station and even back-stage. When you are waiting for your life to begin, it can seem as if the world is one big waiting room.
This is a play about growing up. A play that questions our idea of ‘success’. A play that looks at how different individuals within one family can be. We follow the story of a brother who stars on stage, a sister who is waiting back home for her life to begin, and a mother who harbours a big secret that will transform all their lives forever.

This play will be available in both Welsh and English and will tour throughout Wales between 27.10 and 29.11.08.

To book a performance contact Dana Edwards 01970 617998; dana@aradgoch.org; Bath St, Aberystwyth SY23 2NN

New Welsh language AM-DRAM company for Aberystwyth

09 / 07 / 2008

A new amateur Welsh language drama company for adults will be established in September 08, meeting on Tuesday evenings in Arad Goch, Bath St, Aberystwyth. Anyone interested is asked to contact the company on 01970 617998; post@aradgoch.org

A weekend to celebrate Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch’s new home

18 / 06 / 2008
A weekend to celebrate the completion of a new, important venue for the whole community

All activities are free of charge - call
to secure your place for the individual
sessions —or come along for a tour of the centre and to enjoy a cuppa!

(Please ensure your place by pre-booking for sessions. Telephone 01970 617998)

THE WEEKEND’S SCHEDULE
Most session (apart from the Welsh Am Dram for adults at 1.45pm) will be bilingual


FRIDAY 4.7.08
4 – 7.30pm Gweithdy Ail-greu Dillad/ Clothes
recycling workshop
6 – 7.30pm Sesiwn Rapio gyda
Aneirin Karadog ac Ed Holden/
Rap workshop lead by Aneirin Karadog and Ed Holden
7.30pm Sioe Ffasiwn / Fashion Show
8-9.30pm: Sesiwn dawnsio stryd/Brazilian Combat gyda/with Collie Dog
9.30-11.30pm
Bandiau byw yn y Theatr /Live bands in the theatre – Stone Free Band, Violetones & Triattica

SADWRN / SATURDAY 5.7.08
12.15—12.45pm: Hwyl a chân i blant oed meithrin a’u rhieni gyda Eleri Turner/ Sing-along for nursery aged children and their parents with Eleri Turner
1.00-1.30pm: Cyfle i rieni a’u plant (dros 7 oed) i dynnu tant! Cyflwyniad i’r delyn i ddechreuwyr llwyr gyda Eleri Turner. Darperir telynau/ An introduction to the harp with Eleri Turner. Suitable for parents and children (over 7 years old). A harp workshop for pure beginners! Harps will be provided.
1.00– 1.45pm + 2.00-2.45pm:
Gweithdy drama i blant 7-11 oed yn seiliedig ar ein sioe haf Twm Siôn Cati / drama workshop for children 7—11 based on our summer show—Twm Siôn Cati
1.40pm + 2.50pm: Teithiau tywys o amgylch yr
adeilad a phaned / a guided tour around the centre and a chance for a cuppa!
1.45– 2.45pm: Sesiwn i oedolion yn agored i bawb sydd â diddordeb mewn ymuno â chwmni Am Dram
Cymraeg newydd. Bydd cyfle i drafod gwaith y cwmni newydd a chyfle i roi tro ar gyfarwyddo neu actio dan arweiniad Sêra Moore Williams
3.00 – 3.45pm: Sesiwn yoga i blant a’u rhieni / A yoga group for children and their parents with
Sue Jones Davies

Arad Goch’s Big Weekend

18 / 06 / 2008

Arad Goch finally opens its doors to the public again. It’s been a long time coming – it’s over two years since Arad Goch moved out of its Bath St premises so that the building could be completely renovated. Now with added space (having also bought the Manse next door) the theatre company has a superb home. But the whole point of the project was that it would be much more than a base for the company which specialises in theatre for children and young people – it was envisaged that it would be a community facility used by amateurs and professionals, by people of all ages and with all kinds of interests. And that is exactly what the official opening weekend on Friday and Saturday 4/5th July is setting out to reflect by providing taster sessions, (most of which will be bilingual), to appeal to everyone.
No official opening is complete without a plaque unveiling. This duty will be performed by Welsh Assembly Minister Elin Jones. Support from the Academi has also ensured that Gillian Clarke, the National Bard will be on hand to commemorate the event in rhyme and a poem celebrating the occasion by the Children’s Bard, Ifor ap Glyn, will also be read out. But really the weekend is about local people getting involved, there is a great schedule of events planned– and everything is completely free. Friday 4th July is officially ‘young people’s night’ with a recycled fashion workshop, rap session led by Aneirin Karadog and Ed Holden, Brazilian Combat with Collie Dog and a gig with Stone Free Band, Violetones and Triattica to round off the evening.
On Saturday there is something for all age groups from a sing-along for nursery aged children (and mum and dad), a yoga session led by Sue Jones Davies, again for parents and children and drama workshops for 7-11 year olds. And if you really want to try something new how about a harp lesson? – local harpist Eleri Turner is very experienced at introducing our national instrument to young and old and in this session she is challenging children aged 7+ and their parents to come and have a go. Telynau Teifi are kindly providing the harps – so no back breaking harp lugging work involved either.
During the day adults will also have a chance to shine. Now that Arad Goch are back in town they are keen to share not only their facilities but also their expertise, and hope to launch a new Welsh language AM-DRAM group in the Autumn. On Saturday afternoon there will be a chance for all those interested in being part of the new company to come along to discuss the possibilities – and director Sêra Moore Williams will be giving a few tips to budding directors and actors. So even if you haven’t been on the stage since school-days why not come along and give it a go?
Financial support from Aberystwyth Town Council, Ceredigion County Council along with major funders Arts Council of Wales, Wales Assembly Government and European Union Objective 1 all contributed to making Arad Goch’s dream of a superb small scale centre for the arts in Aberystwyth town centre a reality. Dr Kath Davies, Head of Arts Funding for the Arts Council of Wales said:
“It has been a pleasure to work with Arad Goch Theatre in the transformation of the company’s Aberystwyth home. After three years of extremely hard work the company is to be congratulated on its achievement and the whole area should take pride in these great new facilities. At last Arad Goch has a building which reflects its creative ambition and I look forward to future performances by young people, many of whom will be experiencing theatre for the first time.”
The work is now done, so let the party begin! Anyone interested in taking part in any of the above sessions is asked to contact the company on 01970 617998 or those just interested in seeing the building are invited to turn up for a guided tour at 1.40 or 2.50 on Saturday 5th July or between 5-7pm on Tuesday 8th or Wednesday 9th July – a free cuppa is guaranteed!
For further information contact: Dana Edwards, Marketing Officer, Arad Goch, Bath St, Aberystwyth SY23 2NN 01970 617998; dana@aradgoch.org; www.aradgoch.org

