REGENERATION & LEISURE DEPARTMENT
2 jobs - County Theatres/Multi site and based at y Ffwrnes, Llanelli

Senior Facilities & Operations Co-ordinator

Senior Business, Marketing and Programme Co-ordinator

Closing Date: 17th February, 2012 - click here

 

ADRAN ADFYWIO A HAMDDEN
2 swydd - Theatrau’r Sir/Aml-safle a lleolir y swydd yn y Ffwrnes, Llanelli

Uwch Gydgysylltydd Cyfleusterau a Gweithrediadau

Uwch Gydlynydd Busnes, Marchnata a Rhaglenni

Dyddiad Cau: 17eg Chwefror, 2012 - cliciwch yma

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BBC report on arts funding cuts in England

More information..

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Creu Cymru member Cytser’s Dragon Tales project

Creu Cymru member Cytser’s Dragon Tales project has been local excitement in Harlech– and web coverage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14142003
See www.cytser.com for full information of Dragon Tales and Cytser’s other activity…

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June 2011
Job - Director Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon

Salary £37,206 - £41,616 + Pension

Theatr Brycheiniog - in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park - proudly stands as one of the top performing arts centres in Wales. Attracting over 150,000 visitors a year, the venue stages the best productions from companies and performers from Wales, the UK and around the world.

The company now seeks an outstanding individual to lead the company into its next stage of development. Candidates must demonstrate exceptional leadership skills, an aptitude for business development and a track-record of senior management success in a significant arts or similar organisation.

For further details, the recruitment pack is available to download from the theatre’s website at www.theatrbrycheiniog.co.uk

Closing date for applications 1pm Friday 1 July 2011
Interviews w/c 11 July 2011

Mehefin 2011
Swydd - Cyfarwyddwr Theatr Brycheiniog, Aberhonddu

Cyflog £37,206 - £41,616 + Pensiwn

Mae Theatr Brycheiniog - yng nghanol Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog - yn sefyll yn falch fel un o ganolfannau gorau y celfyddydau perfformio yng Nghymru. Mae’n denu dros 150,000 o ymwelwyr y flwyddyn ac mae’r lleoliad yn llwyfannu rhai o gynyrchiadau gorau cwmnïau a pherfformwyr Cymru, y Deyrnas Gyfunol a’r byd.

Bellach mae’r cwmni yn chwilio am unigolyn eithriadol i arwain y cwmni ymlaen at gam nesaf ei ddatblygiad. Bydd yn rhaid i ymgeiswyr ddangos sgiliau arweinyddiaeth eithriadol, dawn yn y maes datblygu busnes yn ogystal â gyrfa lwyddiannus wedi’i phrofi fel uwch reolwr yn y celfyddydau neu sefydliad tebyg.

Os hoffech chi gael rhagor o fanylion mae pecyn recriwtio ar gael i’w lawrlwytho o wefan y theatr ar www.theatrbrycheiniog.co.uk

Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau yw 1pm dydd Gwener 1 Gorffennaf 2011
Cyfweliadau wythnos yn cychwyn 11 Gorffennaf 2011

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March 2011
Wales Millennium Centre secures sponsorship from Lloyds TSB Commercial

Lloyds TSB Commercial has signed a three-year deal to sponsor Wales Millennium Centre, the iconic arts venue in Cardiff Bay. Under the terms of the deal, the bank will support the Centre's latest initiative - Learning Weeks - a series of workshops, performances, competitions and interactive concerts designed to give everyone a chance to get closer to what the Centre has on offer.

The support will enable the Centre to hold three Learning Weeks each academic year, and expand its community and education work. Last year nearly 13, 000 people took part in the Centre's on-going programme of events that encourages people in communities across Wales to take a chance on an art form that they wouldn't usually experience.

The first Learning Week will be held between March 21 - 27 and will concentrate on rock music, to coincide with 'We Will Rock You', the worldwide smash hit musical which is at the Centre from 18 March - 16 April.

Learning Week highlights include:
- An Interactive Rock Concert for Children aged between 7-11. Performed by Cardiff County & Vale of Glamorgan (CCVG) Music Service band - The BA38's, this is a show which invites children to sing along, join in with actions and join the band on stage. Children are also encouraged to sample voices and try out digital instruments which connect to a large screen and projector. Children will be introduced to the atmosphere of a live rock concert where learning is part of the fun.
- Primary school Art Competition. Pupils can design a rock star outfit and win a workshop for their class on the theme of Rock Music.
- Art & Design Competition. A competition to create a band and album name and design a unique CD cover for them. The winning design will win a live gig at their school.
- Silent Gig. Experience live music through headphones as a band takes to the Glanfa stage in this unique performance. Presented by SilentArena with Wales Millennium Centre.
- Paul Rees, Editor of Q Magazine : Masterclass and Talk.

A masterclass on how to review either a gig or an album followed by Paul Rees in conversation with Nicola Heywood Thomas discussing his own experiences of writing for the UK's biggest music magazine.

The next Learning Week will take place in June and will be on the theme of dance to coincide with Footloose playing at the Centre between 6-11 of June 2011.

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March 2011
Dance Days 2011

Taliesin Arts Centre is inviting proposals for short performances (max 12 minutes) to be performed during Dance Days 2011 (July 16 &17). The festival is intended to take dance out into public spaces in Swansea and to introduce the general public to the best of contemporary dance. Work should be self contained (simple) technically -except for pa which will be provided. The main locations are Castle Square & adjacent areas (outdoor stage available 7.5m x 4.9m x 1m) & National Waterfront Museum (indoor stage available – 7.5m x 4.9m x 45cm) + other internal museum spaces + Museum grounds, Marina & Dylan Thomas Square. We are looking for innovative work which uses the space in an imaginative way and which is “accessible” to a non-dance audience. An all inclusive fee of up to £1500 is available.

Send proposals to: Sybil Crouch, Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea SA2 8PZ or by e-mail to s.e.crouch@swansea.ac.uk (no huge files please!) Closing date for receipt of proposals is 24th March 2011

Mawrth 2011
Dyddiau Dawns 2011

Mae Canolfan y Celfyddydau Taliesin yn estyn gwahoddiad am gynigion ar gyfer perfformiadau byr (12 munud ar y mwyaf) i'w perfformio yn ystod Dance Days 2010 (Gorffennaf 16 ac 17). Nod yr ŵyl hon yw mynd â dawns allan i fannau cyhoeddus yn Abertawe a chyflwyno'r ddawns gyfoes orau i'r Cyhoedd. Dylai gwaith fod yn hunangynhaliol ac yn dechnegol syml - heblaw am system sain a ddarperir ar eich cyfer. Y prif leoliadau yw Sgwâr y Castell a'r ardaloedd cyfagos (llwyfan awyr agored ar gael 7.5m x 4.9m x 1m) ac Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau (llwyfan dan do ar gael - 7.5m x 4.9m x 45cm) yn ogystal â mannau eraill o fewn yr Amgueddfa ac ar safle'r Amgueddfa, y Marina a sgwâr Dylan Thomas. Rydym yn edrych am waith arloesol sy'n defnyddio gofod mewn modd dychmygol ac sy'n "gyraeddadwy" i gynulleidfa nad ydynt yn gyfarwydd â dawns. Mae taliad cynhwysfawr o £1500 i'w gynnig.

Anfonwch gynigion at Sybil Crouch, Canolfan y Celfyddydau Taliesin, Abertawe SA2 8PZ - neu trwy e-bostio s.e.crouch@swansea.ac.uk (Dim ffeiliau mega os gwelwch yn dda!) erbyn 24 Mawrth.

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March 2011
UK Design for Performance Exhibition

In July 2011, National Dance Company of Wales, Wales Millennium Centre and Chapter will present the first Wales Dance Platform for dance artists working in Wales.
The Platform is for dance artists in Wales to show their work. It is not an event aimed at presenting a narrowly selected programme, but a widely inclusive weekend of performances and presentations for professional dance artists based in Wales or who have a professional connection to working in Wales. Based on this open call, artists will self-select the work they are able to present with the resources and facilities available from both themselves and a hosting venue in Cardiff. The resulting programme will be confirmed by the Dance House, Chapter and Wales Millennium Centre. The Wales Dance Platform aims at being a diverse and celebratory showcase of performances in Cardiff presented to artists, programmers, critics and the public.

Designers and exhibits that will be on display include Richard Hudson, who will be exhibiting scale model and costume designs for Rushes; Royal Ballet; Marie Jean Lecca who will be exhibiting Costume designs & production photographs from Operas Agrippina and Krol Roger, and Costume designs and props from Frau Ohne Shatten along with Antony Gormley exhibiting Video, Production photographs, technical plots, and set pieces from the production Sutra displayed as an installation.

This is a unique opportunity to preview this extraordinary collection of work before it travels, in part, to represent the UK at the 2011 Prague Quadrennial International Exhibition this summer. It is also a chance to get a sneak preview of the new performance venues at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama currently under construction and opening to the public this summer.

March 18th to April 16th 2011
Admission Free
Friday 9.30am to 8pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm

For further information you can visit the SBTD website www.theatredesign.org.uk

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February 2011
Wales Millennium Centre announces strategic partnership with Cape Town Opera

A three-year strategic partnership between a spirited opera company and a landmark arts centre, aimed at strengthening cultural links between Wales and South Africa, was unveiled today. The agreement between Wales Millennium Centre and Cape Town Opera cements their ongoing relationship and strengthens the Centre's association with South Africa's only repertory opera company. The company is South Africa's largest performing arts organisation. They made their UK debut at the Centre with a performance of 'Porgy and Bess' as part of the Centre's 5th birthday celebrations in 2009. .

By working together both organisations aim to provide a platform for cultural exchanges. This will include opportunities for collaborative working with other arts companies and the potential to increase access to opera performances for audiences in Wales, the UK and South Africa.

The showpiece of the agreement includes a debut performance of a new opera and an education project with schools in Cardiff Bay. 'Mandela Trilogy' is a new version of an original opera developed and devised by Michael Williams, Cape Town Opera's Managing Director, and composed by Allan Stephenson, Mike Campbell and Peter Louis van Dijk based on the life of Nelson Mandela. It opened in June 2010 as a cultural piece to coincide with the FIFA World Cup being staged in South Africa. Its UK debut performance by Cape Town Opera will be at Wales Millennium Centre in June 2012.

An education project involving an artist from Cape Town and one from Wales forms part of the community work that will stem from the partnership. The artists will work with schools and community groups in South Wales exploring the theme of belonging and how cultural differences can enrich communities. The project will also involve Welsh National Opera, one of the Centre's resident organisations. The project will culminate in a performance in Wales Millennium Centre as part of the Centre's celebrations of Black History Month in October 2011.

The concept of establishing formal links between Wales Millennium Centre and Cape Town Opera was initially proposed in response to the long association the Centre has had with South Africa and Cape Town Opera, which dates back to the opening of the Centre in 2004. The Centre's relationship with Cape Town Opera stems from the Centre's association with its founding patron, Sir Donald Gordon and the Donald Gordon Foundation in South Africa.

Chwefror 2011
Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru yn chyoeddi partneriaeth strategol a Cape Town Opera

Heddiw, lansiwyd partneriaeth strategol dair blynedd rhwng cwmni opera egnïol a chanolfan gelfyddydau nodedig, sy'n anelu at atgyfnerthu cysylltiadau diwylliannol rhwng Cymru a De Affrica. Mae'r cytundeb rhwng Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru a chwmni Cape Town Opera yn cadarnhau eu perthynas barhaus ac yn atgyfnerthu cysylltiad y Ganolfan ag unig gwmni opera sefydlog De Affrica. Cape Town Opera yw sefydliad celfyddydau perfformio mwyaf De Affrica. Ymddangosodd y cwmni yn y DU am y tro cyntaf yn y Ganolfan gyda pherfformiad o 'Porgy and Bess' fel rhan o ddathliadau 5ed pen-blwydd y Ganolfan yn 2009.

Drwy gydweithio, nod y ddau sefydliad yw darparu llwyfan ar gyfer cyfnewidfeydd diwylliannol. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys cyfleoedd i gydweithio â chwmnïau celfyddydau eraill a'r potensial i alluogi cynulleidfaoedd yng Nghymru, y DU a De Affrica i weld mwy o berfformiadau opera.

Prif elfennau'r cytundeb yw perfformiad cyntaf o opera newydd a phrosiect addysg gydag ysgolion ym Mae Caerdydd. Mae 'Mandela Trilogy' yn fersiwn newydd o opera wreiddiol am fywyd Nelson Mandela a ddatblygwyd gan Michael Williams, Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr Cape Town Opera, ac a gyfansoddwyd gan Allan Stephenson, Mike Campell a Peter Louis van Dijk. Agorodd ym mis Mehefin 2010 fel darn diwylliannol i gyd-fynd â Chwpan y Byd FIFA a oedd yn cael ei gynnal yn Ne Affrica. Bydd Cape Town Opera yn perfformio'r darn am y tro cyntaf yn y DU yng Nghanolfan Mileniwm Cymru ym mis Mehefin 2012.

Mae prosiect addysg sy'n cynnwys artist o Cape Town ac un o Gymru yn rhan o'r gwaith cymunedol a fydd yn deillio o'r bartneriaeth. Bydd yr artistiaid yn gweithio gydag ysgolion a grwpiau cymunedol yn Ne Cymru i ymchwilio i'r thema o berthyn a sut y gall gwahaniaethau diwylliannol gyfoethogi cymunedau. Bydd y prosiect hefyd yn cynnwys Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, un o sefydliadau preswyl y Ganolfan. Penllanw'r prosiect yma fydd perfformiad yng Nghanolfan Mileniwm Cymru fel rhan o ddathliadau Mis Hanes Pobl Dduon y Ganolfan ym mis Hydref 2011.

Mae cynlluniau cyfnewid staff hefyd ar y gweill rhwng y Ganolfan a Cape Town Opera er mwyn rhannu arfer da a datblygu cydberthnasau gwaith.

Cynigiwyd y syniad o sefydlu cysylltiadau ffurfiol rhwng Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru a Cape Town Opera yn wreiddiol mewn ymateb i berthynas hir y Ganolfan â De Affrica a Cape Town Opera, sy'n dyddio'n ôl i agoriad y Ganolfan yn 2004. Mae perthynas y Ganolfan â Cape Town Opera yn deillio o gysylltiad y Ganolfan â'i noddwr sefydlu, Syr Donald Gordon a Sefydliad Donald Gordon yn Ne Affrica.

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February 2011
WALES DANCE PLATFORM, 1-3 July 2011
OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

In July 2011, National Dance Company of Wales, Wales Millennium Centre and Chapter will present the first Wales Dance Platform for dance artists working in Wales.
The Platform is for dance artists in Wales to show their work. It is not an event aimed at presenting a narrowly selected programme, but a widely inclusive weekend of performances and presentations for professional dance artists based in Wales or who have a professional connection to working in Wales. Based on this open call, artists will self-select the work they are able to present with the resources and facilities available from both themselves and a hosting venue in Cardiff. The resulting programme will be confirmed by the Dance House, Chapter and Wales Millennium Centre. The Wales Dance Platform aims at being a diverse and celebratory showcase of performances in Cardiff presented to artists, programmers, critics and the public.

The Platform’s aim is to strengthen relationships between dance artists and presenters, programmers and curators; enhance critical debate; and raise the profile of contemporary dance in Wales. Linked events, including seminars, networking sessions and writers’ talks, will also feature.

Venues (additional venues may be added)
Dance House: Blue Room and Man Gwyn
Chapter: Theatre, Stiwdio and other spaces subject to availability
Wales Millennium Centre: Weston Studio and front-of-house areas

Conditions & parameters
- Any dance media will be considered: performance, film, talk, installation, improvisation, or any other intervention
- A new work is any work that has not been extensively toured within the previous 12 months
- Whether your piece is 5 minutes or 50, tell us about it, and we’ll endeavour to fit it into the showcase
- A token flat fee will be paid for each production (approximately £100)
- All performers, choreographers and collaborative artists will receive a free pass for all Platform performances
- Participation in the Platform will be subject to the venues’ ability to produce the work in the time and space allocated, or to the artist finding their own space to present their work with the support of one of the participating venues or partners.
- If you’re a Cardiff artist, please let us know if you are able to accommodate a visiting fellow artist during the Platform

Submissions
Deadline for final submissions is 9 March 2011.
Submissions should include as follows:
- description of the work (not more than 1 page a4), including any details of the previous performances of the proposed work
- preferred spaces or venues for the work (please include any details integral to the performance, such as if it can be flexible in any space, if it requires daylight, if the performance is outdoors, if you have specific lighting or technical requirements). The participating venues will then do their best to include your work in the type of space you have specified.
- artist biography, cv or statement
- any technical requirements for presenting the work
- any supporting materials (eg, dvd, photos, links to video, website, these materials may not be returned)

Submissions should be made by email to Nia Sian Jones at nia.sian@ndcwales.co.uk or by post to:
Wales Dance Platform
National Dance Company Wales
Dance House, Wales Millennium Centre, Pierhead Street, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4PH

The Platform’s partners to date committed to supporting the Wales Dance Platform include:
National Dance Company Wales, Wales Millennium Centre, Chapter, Creu Cymru – the development agency for theatres and arts centres in Wales, Creu Cymru Dance Buddy Partner Venues, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Sherman Cymru, WNO Max, Dawns i Bawb, Rubicon, Milgis Art Café, Western Mail, Wales Online, Buzz Magazine

We hope that all professional creators of dance in Wales will be interested in this opportunity. Should you have any queries about submissions or the Platform please contact: nia.sian@ndcwales.co.uk

Chwefror 2011
LLWYFAN DAWNS CYMRU, 1-3 Gorffennaf 2011
GALWAD AGORED AM GYFLWYNIADAU

Ym mis Gorffennaf 2011, bydd Cwmni Dawns Cenedlaethol Cymru, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru a Chapter yn cyflwyno digwyddiad cyntaf Llwyfan Dawns Cymru ar gyfer artistiaid dawns sy'n gweithio yng Nghymru.

Nod y Llwyfan yw rhoi cyfle i artistiaid dawns yng Nghymru arddangos eu gwaith. Nid yw'n ddigwyddiad sydd wedi'i anelu at gyflwyno rhaglen ddethol gul, ond yn benwythnos cynhwysol iawn o berfformiadau a chyflwyniadau ar gyfer artistiaid dawns proffesiynol sydd wedi'u lleoli yng Nghymru neu sydd â chysylltiad proffesiynol â gweithio yng Nghymru. Yn seiliedig ar yr alwad agored hon, bydd artistiaid yn dewis eu hunain y gwaith y gallant ei gyflwyno gyda'r adnoddau a'r cyfleusterau sydd ganddynt ac sydd gan leoliad perfformio yng Nghaerdydd eu hunain. Caiff y rhaglen sy'n deillio ohono ei chadarnhau gan y Tŷ Dawns, Chapter a Chanolfan Mileniwm Cymru. Nod Llwyfan Dawns Cymru yw bod yn arddangosiad amrywiol ac yn ddathliad o berfformiadau yng Nghaerdydd a gyflwynir i artistiaid, rhaglenwyr, beirniaid a'r cyhoedd.
Nod y Llwyfan yw atgyfnerthu cydberthnasau rhwng artistiaid dawns a chyflwynwyr, rhaglenwyr a churaduron; gwella trafodaeth feirniadol; a chodi proffil dawns gyfoes yng Nghymru. Caiff digwyddiadau cysylltiedig, gan gynnwys seminarau, sesiynau rhwydweithio a sgyrsiau awduron, eu cynnal hefyd.