Arad Goch Seek Budding Graffiti Artists

14 / 05 / 2008
Graffiti - Art or Vandalism?

Recently the defacing of Llanrhystud’s ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ rock was highlighted – proving that the original graffiti is of great value to some –be it historically or emotionally. The case for at least some graffiti therefore seems to be proven but the argument for and against graffiti in general rumbles on world-wide with many seeing the different types of daubing as vandalism.
One suggested solution is to ‘legalise’ graffiti – providing spaces for graffiti artists to do their thing – and by doing so keeping other places graffiti free, and saving councils thousands in clean up costs. This is what Arad Goch is planning to do at our newly developed base in Bath St, Aberystwyth. A ‘graffiti wall’ is to be a feature of the rather dull passage at the side of our building linking Bath St with Portland St. An experienced graffiti artist will lead a free workshop to which local youngsters interested in taking part in creating the wall are invited.
Graffiti of course has been around for a long time – there are examples from the time of the Greek and Roman Empires. During Word War II ‘Kilroy was here’ and the accompanying illustration popped up in many countries. Since then of course graffiti has evolved and is continually evolving– often conveying social of political messages as in ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ and the many examples on the Berlin Wall before it’s demolition.
Some places have embraced graffiti – in Melbourne many of its graffiti lined streets have become tourist attractions. In London a graffiti wall showing Stalin and a rifle carrying Mona Lisa has been valued at one million pounds. Jeremy Turner, Arad Goch’s Artistic Director who came up with the idea of the graffiti wall at the centre is an enthusiast: “it’s a way of letting young people express themselves and also providing exciting, bright, free art for the whole community to enjoy”.
So if there are any Banksy’s out there interested in helping us to create some exciting graffiti please contact Arad Goch 01970 617998; post@aradgoch.org or pop into our Bath St base for a chat.

Arad Goch’s brand new centre.

01 / 04 / 2008

At last, after two years of waiting patiently, we have moved in to our splendid home on Bath Street, Aberystwyth. Contractors have been working diligently to transform the old Mans into a wonderful new centre –everyone’s pleased with the fabulous makeover! The centre consists of two performance rooms –a theatre that sits up to 100 adults and a smaller studio that will be mainly used as a rehearsal space. Although we will be continuing to visit schools with our theatre in education work, one of the main objectives of the new centre is to attract young people into the centre by creating more activities for this age group. We also have a meeting room, offices, an editing suite and an attractive artists’ studio located on the top floor (this room will be used for local artists). We hope that the new Arad Goch centre will attract other companies and organisations to make use of the impressive facilities we have to offer – to discuss the possibility of hiring the space please contact Nia Evans, Company Administrative Manager – nia@aradgoch.org. In the mean time, if you visit Aberystwyth in the near future, remember to call in to Arad Goch – someone will take you on a guided tour around the building!

TWM SION CATI

31 / 03 / 2008
Arad Goch's summer show - Twm Sion Cati is suitable for children aged 7 - 11.

Our summer show ' Twm Sion Cati' tells the romantic tale of the ‘Welsh Robin Hood’ presented in a very lively manner by Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch who specialise in work for children and young people. This production will be full of music, tricks and tribulations as the fascinating story of this folk hero from Tregaron is revealed. We will be captured and transported back to the 16th century, to roads full of danger and highwaymen as our hero robs the rich and gives to the poor. No doubt the children will be on Twm’s side - the loveable rouge who fights for his community against injustice and tyranny. Twm Siôn Cati is certainly part of our heritage – bring the children along to learn a little about our history and culture – but more than anything to enjoy an hour of captivating theatre.

For tour dates please visit the 'Public Productions' page.

Giant Lottery Ball rolls into Aberystwyth and Newtown!

31 / 03 / 2008
Visitors to The Arad Goch Theatre Company in Aberystwyth and Oriel Davies, in Newtown, will be doing a double-take this week when they spot their latest exhibit - a giant six-foot Lottery ball

The giant ball is one of several to have appeared at Lottery-funded projects across Wales in the last week. The balls, each labelled with a message about a Lottery-funded project, are part of a campaign to highlight to people where Lottery Good Causes funding has been invested locally and how it benefits them.
Wales has benefited from more than £43million of Lottery money in the last year alone and, since the Lottery began 13 years ago, funding has been awarded to projects both big and small, through the Arts Council of Wales and other Lottery distributors in Wales, including The Arad Goch Theatre Company in Aberystwyth.

Owen Jenkins from The National Lottery explains:
"All of the projects that have a giant Lottery ball in place, along with the thousands of other Lottery-funded projects in Wales, are improving the lives of local people and the places they enjoy. Throughout Wales, Lottery grants are given to both high-profile and some perhaps less well-known, community-based projects spanning the arts, sports, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment, making a positive difference to communities across the country."
For more information about where to spot the balls and the projects that have received Lottery-funding in Wales, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk


THE ABOVE ARTICLE APPEARED ON THE ARTS COUNCIL OF WALES WEBSITE.

Opening Doors Festival

31 / 03 / 2008

Opening Doors once again proved to be a very successful festival with visitors from near and far attending various events throughout the week. A total number of 4,651 children, young people and adults attended the memorable productions performed by companies from Wales, England, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark and France – a truly successful festival in all senses. We thank everyone for their presence and support during the week and hope you all enjoyed the festival.
We look forward now to Opening Doors once again in 2010.

OPENING DOORS FESTIVAL March 11-15 2008

07 / 02 / 2008

Welcome to the 5th Opening Doors Festival! This year the festival will feature theatre companies from France, Denmark, Belgium, England and Ireland and Wales – a great opportunity to enjoy some of the best productions from Europe and the UK. The festival will take place in numerous centers in and around Aberystwyth – and a few of the companies taking part in the festival will also perform at other venues across Wales – visit our website for more information - www.agordrysau-openingdoors.org. There is something for everyone of all age so put the date in your calendar and contact us to book your place to see some of the world’s best theatre.

For additional information and the very latest about the festival visit our website or contact us as at Arad Goch on 01970 617998

Burning Monkey tours Wales

08 / 01 / 2008

From 15 January until 20 February Arad Goch will be touring Sêra Moore Williams’s new play “Burning Monkey”. There will be performances in both English and Welsh throughout Wales (see our Public Productions page for details).

2 closed doors. Witches, monsters, graffiti, bullets, bayonets and bras. What becomes of the 3 who meet outside these doors?

60 minutes of gripping theatre with live music that will appeal to young audiences 13+ and adults.

Specs, Stamps and Mobile Phones benefit charities

28 / 09 / 2007

Specs, Stamps and Mobile Phones benefit charities

During Arad Goch Theatre company’s summer tour of their play “The Impossible Parents Go Green” children in the audience were invited to bring along used stamps, old specs and mobile phones that were no longer of use to them. The response was fantastic and buckets of these recyclable items were collected to benefit three very worthwhile charities. In the photo local optician Clive Williams is seen accepting the spectacles on behalf of World Vision Overseas. The used stamps were sent to the RNIB and the mobiles handed over to Oxfam who are either able to resell them or to re-use parts of the phones and to ensure that the toxic parts of phones are disposed of safely.

Sêra Moore Williams who directed the play was delighted with the children’s positive response to the appeal: “it is important that children learn at an early age that everyone can contribute to a more sustainable way of life and I think it gave them great satisfaction that whilst enjoying themselves during a trip to the theatre they were also helping others.”

1,500 School Pupils to See Play at NLW

28 / 09 / 2007

As part of its Centenary Celebrations, The National Library of Wales will welcome over 1,500 children from all over Wales as they enjoy a performance of a play by Aberystwyth-based company, Theatr Arad Goch.

Caneri, Gwylan a Bran, a Welsh-language play aimed at 9 and 10 year old pupils uses some of the library’s fantastic resources – paintings and photographs, film clips and stories from some of its priceless manuscripts, to bring history alive and to demonstrate that searching the library’s resources for information is just like solving a great big puzzle. The performance will be held at the Library’s state of the art auditorium, the Drwm.

The production stars two familiar faces on Welsh television. Emyr Bell returns to Arad Goch after concentrating on television work for the past few years – most notably as the Detective Inspector Lewis in Welsh soap ‘Pobl y Cwm’. The other actor is Nia Ann who has also done a lot of television work including playing the poisonous daughter – Gwenllian in the award winning S4C series ‘Con Passionate’.

The production runs from 17 September – 12 October.

‘The National Library of Wales is very glad to welcome Theatr Arad Goch and hundreds of school children from Wales to the building. This exciting multi media production will help young people to explore the Library’s collection and learn about the history of Wales’ said Owen Llywelyn, NLW Education Officer.