Lleoliadau (gallai lleoliadau ychwanegol gael eu hychwanegu)
Y Tŷ Dawns: Blue Room a Man Gwyn
Chapter: Theatr, Stiwdio a lleoedd eraill os ydynt ar gael
Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru: Stiwdio Weston ac ardaloedd blaen y tŷ

Amodau a pharamedrau
- Caiff unrhyw gyfrwng dawns ei ystyried: perfformiad, ffilm, sgwrs, dawns safle benodol, dawns fyrfyfyr, neu unrhyw fath arall.
- Ystyr gwaith newydd yw unrhyw waith nad yw wedi bod ar daith helaeth o fewn y 12 mis diwethaf
- P'un a yw eich darn yn para pum munud neu 50 munud, dywedwch wrthym amdano a byddwn yn ceisio'i gynnwys yn yr arddangosiad
- Caiff ffi sefydlog fechan ei thalu am bob cynhyrchiad (tua £100)
- Caiff pob perfformiwr, coreograffydd ac artist cydweithredol docyn am ddim i bob un o berfformiadau'r Llwyfan
- Gellir cymryd rhan yn y Llwyfan os gall y lleoliad gynhyrchu'r gwaith o fewn yr amser a'r gofod a ganiateir, neu os gall yr artist ddod o hyd i'w ofod ei hun er mwyn cyflwyno'i waith gyda chefnogaeth un o'r lleoliadau neu bartneriaid sy'n cymryd rhan.
- Os ydych yn artist yng Nghaerdydd, rhowch wybod i ni a allwch gynnig llety i artist sy'n ymweld yn ystod cyfnod y Llwyfan

Cyflwyniadau
Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer y cyflwyniadau terfynol yw 9 Mawrth 2011.
Dylai cyflwyniadau gynnwys y canlynol: - disgrifiad o'r gwaith (heb fod yn fwy nag un dudalen a4), gan gynnwys unrhyw fanylion am berfformiadau blaenorol o'r gwaith a gynigir
- dewis ofodau neu leoliadau ar gyfer y gwaith (dylech gynnwys unrhyw fanylion sy'n hanfodol i'r perfformiad, e.e. a all fod yn hyblyg mewn unrhyw ofod, a oes angen golau dydd arno, a yw'r perfformiad yn yr awyr agored, a oes gennych unrhyw ofynion goleuadau neu ofynion technegol penodol). Yna, bydd y lleoliadau sy'n cymryd rhan yn gwneud eu gorau i gynnwys eich gwaith yn y math o ofod rydych wedi'i nodi.
- bywgraffiad, cv neu ddatganiad gan yr artist
- unrhyw ofynion technegol ar gyfer cyflwyno'r gwaith
- unrhyw ddeunyddiau ategol (e.e. dvd, ffotograffau, dolenni at fideo, gwefan, efallai na chaiff y deunyddiau hyn eu dychwelyd)

Dylid anfon cyflwyniadau mewn e-bost at Nia Siân Jones sef nia.sian@ndcwales.co.uk neu drwy'r post i:
Llwyfan Dawns Cymru
Cwmni Dawns Cenedlaethol Cymru
Y Tŷ Dawns, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru, Stryd y Pierhead, Bae Caerdydd, CF10 4PH

Ymhlith partneriaid y Llwyfan sydd wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi Llwyfan Dawns Cymru hyd yma mae:
Cwmni Dawns Cenedlaethol Cymru, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru, Chapter, Creu Cymru – yr asiantaeth ddatblygu ar gyfer theatrau a chanolfannau celfyddydau yng Nghymru, Lleoliadau Partner 'Dance Buddy' Creu Cymru, Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru, Sherman Cymru, WNO Max, Dawns i Bawb, Rubicon
Caffi, Celf Milgi, Western Mail, Wales Online, Cylchgrawn Buzz

Gobeithiwn y bydd gan bawb sy'n creu dawns broffesiynol yng Nghymru ddiddordeb yn y cyfle hwn. Os bydd gennych unrhyw ymholiadau am gyflwyniadau neu am y Llwyfan cysylltwch â: nia.sian@ndcwales.co.uk

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January 2011
Vacancy for General Manager at The Torch

The Torch Theatre is the regional Arts Centre for West Wales and one of only three building based producing companies in the principality. We are seeking to appoint a highly skilled, committed and enthusiastic General Manager. This senior position demands a dedicated and experienced theatre professional with strong business acumen to join the executive team in delivering the ambitions of this well respected producing theatre company.

Salary circa £35K (dependent on experience)
Closing date for applications March 4th 2011
For further information contact Christine O’Reilly on 01646 694192
Or e-mail info@torchtheatre.co.uk

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January 2011
GWYL FFILM MWLDAN FILM FESTIVAL

Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan, Thursday 13 – Thursday 27 January 2011

Theatr Mwldan’s Film Festival gets underway in Cardigan on Thursday 13 January and continues every day for the following 14 days. This year’s Festival is Theatr Mwldan’s 17th annual celebration of cinema and the moving image, and showcases a wide selection of the very best in recent films from around the world.

Films from Wales feature strongly in the programme. There is a special advance preview screening of Marc Evans' new film Patagonia, giving Cardigan audiences the chance to see the film well before it goes on general release in the rest of the UK. Patagonia, which stars Matthew Rhys, Nia Roberts and Duffy (in her first film appearance), tells of the intertwined relationship of Wales and Patagonia as two couples make life-changing journeys in each country. Patagonia’s Director Marc Evans will be attending the preview screening in Cardigan on Saturday 22 January, and will answer questions from the audience after the film.

The Festival also features screenings of Martha Jac a Sianco, the BAFTA Cymru winning film adaptation of Caryl Lewis' prize-winning novel set in Ceredigion. The book was given a rapturous welcome when it was first published in 2004, and went on to win the prestigious Welsh Book of the Year award, the Welsh publishing industry's principal prize, in 2005. Caryl Lewis adapted her novel for the screen, and the film was shot almost entirely on location at Cribor Fawr, Pont-sian, near Talgarreg in rural Ceredigion. Caryl Lewis will be attending the screenings of Martha Jac a Sianco on Satuday 15 and Sunday 16 January to answer audience questions after the film.

Elsewhere in the Festival, there's an exciting line-up of high quality contenders for the 2011 BAFTAs and Oscars, such as 127 Hours, Secretariat and the hotly-tipped The King's Speech starring Colin Firth, plus some fascinating documentaries like Into Eternity, The First Movie and Out Of The Ashes.

This year’s Festival programme also includes live broadcasts of the National Theatre's acclaimed award-winning musical Fela! direct from the Olivier Theatre in London, and Mwldan’s first ever live broadcast ballet - The Royal Ballet's Giselle direct from London’s Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Music fans can sit back and enjoy a brand new documentary about musician David Byrne (former frontman of the band Talking Heads), followed by a live satellite question and answer session with the man himself!

All in all, there is so much to enjoy in this year’s Festival. Big films, little films, local films, and films from far away, Mwldan has organised a fantastic line up of titles ready for you to indulge in a brilliant fortnight of cinema!

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January 2011
Young People’s Film Academy

From 14 January onwards, Galeri will be running their second Young Person’s Film Academy (YPFA). This pioneering project will focus on the talent and enthusiasm of 9 to 12 year olds who have a passion for film and the moving image. The academy is a direct result of a successful scheme piloted previously by Chapter Arts Centre entitled Chapter Screen School, which was itself a replication of The Children’s Film University, a very successful project based in Berlin.

The YPFA will be delivered on 2 Saturday afternoons a month from January – July 2011. Each month participants will engage in a 90 minute interactive lecture, concentrating on a specific aspect of the film making process. These lectures will include 'What is Film Language?', 'Film History', 'Cinematography', 'Scriptwriting', ‘Editing’, ‘Directing’ and ‘Sound’. Each lecture will be supported later that month with an introduced screening specific to that lecture. The academy will be led by film and TV director Eilir Pierce.

“We feel that there’s certainly interest out there in how films are made, and children and young people in the area do have a real interest in both watching films and also creating their own films. This academy will give these youngsters tips and ideas for creating their films and make them look at films in a different way perhaps.” Galeri Artistic Director, Elen ap Robert.

There are still places available at Galeri’s Academy (which will be delivered through the medium of Welsh), for more information about the YPFA, or to request an application form please contact Galeri’s Box Office on 01286 685 222.

Ionawr 2011
Academi Ffilm Pobl Ifanc

O ddydd Sadwrn, 14 Ionawr, bydd Galeri yn rhedeg Academi Ffilm i Bobl Ifanc am yr ail waith yn dilyn llwyddiant y proeiect nol yn 2010. Bwriad yr Academi yw i ddysgu unigolion rhwng 9 a 12 mlwydd oed mwy am y diwydiant ffilm. O ddydd Sadwrn, 14 Ionawr, bydd Galeri yn rhedeg Academi Ffilm i Bobl Ifanc am yr ail waith yn dilyn llwyddiant y proeiect nol yn 2010. Bwriad yr Academi yw i ddysgu unigolion rhwng 9 a 12 mlwydd oed mwy am y diwydiant ffilm.