Wanted: Stage Managers/Technicians

21 / 09 / 2007

Arad Goch wants to appoint Stage Managers/Technicians to work on several projects that will be touring Waels in the near future.

Clean driving licence and experience of similar work essential.

For further details contact Llyr Jones, Technical Manager on 01970 617998 or email your CV to llyr.jones@aradgoch.org or post to Arad Goch, Stryd y Baddon, Aberystwyth SY23 2NN

'A BETTER LIFE'

03 / 09 / 2007

Something to shout about…..

During the first week of August, Aberystwyth was the backdrop for the shooting of a new short film which will be broadcast on ITV Wales in November/December. It will be one of six short films filmed in different locations across Wales under the “It’s My Shout” Film Training Scheme which gives youngsters from these different areas the chance to gain skills that will hopefully allow them to access further training and jobs in the very competitive film, television and media industries. The scheme, founded in 2003, has already proved a great help to previous participants in gaining coveted places at top Drama Colleges as well as positions with professional companies. And this year, for the first time, mid Wales gets to participate in the scheme.

Since its introduction the scheme has attracted many prestigious partners and sponsors including the Skillset Screen Academy Wales, Creative Business Wales, Barclays, Hugh James Solicitors and six County Borough Councils. This year Aberystwyth based Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch joins the list of companies eager to acknowledge the value of this training scheme. Arad Goch’s Artistic Director, Jeremy Turner, is to direct “A Better Life” written by Aberystwyth writer Debbie Moon. Jeremy is enthusiastic about the experience: “It’s something totally new for me and whilst I can draw on my experiences as an actor and theatre director no doubt it will be a steep learning curve!” Jeremy has cast the film with the help of Penglais drama teacher Cerys Potter and her Penweddig counterpart Alexis Bernard, and about 80 local youngsters will be involved with Sam Ebenezer and Elin Hywel from Penweddig and Ruth Taylor from Penglais playing the lead roles.

Crash House

30 / 07 / 2007

On the 27th of July two performance of 'Crash House' was held at Aberystwyth Rugby Club.

For many years Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch has worked with Ceredigion Social Services and especially the Activity Programme in the Youth Offending Team and Ysgol Ceredigion to run preventative schemes to allow young people and professional artists to work together to create exciting and relevant theatre. The current project is funded by the Ceredigion Safer Communities Partnership.

The aim of the project is to tackle anti-social behaviour by involving young people in creative work whilst raising their awareness of the impact of anti-social behaviour on their communities. The project specifically aims to promote social inclusion and to empower the youngsters to tackle the problems of anti-social behaviour. This project puts inclusiveness into practice and gives these teenagers a chance to do something positive as a team which will, in turn, raise their confidence and self-esteem.

We are totally convinced that such projects work. It is not always possible to prove this objectively but we think that the very positive way young people have reacted to such projects in the past is proof enough. Many of them continue to drop in on us (bringing friends with them!) which must surely mean that they found being here a constructive and helpful experience.

Over the past few weeks a group of some of the most disadvantaged young people in Ceredigion have attended workshops led by our Associate Director Sêra Moore Williams, the dramatist Lucy Gough and four actors – Ffion Wyn Bowen, Darren Stokes, Delyth Wyn and Iwan Charles. The end product was “Crash House”.

OPENING DOORS

26 / 06 / 2007
Wales International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences

Opening Doors - Wales International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences prides itself on bringing the world's best productions to Wales - and the productions already booked up for the 2008 festival will further enhance it's reputation. The festival will take place mainly in Aberystwyth between the 11th and the 15th of March 2008. For more informartion contact us on 01970 617998.

ARAD GOCH PERFORMING AT THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD FLINTSHIRE AND DISTRICT

13 / 06 / 2007

Arad Goch will be performing the popular production ‘Winter Pictures’ , directed by Jeremy Turner, at Theatr y Maes, National Eisteddfod Flintshire and District at 12pm on Frinday the 10th and Saturday the 11th of August.

Winter Pictures is suitable for children aged 4 – 8 and is getting to grips with two field mice, Biscuit and Frenzly, that faces a winter of hardship hidden in a hole at the base of a tree. Biscuit prepares for the winter by collecting a store of food. Frenzly, the daydreamer, collects memories and beautiful things to cheer them through the cold winter months. When the food runs out, the mice feed on their store of treasured memories and stories.

Winter Pictures was originally devised by the company in 1990 under the artistic direction of Jeremy Turner. One of Arad Goch Theatre Company’s most popular shows was recently re-created in a joint venture with The Ark, Dublin and with the support of CCAT an Interreg programme designed to develop relationships between cultural practitioners on both sides of the Irish Sea. This brand new production features live music and gives another generation of children the chance to share Biscuit and Frenzly’s tales.

LLINELLAU NO. 6

04 / 06 / 2007

Look out for the 6th issue of Llinellau that is in the post this week. If you aren't on our mailing list but wish to receive a copy of Llinellau, you are very welcome to e-mail me, Heledd Mair, to the following address, and I will send you a copy in the post.
heledd@aradgoch.org

30 / 05 / 2007

Arad Goch Summer Show Appeal

03 / 05 / 2007

As the theme of our summer show this year The Impossible Parents Go Green is living in a greener way it’s a great opportunity to collect some items that can either be recycled or reused.

There are several reasons for doing so. The most important perhaps is to show children that everyone can contribute to a more sustainable way of life; it’s also a means of doing something practical to help others. We are therefore asking our audiences to bring:

Spectacles that are no longer used by the family or neighbours; or
Mobile Phones that are also no longer used; or
Used Postage Stamps

Spectacles: These need to be complete. They will be handed over to ‘Vision Aid Overseas’ to help people in the developing countries

Mobile Phones: Many charities, including Oxfam, are able to resell mobile phones to people in poorer countries that cannot afford new phones. The few mobiles that cannot be resold are broken down and some components are reused. Such charities also ensure that the toxic parts of phones are disposed of safely. Mobiles with batteries are very welcome but SIM cards and chargers are not essential.

Used Stamps: The RNIB is collecting used postage stamps in order to re-sell them to support much of their work, including the Sunshine House School in Northwood that educates blind and partially sighted children. We are asked to leave about ½cm of envelope around the stamps to guard against damage.

There will be buckets in foyer venues before each performance for the children to deposit their contributions.

Please help us to help others.

ARAD GOCH CELEBRATING ST DAVIDS DAY

26 / 04 / 2007
If you helped Ard Goch to fill their daffodil with money outside Siop y Pethe on March 1st, then you are to thank for the fact that we collected over £600.

£615.56 was raised on the day and the money will be shared between Angharad Ward Bronglais Hospital and the NSPCC. We would like to thank everyone who donated in any way, including Expressions - the florists - who donated the daffodils to ensure that a high proportion of the people of Aberystwyth wore a daffodil on St David's Day!

Heledd Mair presented the cheques on behalf of
Arad Goch to Juile Richards from the NSPCC
and Yvonne Morris – Lewis, Angharad Ward, Ysbyty Bronglais.

Arad Goch Theatre Company and the Daffodil

02 / 03 / 2007

To celebrate the fact that the enlightened Board of Arad Goch Theatre Company awarded its staff a day’s holiday to mark the importance of St David’s Day the employees decided to do something positive to celebrate. And what better way than to spend the day drawing attention to our patron saint and collecting for charity at the same time.
The artist, Ruth Jen, created a daffodil, and it was 'planted' outside Siop y Pethe, Aberystwyth. Passers by were then asked to fill the daffodil with their loose change. Unfortunatley, due to the strong winds on March the 1st, the daffodil didn't look exactly as it should have (as in the photo) - the petals were blown away in minutes, and left the trumpet bare!

Jeremy Turner, the company’s Artistic Director was delighted: “It’s great that our Board has chosen to recognise this as a national day of celebration and we were glad of the opportunity to celebrate by doing something for our community and for children in particular. We specialise in theatre for young audiences and to better the world of children in any way is very important to us”

£615.56 was raised on the day and the money will be shared between Angharad Ward Bronglais Hospital and the NSPCC. We would like to thank everyone who donated in any way, including Expressions - the florists - who donated the daffodils to ensure that a high proportion of the people of Aberystwyth wore a daffodil on St David's Day!

Llinellau No.5

27 / 02 / 2007

Look out for the 5th issue of Llinellau that is in the post this week. In this issue you can find out more about our current productions, get to know more about some members of staff, as well as the very latest happenings in Arad Goch. If you aren't on our mailing list but wish to receive a copy of Llinellau, you are very welcome to e-mail me, Heledd Mair, to the following address, and I will send you a copy in the post.
heledd@aradgoch.org

12 / 02 / 2007

ARAD GOCH - INTERNATIONAL

12 / 02 / 2007

Theatre for young audiences is sometimes a lonely field of work: its coverage in the press and on the media is scarce; very few adults are aware of it (to many theatre+children=panto, and nothing else); most of our colleges and universities don’t rate it as a subject of practical or academic importance: and all despite the fact that over 80,000 children in Wales see a piece of live theatre, created especially for them, each year.
An important part of Arad Goch’s ethos is to put our work into a wider context than its own immediate cultural parameters; we are proud of our track-record of co-operating with a variety of agencies and organisations including the NSPCC, the National Library, local museums and the BBC.
Another way of putting our work into a wider context is through creating and developing international links. Arad Goch’s work has been seen as far west as Seattle and ans far east as Singapore and many places in between; the most recent tour was to Poland where we performed a play for children aged 5 – 8. Every other year the company organises AGOR DRYSAU - OPENING DOORS Wales International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences www.agordrysau-openingdoors.org, which gves us an opportunity to invite some of the best children’s theatre in the world to Wales.
I recently had the opportunity to spend a week in Buenos Aires where I attended a children’s theatre festival and a conference organised by ASSITEJ (L’Association Internationale du Théâtre pour l’Enfance et la Jeunesse – The International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People). I currently have the honour of representing the UK on the international committee of ASSITEJ - which involves travelling abroad twice or three times a year. In Buenos Aires I saw productions by colleagues from a number of South American countries – and, of course, there was much discussion and exchange of information and ideas about our work. And although the work produced differs greatly from country to country the ambition is the same – to create the best possible theatre for the best possible audience – children and young people.
It seems that there are two things which have to been done when visiting Buenos Aires – eat a LOT of beef and visit a tango palace: forget Come Dancing – this was the real thing: seeing people of all ages dancing ths tender, sad, passionate and dreamy dance and not a sequin in sight!
But of course, for someone from Wales there is a third item on the list of ‘should dos’ - namely paying a visit to Patagonia to see for one’s self if the place is actually as wonderful as they say! I spent four wonderful days in Gaiman where I stayed with Gabriel Retushka and his family; Gabriel is a teacher of Welsh and philosophy whom I had met some years ago when he was in Wales. While I was there I gave three performances in Welsh of my one-man show for children which was attended by people of all ages; I was bowled over by the response especially of the young people who were experiencing a piece of Welsh theatre for the first time. And who knows: maybe this will be the start of another trip for Arad Goch – to the South this time.