Bydd yr Academi yn cael ei gynnal yn Galeri ar 2 brynhawn pob mis rhwng Ionawr a Gorffennaf. Yn ystod sesiwn cyntaf pob mis, bydd darlith/sgwrs yn canolbwyntio ar agweddau gwahanol o’r diwydiant, o iaith ffilm, hanes ffilm a sinematogroffi i sgriptio, golygu a chyfarwyddo. Bydd yr ail sesiwn yn atgyfnerthu yr hyn a drafodwyd yn y ddarlith gyda dangosiad o ffilm berthnasol. Y cyfarwyddwr ffilm a theledu Eilir Pierce fydd yn arwain yr Academi.

“Rydym yn teimlo bod diddordeb gwirioneddol gan blant a phobl ifanc mewn sut mae ffilmiau yn cael eu creu… ac yn sicr mae ‘na ddiddordeb mewn gwylio’r ffilmiau a creu ffilmiau eu hunain. Bwriad yr academi yw i roi gwybodaeth gefndir am yr agweddau sydd yn gwneud ffilm lwyddiannus, gan roi syniadau a tips iddynt ac o bosib gwneud iddynt edrych ar ffilmiau mewn ffordd newydd” meddai cyfarwyddwr artistig Galeri, Elen ap Robert.

Mae llefydd dal ar gael i’r Academi Ffilm (a fydd yn cael ei redeg trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg), am fanylion pellach neu am ffurflen gais, cysylltwch á’r swyddfa docynnau ar 01286 685 222.

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Report on visit to PAMS (Performing Arts Market in Seoul) 2010What is PAMS?

 

The Performing Arts Market in Seoul (PAMS) is an annual event organised by Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Its aim is to strengthen awareness of the performing arts and to increase the presence of Korean performing arts and artists overseas.

PAMS has been in existence since 2005, attracts about 500 delegates from around the world, runs for a week every October and combines several elements ... more information

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New English-language Theatre School for children to open at Wales Millennium CentreDecember 2010

 

Wales Millennium Centre today launched an English-language theatre school for children aged between seven and 11 years old in Cardiff and the surrounding area.
Wales Millennium Centre's Young Company is open to children of all levels of ability and is held in partnership with The Big Talent School, run by entertainment industry professionals Shelley Barrett-Norton and Leigh-Ann Regan.

The aim of the Centre's Young Company is to give children hands-on experience of working in a theatre, from rehearsing and performing to learning how the lighting and sound desks work. The Young Company members will also be encouraged to develop other essential skills including communication, building friendships and teamwork through theatre and drama.

The Young Company will benefit from working at Wales Millennium Centre with its nine resident companies, as well as collaborating with the visiting companies who perform shows at the Centre.

The Young Company is part of the Centre's commitment to developing Welsh talent and providing a wide range of educational activities that support its creative programme. The Young Company will run alongside the Centre's established Welsh-language drama company, Ffwrnais Awen, run by the Urdd and based at the Centre.

Fiona Allan, Wales Millennium Centre's Artistic Director said: 'This new venture is part of the Centre's ambition to help develop Welsh talent. Wales Millennium Centre's Young Company will give local children the opportunity to join in and get hands-on experience of all aspects of the performing arts from experienced professionals. I hope that those taking part will feel that Wales Millennium Centre is their Centre and the skills they learn here will help nurture future talent in the creative arts as well as confident individuals.'

Shelley Barrett-Norton from The Big Talent School said: 'Our philosophy is to deliver high quality, acting, singing and dancing training by professional theatre practitioners giving each child the opportunity to build life skills such as teamwork, confidence, communication skills, making friends and enjoying themselves.'

Wales Millennium Centre's Young Company will meet each Saturday morning during the school term, starting on 15 January 2011. The classes cost £75 per term.

 

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New Year, New Shows and some Favourite Things at Wales Millennium Centre in 2011

December 2010
Wales Millennium Centre today unveiled its line-up for the new year, revealing a host of new productions making their Welsh debut, more dance from home and abroad, and some firm favourites making a welcome return to the Centre.

New comedy play 'Corrie!', which celebrates 50 years of Britain's longest running soap-opera, 'Coronation Street', is just one of the shows coming to Wales for the first time in 2011. With Jack Duckworth's recent on-screen death being watched by some 11 million viewers, 'Coronation Street' is still much loved by audiences old and new. 'Corrie!' brings favourite characters and storylines from the hit ITV series to the stage. Written by award-winning playwright and 'Coronation Street' writer, Jonathan Harvey, audiences can expect to see past and present residents - including the Barlows, the Duckworths and the Platts - make their way from Weatherfield's famous cobbled streets to Cardiff from 25 to 30 April 2011. Relive those magic moments from 'the Street' including Alan Bradley knocked down by the tram, Tracy killing Charlie, Todd kissing Nick and Gail marrying Brian, Martin, Richard, not forgetting Joe.

Politics will be high on the Welsh agenda next year. A Welsh general election takes place in May and voters will get a chance to decide on greater powers for the National Assembly for Wales and on changing the voting system in Westminster. Wales Millennium Centre presents the lighter side of politics with classic comedy 'Yes, Prime Minister' from 28 June to 2 July. Written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, the TV series 'Yes Prime Minister' entertained audiences by revealing the satirical side of government. Now the original writers have updated the series for the stage for a special 30th anniversary production which sees the Prime Minister of the coalition government on the brink of disaster.

Political incorrectness, mischievous behaviour and colourful language abound in the Tony-award winning musical 'Avenue Q' which plays at Wales Millennium Centre from 14 to 18 June as part of its first-ever UK tour. 'Avenue Q' takes some cute 'Sesame Street' type puppets and gives them an adult rating as they and the actors on stage take a humorous look at everyday issues of life, love and work.

Set in 1950s Rock and Roll America and with an instantly recognisable soundtrack, the West End version of 'Grease The Musical' comes to the Centre for the first time as part of its 2011 tour. 'Grease is the Word' as Danny, Sandy, the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies from Rydell High say 'You're The One That I Want' and sing their way through the 'Summer Nights' from 25 July to 6 August.

The Welsh seaside town of Llandudno is where Alice Liddel, the inspiration behind Lewis Carroll's Alice books, spent her childhood during the summer months. Now Scotland's national dance company brings its brand new production of Carroll's stories to life. 'Alice' is at the Centre from 4 to 7 May. Scottish Ballet will be accompanied by the full Scottish Ballet Orchestra performing a specially commissioned score by American composer Robert Moran.

The Centre continues to bring the best international dance to Wales. Royal National Ballet New Zealand will premiere 'From Here to There' a triple bill of works featuring a range of dance styles on 11 July. National Dance Company Wales will perform work by the renowned American choreographer, Stephen Petronio, based on Dylan Thomas's poetry, 'By Singing Light' and featuring the BBC National Chorus live on stage. They will also present a new commission, 'Romance Inverse' by Tel Aviv-born award-winning choreographer Itzik Galili from 7 to 8 July.

Several familiar faces return to Wales Millennium Centre in 2011. After proving to be a big hit with diners last year, 'Faulty Towers The Dining Experience' is back to entertain audiences at the Centre's ffresh restaurant. This is a hilarious treat to banish those post Christmas blues as Basil, Manuel and Sybil serve a three course meal with all the chaos of the original 'Fawlty Towers' television series.

The musical 'Footloose' premiered at the Centre in 2004 before going on to tour the rest of the UK and becoming a huge hit in the West End. Now with a brand new set and stylish costumes 'Footloose' comes back to the Centre's Donald Gordon stage this summer. 'Footloose' is based on the true story of a small town in America that has outlawed dance - until one teenager decides to bring dance back into the heart of the community. With great choreography and classic anthems from the 1980s, including Bonnie Tyler's smash hit song 'Holding Out For A Hero', it's time to put your dancing shoes back on from 6 to 11 June.

Following successes in 'Chicago' and 'Witches of Eastwick', Marti Pellow returns to the Centre with a new tour of the Broadway musical 'Jekyll and Hyde' from 4 to 9 July. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic gothic novella, Pellow plays the scientist with a sadistic alter ego.

The hills and valleys of Wales will once again echo to some of their 'Favorite Things' as the Von Trapp family prepare to 'Do-Re-Mi' this summer from 22 August to 3 September. Get back into the habit of 'The Sound of Music' as Maria, the children and the Captain captivate audiences with 'My Favorite Things, 'Edelweiss' and of course the title song.

Fiona Allan, Artistic Director, Wales Millennium Centre said: 'Our line-up for the new year proves that Wales Millennium Centre continues to build on its reputation for attracting a wide range of dance and large-scale West End musicals to Wales. Next year we are aiming to broaden our appeal to audiences by increasing the amount of drama at the Centre with shows such as 'Corrie!' and 'Yes, Prime Minister.''

 

Blwyddyn Newydd, Sioeau Newydd ac ychydig o hoff bethau yn y Ganolfan Mileniwm Cymru yn 2011

Rhagfyr 2010
Cyflwynodd Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru ei chynyrchiadau ar gyfer y flwyddyn newydd heddiw, gan ddatgelu gwledd o gynyrchiadau newydd sbon i Gymru, rhagor o ddawns o Brydain a thramor, a rhai hen ffefrynnau a fydd yn dychwelyd i'r Ganolfan.

'Corrie!', drama gomedi newydd sy'n dathlu 50 mlynedd o 'Coronation Street', opera sebon hynaf Prydain, fydd un o'r sioeau sy'n dod i Gymru am y tro cyntaf yn 2011.
Gwelodd rhyw 11 miliwn o wylwyr Jack Duckworth yn marw ar y sgrin fach yn ddiweddar, sy'n dangos bod 'Coronation Street' yn parhau'n boblogaidd iawn ymysg cynulleidfaoedd hen a newydd. Daw 'Corrie!' â hoff gymeriadau a straeon cyfres lwyddiannus ITV i'r llwyfan. Dramodydd o'r radd flaenaf ac un o ysgrifenwyr 'Coronation Street', Jonathan Harvey, ysgrifennodd y sioe ac ynddi gall cynulleidfaoedd ddisgwyl gweld trigolion y gorffennol a'r presennol - gan gynnwys y Barlows, y Duckworths a'r Platts - yn ymlwybro o strydoedd cobl enwog Weatherfield i Gaerdydd rhwng 25 a 30 Ebrill 2011. Gallwch ail-fyw'r adegau hudol hynny o'r 'Stryd' gan gynnwys pan gafodd Alan Bradley ei fwrw gan y tram, pan wnaeth Tracy ladd Charlie, pan wnaeth Todd gusanu Nick a phan wnaeth Gail briodi Brian, Martin, Richard ac heb anghofio Joe.

Bydd gwleidyddiaeth yn uchel ar agenda Cymru'r flwyddyn nesaf. Cynhelir etholiad cyffredinol Cymru ym mis Mai a chaiff etholwyr y cyfle i benderfynu ar fwy o bwerau i Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru ac ar newid y system bleidleisio yn San Steffan. Bydd Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru yn cyflwyno ochr ysgafnach gwleidyddiaeth gyda'r comedi clasurol 'Yes, Prime Minister' o 28 Mehefin i 2 Gorffennaf. Antony Jay a Jonathan Lynn ysgrifennodd y gyfres deledu 'Yes, Prime Minister' a ddiddanodd gynulleidfaoedd drwy ddatgelu ochr ddychanol llywodraeth. Bellach mae'r ysgrifenwyr gwreiddiol wedi diweddaru'r gyfres ar gyfer y llwyfan i ddathlu ei phen-blwydd yn 30 gan greu cynhyrchiad arbennig lle bydd Prif Weinidog llywodraeth y glymblaid ar y dibyn yn ceisio atal argyfwng.

Bydd digonedd o sylwadau gwleidyddol anghywir, ymddygiad direidus ac iaith liwgar yn 'Avenue Q', y sioe gerdd a enillodd wobr Tony, a gaiff ei pherfformio yng Nghanolfan Mileniwm Cymru rhwng 14 a 18 Mehefin fel rhan o'i thaith gyntaf erioed yn y DU. Mae 'Avenue Q' yn defnyddio pypedau ciwt tebyg i rai 'Sesame Street' ond nid chwarae plant a geir yma wrth iddyn nhw a'r actorion ar y llwyfan edrych ar faterion bob dydd fel bywyd, cariad a gwaith mewn ffordd ddoniol.

Daw fersiwn y West End o 'Grease The Musical' â'i cherddoriaeth adnabyddus o oes Roc a Rôl y 1950au yn yr Unol Daleithiau i'r Ganolfan am y tro cyntaf fel rhan o'i thaith yn 2011. Bydd Danny, Sandy, y T-Birds a'r Pink Ladies o Rydell High yn canu clasuron fel 'Grease is the Word', 'You're The One That I Want' a 'Summer Nights' o 25 Gorffennaf i 6 Awst.

Treuliodd Alice Liddel, yr ysbrydoliaeth i lyfrau Alice gan Lewis Carroll, fisoedd yr haf yn ystod ei phlentyndod yn nhref glan môr Llandudno. Nawr daw cwmni dawns cenedlaethol yr Alban â straeon Carroll yn fyw yn ei gynhyrchiad newydd sbon. Bydd 'Alice' yn y Ganolfan rhwng 4 a 7 Mai. Bydd Cerddorfa lawn y Scottish Ballet yn cyfeilio i'r sgôr a gomisiynwyd yn arbennig gan y cyfansoddwr Robert Moran o'r Unol Daleithiau.

Mae'r Ganolfan yn parhau i ddod â'r gorau o ddawns ryngwladol i Gymru. Bydd Royal National Ballet New Zealand yn cyflwyno perfformiad cyntaf 'From Here to There', tri darn o waith sy'n cynnwys ystod o arddulliau dawns ar 11 Gorffennaf. Bydd Cwmni Dawns Cenedlaethol Cymru yn perfformio gwaith gan y coreograffydd enwog o'r Unol Daleithiau, Stephen Petronio, yn seiliedig ar farddoniaeth Dylan Thomas, 'By Singing Light' a fydd yn cynnwys Corws Cenedlaethol y BBC yn canu'n fyw ar y llwyfan. Bydd y cwmni hefyd yn cyflwyno comisiwn newydd, 'Romance Inverse' gan y coreograffydd llwyddiannus Itzik Galili o Tel Aviv rhwng 7 a 8 Gorffennaf.

Daw sawl wyneb cyfarwydd yn ôl i Ganolfan Mileniwm Cymru yn 2011. Ar ôl bod yn llwyddiant mawr ymysg cwsmeriaid bwyty ffresh y Ganolfan y llynedd, daw 'Faulty Towers The Dining Experience' yn ôl i ddiddanu cynulleidfaoedd. Mae hon yn wledd ddoniol tu hwnt i gael gwared ar y felan ar ôl y Nadolig wrth i Basil, Manuel a Sybil weini pryd tri chwrs â holl anhrefn y gyfres deledu wreiddiol 'Fawlty Towers'.

Perfformiwyd y sioe gerdd 'Footloose' yn y Ganolfan gyntaf yn 2004 cyn mynd ymlaen i deithio gweddill y DU a chael llwyddiant mawr yn y West End. Daw 'Footloose' yn ôl i lwyfan Donald Gordon y Ganolfan yr haf hwn â set a gwisgoedd llawn steil newydd sbon.

Mae 'Footloose' yn seiliedig ar stori wir tref fach yn yr Unol Daleithiau sydd wedi gwahardd dawnsio - nes i un person ifanc yn ei arddegau benderfynu dod â dawns yn ôl i galon y gymuned. Gwisgwch eich esgidiau dawnsio a mwynhewch goreograffi ardderchog a chaneuon pop clasurol o'r 1980au, gan gynnwys 'Holding Out For A Hero' gan Bonnie Tyler, rhwng 6 ac 11 Mehefin.

Yn dilyn ei lwyddiannau yn 'Chicago' a 'Witches of Eastwick' daw Marti Pellow yn ôl i'r Ganolfan â thaith newydd y sioe gerdd o Broadway 'Jekyll and Hyde' rhwng 4 a 8 Gorffennaf. Yn seiliedig ar nofel gothic glasurol Robert Louis Stevenson, bydd Pellow yn chwarae rhan y gwyddonydd sydd ag elfen arall sadistaidd i'w gymeriad.

Bydd bryniau a chymoedd Cymru unwaith eto'n atseinio wrth i deulu Von Trapp baratoi i ganu 'Do-Re-Mi' rhwng 22 Awst a 3 Medi. Felly dewch i weld Maria, y plant a'r Capten yn cyfareddu cynulleidfaoedd â 'My Favorite Things, 'Edelweiss' a'r gân sy'n dwyn teitl y sioe 'The Sound of Music'.

Dywedodd Fiona Allan, Cyfarwyddwr Artistig Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru: 'Mae ein cynyrchiadau ar gyfer y flwyddyn newydd yn profi bod Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru yn parhau i adeiladu ar ei henw da yn denu ystod eang o ddawns a sioeau cerdd mawr o'r West End i Gymru. Y flwyddyn nesaf rydyn ni'n anelu at ehangu ein hapêl i gynulleidfaoedd drwy gynnig mwy o ddrama yn y Ganolfan gyda sioeau fel 'Corrie!' ac 'Yes, Prime Minister.''

 

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Job: Relief Duty Officer

Blackwood Miners’ Institute Part Time Hours (Casual) Grade 5 (SCP 17 = £8.72 per hour) Blackwood Miners’ Institute is a professional theatre presenting a variety of arts & entertainment events, and gives audiences the opportunity to experience the highest quality theatre, dance and live music on their doorstep as well as supporting performances staged by local community organisations. We require Relief Casual Duty Officers to ensure the smooth running of the theatre for functions, conferences, events and performances. Successful candidates must have excellent customer care skills and experience, and ideally also have experience of implementing statutory requirements, e.g. health and safety, licensing and fire regulations. This post requires flexibility with the ability to work daytimes, evenings and weekends. For a job description, person specification or application form, please click here or contact Caerphilly County Borough Council Corporate Recruitment Team on 01443 864422 or via http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk Closing Date: Friday 3rd December 2010

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Job - Office Administrator

Span Arts is a Narberth based community arts organisation who delivers live arts in Pembrokeshire. We are looking for a new member of our team.....
Click here for more information

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Nick Banwell (Borough Theatre, Abergavenny) is in Korea at PAMS (Performing Arts Market Seoul) on a trip supported by the Creu Cymru Go & See scheme. He sent this update on 12 October:

 “Well worth travelling 6000 miles for - seen a knockout Romeo and Juliet, performed at Barbican 2006, on the mid-scale. They are at Edinburgh International festival 2011 with The Tempest and are negotiating with RNT for post Edinburgh run. Then, they want to come to Wales! - dead easy only 33 in the company and 4 day get-in. I explained the "issues", we all had a good laugh, and then they said they still want to come to Wales and they are happy to negotiate on everything. (If they get RNT gig then money side not such a big deal as that will be their pay cheque). Was then invited to director’s birthday party.