01 / 02 / 2007

Happy Bobiday Winners

17 / 10 / 2006

A big thank you to everyone who sent us drawings for the Happy Bobiday competitions. This is what the adjudicator, artist Ruth Jên had to say:

Competition for children aged 3-5: “It was very difficult to decide but I have chosen a drawing by Iwan Williams from Abererch School for his very dramatic image. There is an element of story in the composition – it also makes me smile!”

Competition for children aged 6 – 7: “It was extremely difficult to choose the winner in this category as all the drawings were so very original. Cara Wyn Hughes takes the prize for her simple and strong image that conveys the characteristics of the characters on the poster, and in the play. I also especially liked the work of Gethin Owen and Ebrill Lloyd who succeeded in re-creating the scenes in a very effective way."

A Very Different Fairy Tale

23 / 08 / 2006

A group of young people from Ceredigion recently put on a play at Aberystwyth Rugby Club called Fairy Tale Cake. They wrote, learned and performed the fairy tale in which the Evil Stepmother was addicted to vodka; Rumplestiltskin was a drug-dealer and Little Red Riding Hood a petty thief. Chris Robinson of the Youth Offending Team who organised the project called it a ‘thinly disguised fairy story highlighting the dangers inherent in partaking of the forbidden fruits of alcohol and substance misuse”.

The young people involved worked alongside professional actors and Director from Arad Goch, Hollyoaks Writer Lucy Gough and T.V. and Theatre Costume Designer Edwina Williams Jones.

The group gave two very well received public performances to a packed hall. Director Sêra Moore Williams was obviously very pleased with her cast: “It’s not easy, even for professionals, to write, learn and perform an original piece of work that has resonance in 10 days! We have massive respect for the young people who have, despite their often-challenging circumstances, risen to the challenge and succeeded so well. It’s very obvious that each person in the cast is capable of much more that they believe themselves to be. We sincerely hope that somehow they get the opportunity they deserve”. This project was part of Ceredigion Youth Offending Team’s Preventative Work Programme and was made possible by financial support form the Ceredigion Community Safety Partnership.

Machynlleth Drama Workshops

22 / 08 / 2006

Two of the company’s actors, Ffion Wyn Bowen and Rhiannon Morgan were delighted to be invited once again by the Powys Youth Service at Machynlleth to hold drama workshops for young people during August. A similar enthusiastic response was forthcoming from the young people and many familiar faces turned up again to this year’s sessions.

As some of the actors therefore had previous experience of drama workshops, Ffion and Rhiannon deemed that they were able enough to both write as well as perform the script. And they were indeed correct. The bilingual venture proved a success with the young people performing to a group of friends and family at the end of the three day project. One question asked by a participant as she was leaving was “can next year’s provision be for a whole week?” We hope so too.

15 / 05 / 2006

Arad Goch Go World-Wide

20 / 09 / 2005

This week a crew of actors from Arad Goch Theatre Company will be travelling hundreds of miles from the company’s Aberystwyth base whilst their Artistic Director travels thousands of miles in the opposite direction. The actors will be driving through Holland and Germany to Warsaw in Poland where they will be performing in a Theatre Festival for Children.

The company was invited to perform following the Warsaw festival organizers visit to “Opening Doors”, a similar festival in Aberystwyth last March. And the actors feel confident that the theme of their play is as pertinent to the children of Poland as it is to their usual audiences – the youngsters of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. “From Dawn to Dusk” shows how it is sometimes so difficult for little children to decide on things and how this can put them under great pressure. After all decisions have to be made every day – what to wear, what to eat, and perhaps the hardest decision of all – with whom to make friends.

But whilst Ffion Wyn Bowen, Eifion Dafydd and Rhiannon Morgan are entertaining audiences in Warsaw, Jeremy Turner, will be in Montreal, Canada for a Conference which focuses on arts for young people. He will be amongst a 1,000 strong international audience who will be meeting up to see and discuss theatrical performances from all over the world.

The actors are enthusiastic about their adventure. Llŷr Jones, the company’s Stage Manger and principal driver on the 1,200 mile journey believes that it will be well worth the effort both from an artistic and social point of view. With beer about half the price it is at home there will no doubt be a lot of socialising!