 Saw a neat small scale Carmen in one of the over-a-hundred-or-so small-scale theatre spaces here, attended a fascinating symposium on developing the processes of production, artform and audience development - the issues we are trying to address through CC are universal it seems - and the networking has provided genuine opportunities for follow up.

Big news is… Julie Turner is famous in Korea! Amazing, but almost true! Have also met up with Elisabeth from Station Bleue[Canadian agent involved in the forthcoming Creu Cymru tour of ‘La Fugue’ to Wales], and Gordana (ex Chapter) is here too.

The food and hospitality has been nothing short of sensational. Massive meals - at birthday party bash over restaurant (chopsticks, sit on floor jobbie) for whole company after Romeo & Juliet show and the food just kept coming. Tons of it. Eventually no table space left so it was stacked up dish on dish. Had to keep eating, everyone wanted me to taste everything. Rice wine drunk from buckets. Everyone happy. Then I am told I have to make speech and tell company what I thought of play...”

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October 2010

The Metropole Cultural and Conference Centre in Abertillery was pleased to be the host venue on 1st March 2010 for the ceremony of the official signing of a Twinning Oath between Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent and Royat in The Auvergne Region of France. Since then the Met has been used for meetings of the Twinning Committee and are delighted that The Twinning Association has hired the venue for Saturday 30th October when they will once again welcome their friends from Royat – this time a 50 piece Wind Orchestra, who will perform a joint concert with Abertillery Town Band and Kids R Us Choir.

Manager – Suzanne Allen, said 'It’s especially nice to see how the friendship between the two towns has developed and that The Met is now not only perceived by local organisations as the hub for all cultural and social occasions, but also will have the same purpose for when we welcome societies and organisations from our twin town – Vive L’Entente Cordiale!'

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Taliesin Arts Centre celebrates Award for Live Entertainment

October 2010

Swansea University’s Taliesin Arts Centre was the proud winner of the Live Entertainment Award at The Wave and Swansea Sound Culture and Lifestyle Awards announced last week.

The Award Ceremony was held at Swansea's National Waterfront Museum hosted by Wave Breakfast Show Presenter Badger and Swansea Sound’s Breakfast Show presenter Kevin Johns with a special performance by X Factor’s Olly Murs.  It was attended by award nominees, sponsors, dignitaries and celebrities, to celebrate the culture, heritage and lifestyle of our area, voted for by listeners of the Wave and Swansea Sound. The awards were supported by Eddie and his Angels from Blazers and Sunnyhaven Caravans along with Norton House Hotel.

Swansea University’s Head of Cultural Services, Sybil Crouch, was delighted with the news:
‘We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award and would like to thank everyone who voted, for their support.  We are very proud of the work we do to bring such quality performances to our audiences and we are equally proud of the continuing loyalty which we receive.’

Congratulations also go to the university’s museum of Egyptian Antiquities, the Egypt Centre, runners up in Swansea’s Best Visitor Attraction category.

Taliesin Arts Centre, a powerhouse for the arts in this region, is owned and managed by Swansea University and funded by The Arts Council of Wales.  Every year this centre of artistic excellence presents over 300 performances and exhibitions of the highest quality in music, dance, theatre, cinema & visual arts, attracting audiences from Swansea, the surrounding region, Wales, and beyond.

With the support of the University, Taliesin has, over the last 25 years, developed into a cultural hub for the region and a major artistic force, loved by artists and audiences alike.  Taliesin was awarded “Regional Performing Arts Centre” status in 2005 and given a coveted Beacon Award in 2009 by ACW. 

Taliesin continues its good work, this autumn welcoming three internationally acclaimed dance companies for their only appearances in Wales:   The Featherstonehaughs, EDITS (7th Oct), Tanzcompagnie Rubato & Mahjong Dance, Look At Me I’m Chinese (21st Oct) and the stunning Akram Khan Company who present Vertical Road (15th & 16th Nov).  The venue also welcomes the award-winning Pilot Theatre with a new production of Romeo and Juliet (23rd-27th Nov) and the mighty Jazz Jamaica (4th Dec).  Taliesin hopes to go from strength to strength, boosted by this award and looks forward to welcoming many more visitors to future events.

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SBARC!’s 10 year birthday sessions…

October 2010

Galeri’s art project SBARC! is celebrating its tenth birthday this year and will be holding a day of celebrations on October 16th. The arts project was set up with the intention of offering a wide range of artistic experiences for children and young people in the Caernarfon area. In the beginning weekly drama and music classes were held in Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon. In 2005 however, all activities were moved to Galeri, where the children and young people were given top quality facilities and a professional theatre to perform in on a regular basis.

By today hundreds of young people have benefited from SBARC! and have been given the opportunity to act, sing, dance, create films, songs and digital stories, develop technical skills and learn how to play musical instruments and play those instruments in gigs, shows, Battle of the Bands and workshops.

SBARC! project co-ordinator Rhian Cadwaladr said “The opportunities that the young people get are fantastic and it’s a great pleasure to watch them develop in confidence and ability and make new friends. I would have loved it if SBARC! existed when I was young!”

Birthday celebrations on Saturday 16th include various workshops during the day – from drama taster sessions and beat boxing to creating a giant papier mache birthday cake. At 7:30pm there will be a gig in the theatre where present members of SBARC!’s Ysgol Roc will share the stage with their tutors and former members namely Zoot Warren, The Everything, Y Saethau and Y Bandana. The evening will be compered by S4C’s Trystan Ellis-Morris.

Names are now being accepted for electric guitar, bass guitar, drum, singing and drama lessons to start in January 2011. All classes cost £65 for a term of ten lessons. For more information phone Rhian Cadwaladr on 01286 685219. To book your places for the events on Saturday 16 October contact Galeri’s box office on 01286 685 222.

SBARC! is funded by Galeri Caernarfon, Arts Council Wales, The National Lottery and Caernarfon Town Council.

Taster Sessions

Drama  (Welsh Language)
A chance to experience a drama class with SBARC! tutors Rhian Cadawaladr and Tammi Gwyn.
10 - 11am- school years 3 and 4
11 - 12pm- years 5 and 6
1 - 2pm – Secondary School
£4

Beat Boxing
Led by the amazing Ed Holden
2 – 3 pm (For children/young people in secondary school)
£4

Art
Create a giant papier mache birthday cake that will be placed in Galeri’s foyer, with Luned Rhys Parri.
10 – 12pm.ages 7-10
£5

Birthday Gig (Welsh Language)
A chance to see the talents of the Rock School’s past and present members including Y Bandana, Y Saethau and a band of tutors.
7.30pm
£5

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Job: Community Arts Manager

Location: Narberth, Pembrokeshire

Span Arts is a vibrant, busy community arts charity based in Narberth, Pembrokeshire. We run around 45 performing arts events a year including music, drama, comedy and more, as well as a variety of workshops and projects.

Main purpose of Job: To provide leadership and management for the day to day running of Span Arts and to generate funds to ensure the organisation’s sustainability.

Applicants must:

• be efficient and versatile with strong financial and planning skills
• demonstrate a commitment to and interest in community arts; and
• possess a proven knowledge and understanding of the efficacy of marketing tools and techniques.

30 hous per week - £20k to £23k pro rate (depending on skills and experience)

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd September 2010

Email info@span-arts.org.uk or ring 01834 869323 for an application pack.

Swydd: Rheolwr Celfyddydau Cymunedol

Lleoliad: Arberth, Sir Benfro

Mae Span Arts yn elusen gymunedol, brysur ar gyfer y celfyddydau sy’n seiliedig yn Arberth, Sir Benfro. Cynhaliwm tua 45 o ddigwyddiadau celfyddydau perfformio yn ystod y flwyddyn gynnwys Cerdd, Drama ac eraill, ynghyd ag amrywiaeth o weithdai a phrosietau.

Byddwch yn gyfrifol am ddatblygiad a rheolaeth dydd i ddydd o’r mudiad celfyddydau cymunedol sefydlog hon.

Bydd angen i’r berson llwyddiannus fod yn effeithiol ac amryddawn gyda sgiliau ariannol a chynllunio cryf – bydd gwybodaeth a gallu ynglyn a noddi yn angenrheidiol.

30 awr y wythnos, £20,000 i £23,000 ar gyfartaledd (yn ddibynnol ar sgiliau a phrofiad)

Dyddiad cau: Dydd Mercher, 22ain Medi 2010
Anfonwch ebost at info@span-arts.org.uk neu ffoniwch 01834 869323 am becyn a ffuflen ymgeisio.

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Theatr Mwldan – Job Vacancy

APPRENTICE TECHNICIAN

Theatr Mwldan is a vibrant Arts Centre situated in Cardigan, West Wales. The venue’s busy programme presents a range of live professional performing arts, including drama, dance and a wide variety of music. The venue also presents amateur and community live performance, a programme of visual arts exhibitions, and an extensive cinema programme of mainstream and specialist film. Mwldan also produces and tours drama and music productions across Wales and the UK.

We are seeking to recruit an Apprentice Technician for a 12 month full time (37.5 hours per week) fixed term post. The successful candidate will work within Mwldan’s Technical Department and will report to the Technical Manager. The Apprenticeship will commence on 30th September 2010.

The successful Apprentice will be trained in-house at Theatr Mwldan during the 12 month post, and will also receive additional training and learning support delivered by Gorseinon College for the Modern Apprentice NVQ Level 2 certificate.

Full details please click here.