Objective 1 Funding for Arad Goch

27 / 07 / 2005

Plans to expand and improve Arad Goch Theatre Company’s Aberystwyth base has been given the go-ahead thanks to Objective 1 funding. It was recently announced that we are to receive nearly £575,000 from the European Regional Development Fund. The company has already secured financial support from The Arts Council of Wales, Aberystwyth Town Council, Ceredigion County Council and the WDA and this announcement means that the final piece of funding has been secured ensuring the make-over that will transform our current Bath St premises to include the Old Manse, currently next door, can now get underway.

The new look premises will enable us to expand our community based work and to provide workspace for other interested groups who might wish to benefit from the expertise of Arad Goch’s experienced actors, directors and technicians. The aim is also to provide space to allow other artists to develop new ventures.

It is envisaged that the men in hard hats will move in in October and Arad Goch will the move out to a temporary base on the Glanyrafon Industrial Estate.

£1.8 million for Arad Goch

17 / 03 / 2005
Arad Goch to get improved premises

In a reception held as part of the Opening Doors – Wales International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences in Aberystwyth, Peter Tyndall, Chief Executive of The Arts Council of Wales announced a £1,846,165 award to Arad Goch Theatre Company. The grant is to enable the company, which specialises in performing to children and young people, to enlarge and develop their Aberystwyth premises to offer vastly improved performance space, additional space and facilities that can be used by members of the community and to provide space to allow other artists and groups to develop new ventures. Financial support from Aberystwyth Town Council has also been secured for this project.

Arad Goch’s extension plans include the Old Manse in Bath Street which adjoins their current premises allowing the creation of a unique cultural centre in the middle of town. It is hoped that the new base will allow artists to reach out to the community in different ways and in particular to share their skills with interested amateur groups. Arad Goch is committed to working in a bilingual society and producing work that is relevant to that society.

Jeremy Turner, Artistic Director of Arad Goch is clearly excited by the news: “This is fantastic for us and for Aberystwyth. I feel that it is an endorsement of the work of Arad Goch, an endorsement of the arts outside Cardiff and an endorsement of the importance of arts for young people. This award will ensure that Aberystwyth, already blessed with some great facilities, becomes an even more vibrant place for the arts’.

Peter Tyndall on behalf of The Arts Council of Wales commented: "The Arts Council of Wales are delighted to present Arad Goch Theatre Company with this award. Following a period of severe disruption our theatre in education companies have emerged stronger and even more committed to bringing the arts to young people in Wales and Arad Goch is a fine example. It is fitting that Arad Goch should have a home which reflects the company's reputation for producing high quality arts productions. This lottery funding will provide a massive boost to theatre in education in Aberystwyth and the surrounding area."

08 / 01 / 2005

ARAD GOCH SUMMER SHOW APPEAL

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ARAD GOCH SUMMER SHOW APPEAL

As the theme of our summer show this year The Impossible Parents Go Green is living in a greener way it’s a great opportunity to collect some items that can either be recycled or reused.

There are several reasons for doing so. The most important perhaps is to show children that everyone can contribute to a more sustainable way of life; it’s also a means of doing something practical to help others. We are therefore asking our audiences to bring:

Spectacles that are no longer used by the family or neighbours; or
Mobile Phones that are also no longer used; or
Used Postage Stamps

Spectacles: These need to be complete. They will be handed over to ‘Vision Aid Overseas’ to help people in the developing countries

Mobile Phones: Many charities, including Oxfam, are able to resell mobile phones to people in poorer countries that cannot afford new phones. The few mobiles that cannot be resold are broken down and some components are reused. Such charities also ensure that the toxic parts of phones are disposed of safely. Mobiles with batteries are very welcome but SIM cards and chargers are not essential.

Used Stamps: The RNIB is collecting used postage stamps in order to re-sell them to support much of their work, including the Sunshine House School in Northwood that educates blind and partially sighted children. We are asked to leave about ½cm of envelope around the stamps to guard against damage.

There will be buckets in foyer venues before each performance for the children to deposit their contributions.

Please help us to help others.

ARAD GOCH PERFORMING AT THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD FLINTSHIRE AND DISTRICT

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Arad Goch will be performing the popular production ‘Winter Pictures’ , directed by Jeremy Turner, at Theatr y Maes, National Eisteddfod Flintshire and District at 12pm on Frinday the 10th and Saturday the 11th of August.

Winter Pictures is suitable for children aged 4 – 8 and is getting to grips with two field mice, Biscuit and Frenzly, that faces a winter of hardship hidden in a hole at the base of a tree. Biscuit prepares for the winter by collecting a store of food. Frenzly, the daydreamer, collects memories and beautiful things to cheer them through the cold winter months. When the food runs out, the mice feed on their store of treasured memories and stories.

Winter Pictures was originally devised by the company in 1990 under the artistic direction of Jeremy Turner. One of Arad Goch Theatre Company’s most popular shows was recently re-created in a joint venture with The Ark, Dublin and with the support of CCAT an Interreg programme designed to develop relationships between cultural practitioners on both sides of the Irish Sea. This brand new production features live music and gives another generation of children the chance to share Biscuit and Frenzly’s tales.