To apply, please send a letter of application together with an up to date copy of your CV by post to Sion Williams, Technical Manager, Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan SA43 1JY or by email to sion@mwldan.co.uk For an informal discussion please contact Sion Williams on 01239 623927.

The closing date for applications is 17th September 2010.

Interviews will be held during the week of the 20th September.

Theatr Mwldan – Swydd Wag

PRENTIS TECHNEGYDD

Mae Theatr Mwldan yn Ganolfan y Celfyddydau fywiog yn Aberteifi, Gorllewin Cymru. Mae rhaglen brysur y theatr yn cyflwyno ystod o gelfyddydau perfformio proffesiynol byw, gan gynnwys drama, dawns ac amrywiaeth eang o gerddoriaeth. Yn ogystal, mae’r ganolfan yn cyflwyno perfformiadau byw amatur a chymunedol, rhaglen o arddangosfeydd y celfyddydau gweledol, a rhaglen sinema helaeth sy’n cynnwys ffilmiau prif ffrwd ac arbenigol. Mae’r Mwldan hefyd yn cynhyrchu a theithio cynyrchiadau drama a cherddoriaeth ar draws Cymru a Phrydain.

Bwriadwn recriwtio Prentis Technegydd ar gyfer swydd amser llawn (37.5 awr yr wythnos) cyfnod penodol o 12 mis. Bydd yr ymgeisydd llwyddiannus yn gweithio fel rhan o Adran Dechnegol y Mwldan a bydd o dan reolaeth y Rheolwr Technegol. Bydd y Brentisiaeth yn cychwyn ar 30 Medi 2010.

Caiff y Prentis llwyddiannus ei hyfforddi’n fewnol yn Theatr Mwldan yn ystod cyfnod y swydd, a bydd hefyd y derbyn hyfforddiant ychwanegol a chefnogaeth dysgu caiff ei darparu gan Goleg Gorseinon ar gyfer y Dystysgrif Prentisiaeth Fodern CGC Lefel 2.

Manylion llawn cliciwch yma.

I wneud cais, anfonwch lythyr cais ynghyd â chopi cyfredol o’ch CV yn y post i Sion Williams, Rheolwr Technegol, Theatr Mwldan, Aberteifi, SA43 1JY neu ar e-bost i sion@mwldan.co.uk Am drafodaeth anffurfiol, cysylltwch â Sion Williams ar 01239 623927.

Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau fydd 17 Medi 2010.

Cynhelir cyfweliadau yn ystod yr wythnos sy’n dechrau 20 Medi.

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Theatr Brycheiniog brimming over with arts activities for young people!

August 2010

From 26 to 31 July Theatr Brycheiniog held circus skills workshops entitled ACROBantics which were run by NOFit State Circus in Cardiff and funded by ACW, Brecon Town Council & The Gibbs Charitable Trust, a small local charity. The children were aged from 9 to 16 years. The workshops were a huge success, and some children even mastered walking on stilts, tight wire and unicycling, along with other skills such as diabolo, devil sticks, juggling and acrobatics.

The performance on the Saturday was a huge success too, and as a result of this event, some of the children paraded in the Brecon Jazz Parade on Sunday 8 August to great cheering and comment. The Brecon & Radnor Express took a photo both of the participants at the start of the week and also during the jazz parade.

Theatr Brycheiniog also hosts Criw Cymru urban arts workshops from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 August, which will include DJing, rapping, street dance and graffiti art. These will be for youngsters from 10 to 18 years and will be run by 2Faced Dance Company in Hereford as part of the Cultural Olympiad in Wales.

On into term-time, break dancing sessions for 6-11 years and 11-18 years take place every Wednesday from 5 to 6pm for the younger group and 6.15 to 7.15pm for the older group. They're run by 2Faced Dance Company from Hereford. The children took part in 2Faced Dance's annual showcase for its groups (from Herefordshire and Worcestershire as well) at the end of June, in a show called Evolution, which played to sell-out audiences each night. On the strength of these classes, several youngsters have gone on to take up Dance at A level and higher in colleges from Hereford to Merthyr Tydfil. There is no dance provision in schools in Brecon, so these classes are a valuable bonus for the town and beyond.

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Edinburgh 2010.  The year the sun came out!

- Louise Amery, Deputy Director at Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Yes, for the first time since Creu Cymru first rented a flat for us all to use at the festival we didn't spend this year ensconced in a waterproof and sploshing from venue to venue, or sitting in sweaty, damp, smelly rooms watching performances whilst water either dripped off the audience or, worryingly, dripped through the roof!  This year it was actually sunny and dry for two whole days of our visit, a  much nicer experience all round.

But, we don't go to the festival to sit in the sunshine, we go to the festival to see shows.  Lots and lots of shows.  And this year didn't disappoint.  Arriving on the first Saturday of the festival at 6pm after a long drive from Aberystwyth, we hit the ground running and saw two shows that night.  Then five on Sunday and five on the Monday, and back on the road on Tuesday, arriving in Aber slightly dazed!

The great thing about Edinburgh is the variety of work on offer.  Whether you're researching theatre, music, comedy, family friendly work, visual arts, literature, film - whatever your chosen genre you can completely immerse yourself into the festival and cram in as much work as time allows.  As ever, we saw some really good stuff and some really not so good stuff, we saw shows that we really liked but which we'd never book, and work that maybe wasn't to our personal taste but which we know other people will like.  We celebrity spotted (Andy spent one show suffering due to Nicholas Parson's knees sticking in his back from the row behind!), we watched how audiences reacted to shows, we read countless reviews, we were given countless leaflets.  We bumped into a surprisingly large number of people we knew from home, showing that our audiences are as interested in engaging in the festival as we are.  And most importantly we came home with a list of ideas to book for the future, and the knowledge from having seen the shows that they are good quality and right for our venue.  It's a mad old experience, but hugely beneficial and we wouldn't miss it for the world.

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What's On this Autumn at the Dance House, Cardiff

Stephen Petronio open rehearsals:  Watch one of the world's hippest choreographers Stephen Petronio working with National Dance Company Wales dancers as he creates a new work.  This marks his choreographic debut in Wales.  For four Friday afternoons the rehearsals in the Dance House are open.  August 20, 27; September 3, 10.  5pm.  Free.

Autumn Season Preview:  This is an exclusive opportunity to see Singing Light from Stephen Petronio and Romance Inverse by Itzik Galili before the start of the autumn tour.  This is a free event for ticket holders of the Company's, March 7 and 8, 2011 performances in the Donald Gordon Theatre at Wales Millennium Centre.  September 23, 24.  8pm.  Free.

Explore Dance Matinee:  Meet the dance artists in a fun and entertaining interactive performance where you can just watch or take part in class and rehearsals on stage with the dancers.  This will be followed by a performance of excerpts from NDC Wales autumn tour.  October 7,8.  1pm  Call 02920 635612 for tickets.  Special price for school groups.

Boys Only!:  The Boys Only! showing is a chance to see what has been achieved during a weekend course run at the Dance House in conjunction with the Royal Academy of Dance for male dancers aged 10-18.  It is a chance for boys and young men to tackle ballet and contemporary dance from a fresh, athletic perspective with classes and a performance,  October 24.  5pm.  Free.

Muscle:  Former National Dance Company Wales dancer and choreographer Phil Williams and writer/director Greg Cullen give an insight into their fusion of theatre, dance, music and documentary entitled Muscle, with excerpts from the show.  From November 11 to 20 the full show is at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.   November 4, 5.  8pm.  £6/£4.

Slatecracker:  Roy Campbell-Moore, Artistic Associate and Founding Director of National Dance Company Wales and Sue Williams, Artes Mundi 2006 finalist will show selections of new choreography and visual concept for a theatrical interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Nutrcacker and the original E.T.A. Hoffman stories that will be performed in autumn 2011.  November 12.  6pm.  Free.

Deborah Light:  Cardiff-based dancer/choreographer.  Deborah Light will give an insight into the different strands of the award-winning artist's work - theatre performance, site specific, image and video based.  Deborah's work exposes the alternative realities of our inner and outer worlds.  November 19.  8pm.  £10/£8.

Departure Terminal:  This evening comprises short new works from company dancers who have been given a safe environment to start developing their choreographic ideas and creativity.  Each choreographer will introduce their work explaining the creative process.  November 26.  8pm.  £6/£4.

Blaze:  Blaze is an annual dance gala when NDC Wales own young dancer, the Associates, and other high quality youth dance groups perform at the Dance House.  It gives the young dancers an experience of being in a professional dance environment, using world-class facilities, performing two shows in one day and bringing young dancers from across the country together.  December 4. 4pm, 7pm.  £8/£6.

For tickets for all events except Explore Dance Matinee call 02920 636464.  Tickets for paid for events are also available at www.wmc.org.uk.  Explore Dance Matinee tickets:  02920 635612.

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Advertisement:  Artistic Director, Constellation Project

Theatr Harlech cyf is creating a new post to lead its exciting constellation project which seeks to create a bespoke program of events in existing venues across the stunning, rural communities of southern Snowdonia; everywhere from castles to folk clubs!  Alongside this will be the development of a community program.  Applicants should be creative and highly motivated for this freelance position with experience of a diverse nature related to rural touring, programming, marketing and project  management.
Job description and application form available to download from www.theatrharlech.com

JOB DESCRIPTION
The Vision:

· To reach those who have never been reached.
· To become the hub of creativity in the region and play a pivotal role in improving the quality of the arts in Wales.
· The Constellation to become a brand that is associated with Big Ideas - an initiator of spectacular events.
· To facilitate a network of highly skilled artists capable of working at a national level in regional communities.
· To become cultural entrepreneurs.