ARAD GOCH SUMMER SHOW APPEAL

00 / 00 / 0000

ARAD GOCH SUMMER SHOW APPEAL

As the theme of our summer show this year The Impossible Parents Go Green is living in a greener way it’s a great opportunity to collect some items that can either be recycled or reused.

There are several reasons for doing so. The most important perhaps is to show children that everyone can contribute to a more sustainable way of life; it’s also a means of doing something practical to help others. We are therefore asking our audiences to bring:

Spectacles that are no longer used by the family or neighbours; or
Mobile Phones that are also no longer used; or
Used Postage Stamps

Spectacles: These need to be complete. They will be handed over to ‘Vision Aid Overseas’ to help people in the developing countries

Mobile Phones: Many charities, including Oxfam, are able to resell mobile phones to people in poorer countries that cannot afford new phones. The few mobiles that cannot be resold are broken down and some components are reused. Such charities also ensure that the toxic parts of phones are disposed of safely. Mobiles with batteries are very welcome but SIM cards and chargers are not essential.

Used Stamps: The RNIB is collecting used postage stamps in order to re-sell them to support much of their work, including the Sunshine House School in Northwood that educates blind and partially sighted children. We are asked to leave about ½cm of envelope around the stamps to guard against damage.

There will be buckets in foyer venues before each performance for the children to deposit their contributions.

Please help us to help others.

Arad Goch Summer Show Appeal

00 / 00 / 0000

As the theme of our summer show this year The Impossible Parents Go Green is living in a greener way it’s a great opportunity to collect some items that can either be recycled or reused.

There are several reasons for doing so. The most important perhaps is to show children that everyone can contribute to a more sustainable way of life; it’s also a means of doing something practical to help others. We are therefore asking our audiences to bring:

Spectacles that are no longer used by the family or neighbours; or
Mobile Phones that are also no longer used; or
Used Postage Stamps

Spectacles: These need to be complete. They will be handed over to ‘Vision Aid Overseas’ to help people in the developing countries

Mobile Phones: Many charities, including Oxfam, are able to resell mobile phones to people in poorer countries that cannot afford new phones. The few mobiles that cannot be resold are broken down and some components are reused. Such charities also ensure that the toxic parts of phones are disposed of safely. Mobiles with batteries are very welcome but SIM cards and chargers are not essential.

Used Stamps: The RNIB is collecting used postage stamps in order to re-sell them to support much of their work, including the Sunshine House School in Northwood that educates blind and partially sighted children. We are asked to leave about ½cm of envelope around the stamps to guard against damage.

There will be buckets in foyer venues before each performance for the children to deposit their contributions.

Please help us to help others.

Arad Goch Summer Show Appeal

00 / 00 / 0000

As the theme of our summer show this year The Impossible Parents Go Green is living in a greener way it’s a great opportunity to collect some items that can either be recycled or reused.

There are several reasons for doing so. The most important perhaps is to show children that everyone can contribute to a more sustainable way of life; it’s also a means of doing something practical to help others. We are therefore asking our audiences to bring:

Spectacles that are no longer used by the family or neighbours; or
Mobile Phones that are also no longer used; or
Used Postage Stamps

Spectacles: These need to be complete. They will be handed over to ‘Vision Aid Overseas’ to help people in the developing countries

Mobile Phones: Many charities, including Oxfam, are able to resell mobile phones to people in poorer countries that cannot afford new phones. The few mobiles that cannot be resold are broken down and some components are reused. Such charities also ensure that the toxic parts of phones are disposed of safely. Mobiles with batteries are very welcome but SIM cards and chargers are not essential.

Used Stamps: The RNIB is collecting used postage stamps in order to re-sell them to support much of their work, including the Sunshine House School in Northwood that educates blind and partially sighted children. We are asked to leave about ½cm of envelope around the stamps to guard against damage.

There will be buckets in foyer venues before each performance for the children to deposit their contributions.

Please help us to help others.

ARAD GOCH SUMMER SHOW APPEAL

ARAD GOCH SUMMER SHOW APPEAL

As the theme of our summer show this year The Impossible Parents Go Green is living in a greener way it’s a great opportunity to collect some items that can either be recycled or reused.

There are several reasons for doing so. The most important perhaps is to show children that everyone can contribute to a more sustainable way of life; it’s also a means of doing something practical to help others. We are therefore asking our audiences to bring:

Spectacles that are no longer used by the family or neighbours; or
Mobile Phones that are also no longer used; or
Used Postage Stamps

Spectacles: These need to be complete. They will be handed over to ‘Vision Aid Overseas’ to help people in the developing countries

Mobile Phones: Many charities, including Oxfam, are able to resell mobile phones to people in poorer countries that cannot afford new phones. The few mobiles that cannot be resold are broken down and some components are reused. Such charities also ensure that the toxic parts of phones are disposed of safely. Mobiles with batteries are very welcome but SIM cards and chargers are not essential.

Used Stamps: The RNIB is collecting used postage stamps in order to re-sell them to support much of their work, including the Sunshine House School in Northwood that educates blind and partially sighted children. We are asked to leave about ½cm of envelope around the stamps to guard against damage.

There will be buckets in foyer venues before each performance for the children to deposit their contributions.

Please help us to help others.