Aims and  Objectives

· Continue providing artistic product of the highest quality to those living and visiting North and Mid Wales.
· Develop a constellation of existing venues under a new administrative umbrella that can cater for mid-, small- and large-scale events.
· Go into the communities and create bespoke programmes of professional artistic events and community participation activities.
· Respond through qualitative research.  Respond to people and places.
· Ensure a strategic spread of arts provision across the region but prioritise areas less well culturally, financially or socially resourced.
· Create partnerships with existing organisations and ensure that partnerships are mutually beneficial.  Generate new audiences for existing organisations and new homes for existing audiences.
· Focus on the quality of the experience.
· Appreciate that modest audiences in lots of places will result in enormous audiences collectively.
· Ensure an identifiable Welsh-language strand.
· Change the culture from competition to one of collaboration.
· Create new work through devising and commissioning large scale projects which draw upon clusters of existing organisations.
· Present work in buildings or sites appropriate to their scale and content.
· Support and prepare all projects with professionally led workshops and courses.  Every workshop leader/tutor/artist must be inspirational.
· Enthral and empower the participant in every event - we must broaden horizons, stimulate intellectually and creatively, involve socially and give delight.
· Be financially durable and organisationally efficient
· Carry out the role of company secretary.

Deadline for applications:  29th September 2010
Interviews:  4th-8th October 2010
Start date:  15th November 2010
If applicants are requested for interview a 10 minute presentation on your application will be required followed by questions and answers.

If you have any questions please contact Michael Bewick on 01766 514545. Send to jacqui@theatrharlech.com copy to circuit@tym.eclipse.co.uk or Jacqui Banks, Theatr Harlech, Harlech  LL46 2PU

Hysbyseb Swydd:  Cyfarwyddwr Celfyddydol, Y Prosiect Cytser

Mae Theatr Harlech cyf, yn creu swydd newydd i arwain prosiect cyffrous - y Prosiect Cytser.  Bwriad y prosiect ydi cynnal cyfres o ddigwyddiadau mewn lleoliadau o bob math yng nghymunedau cefn gwlad godidog de Eryri - o gestyll i glybiau gwerin!  Orchr yn ochr â hyn bydd rhaglen o ddigwyddiadau cymunedol yn cael ei datblygu.  Rydym yn edrych am ymgeiswyr creadigol a brwdfrydig ar gyfer y swydd lawrydd hon.   Mae profiad helaeth o gynnal digwyddiadau teithiol mewn ardaloedd gwledig, cynllunio rhaglenni, marchnata a rheoli prosiect yn hanfodol.

Lawrlwythwch y swydd ddisgrifiad a'r ffurflen gais o:  www.theatrharlech.com

DDISGRIFIAD SWYDD
Anfonwch eich CV a llythyr cais yn egluro sut y byddech chi'n cyflawni nodau ac amcanion y Prosiect Cytser a gwireddu'r weledigaeth.

Y Weledigaeth:

· I gyrraedd yr unigolion hynny sydd heb elwa o'r blaen.
· I fod yn ganolbwynt i greadigrwydd yn y rhanbarth ac i chwarae rôl canolog er mwyn gwella ansawdd y celfyddydau yng Nghymru.
· I newid yr amgyffred mai dim on adeilad ar Allt Dewi Sant yw Theatr Harlech.  Bydd Theatr Harlech yn bodoli hefyd mewn neuaddau, tafarndai, cestyll, traethau, canolfanau hamdden, ysgolion ac ar strydoedd y rhanbarth.
· Theatr Harlech i ddod yn frand sy'n cael ei gysylltu â Big Ideas - symbylydd digwyddiadau eithriadol.
· I hwyluso rhwydwaith o artistiaid gyda sgiliau gwych ac sy'n gallu gweithio ar lefel cenedlaethol mewn cymunedau rhanbarthol.
· I ddatblygu'n entrepreneuriaid diwylliannol.

Nodau ac Amcanion:

· Parhau i ddarparu cynnyrch artistig o'r safon uchaf i'r unigolion hynny sy'n byw ac yn ymweld â Gogledd a Chanolbarth Cymru.
· Datblygu clwstwr o leoliadau mewn adeiladau sy'n bodoli'n barod o dan ambarél weinyddol newydd all gynnal digwyddiadau canolig, bychan a mawr.
· Mynd i'r cymunedau a chreu rhaglenni pwrpasol o ddigwyddiadau artistig professiynol a gweithgareddau cyfranogiad cymunedol.
· Ymateb trwy ymchwil ansoddol ac ymateb i bobl a llefydd.
· Sicrhau ymlediad strategol o ddarpariaeth gelfyddydol ar draws y rhanbarth ond i flaenoriaethu ardaloedd sy'n dlotach o ran adnoddau diwylliannol, ariannol neu gymdeithasol.
· Creu partneriaethau â sefydliadau sy'n bodoli'n barod a sicrhau fod y partneriaethau yn fuddiol i'w gilydd. Creu cynulleidfaoedd newydd ar gyfer sefydliadau sy'n bodoli eisoes a chartrefi newydd i gynulleidfaoedd sy'n bodoli'n barod.
· Canolbwyntio ar safon y profiad.
· Gwerthfawrogi fod cynulleidfaoedd bychain mewn llawer o lefydd, ond wedi dod at eu gilydd mae'r cynulleidfaoedd yma'n anferth.
· Sicrhau elfen Gymraeg adnabyddadwy.
· Newid o gystadlu i gydweithio.
· Creu gwaith newydd trwy ddyfeisio a chomisiynu prosiectau ar raddfa fawr sy'n defynyddio clystyrau o sefydliadau sy'n bodoli eisoes.
· Cyflwyno gwaith mewn adeiladau neu safleoedd sy'n addas i'w maint a'u cynnwys.
· Cefnogi a pharatoi'r holl brosiectau gyda gweithdai a chyrsiau wedi eu harwain yn broffesiynol.  Rhaid i bob arweinydd/tiwtor/artist mewn gweithdy allu ysbrydoli.
· Cyfareddu a galluogi's cyfranogwr ymhob un digwyddiad - rhaid i ni ehangu gorwelion, ysgogi deallusrwydd a chreadigrwydd, ymrwymo yn gymdeithasol a swyno.
· Sicrhau os oes angen cau Theatr Harlech yn y dyfodol ar gyfer ei ailwampio, na chaiff y rhanbarth ei hamddifadu o ddarpariaeth artistig.
· Bod yn gadarn yn ariannol ac yn effeithiol o ran trefniadaeth.
· Bod yn ysgrifennydd i'r cwmni.

Dyddiad cau:  Medi'r 29ain 2010
Cyfweliadau:  Hydref y 4ydd i'r 8fed 2010
Dyddiad dechrau:  Tachwedd y 15fed 2010
Os ydych chi'n llwyddo i gael cyfweliad bydd gofyn i chi wneud cyflwyniad 10 munud ar eich cais yn ogystal ag ateb cwestiynau'r panel.

Unrhyw cwestiynnau Cysylltwch â Michael Bewick ar 01766 514545.  Anfonwch at jacqui@theatrharlech.com copi i circuit@tym.eclipse.co.uk neu Jacqui Banks, Theatr Harlech, Harlech  LL46 2PU

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'Chicago' - Most successful summer show since records began for Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Aberystwyth Arts Centre has had its most successful summer show in its history, with its professional production of 'Chicago' breaking box office records.  By the end of the 44 performance run an impressive 10,176 people had seen the show.

For the last 30 years the Arts Centre has produced its own summer show, generally a well-known musical, an event that provides enjoyment for both our local audience and tourists.  Over the years the productions have grown in size and scope, and now are of a quality that is far beyond the original ambitions.  The 2010 production was 'Chicago - The Musical', directed by Anthony Williams, which ran for 44 performances over 5 weeks from 23 July to 28 August.  With a cast of sixteen professional actors and dancers, a live band and a stunning purpose-designed set this ambitious production provided a quality comparable with top London shows.  A show of this nature is a major endeavour for any organisation but the Arts Centre's ambition and confidence in the show reaped its rewards, with ticket income exceeding £170,000, nearly £30,000 higher than the previous record breaking 2009 production of The King and I.

Although commercial success is vital in a production of this size, Chicago has also been a resounding artistic success, with fantastic reviews:

This is a production which has real pizzazz.  With great choreography it is coruscating musical theatre.  The Stage

A jaw dropping theatrical experience.  The band was terrific and the standing ovation undeniably deserved.  Western Mail

A production that has real class.  It's as fine a Chicago as you could ever hope to see.  Theatre in Wales

As a consistent quality producing venue it stands alongside the Watermill and the Menier Chocolate Factory.  Theatre in Wales

In recent years the Arts Centre has worked hard to grow their summer production in scale and scope and has benefitted strongly from the support of the Arts Council of Wales 'Arts Outside Cardiff' funding to develop quality of the productions and to enhance the audience experience.  Word of the impressive nature of the productions is spreading around the UK, and as part of a new development, the Arts Centre is planning a revival of its 2006 summer production of 'Fiddler on the Roof', directed by  Michael Bogdanov, for a majour tour of No.1 venues in UK in 2011.

Traditionally for many arts organisations the summer months are quieter times - the majority of theatres go 'dark' for maintenance work, and programmes of activity are reduced as preparation is made for the busier autumn season.  Not Aberystwyth Arts Centre.  For many years the Arts Centre, a department of Aberystwyth University, has seen the summer months as an opportunity to provide a wide-ranging and ambitious artistic programme.  This programme not only enhances the provision for regular customers, but reaches out to new audiences by providing specific events that draw visitors to the area and for those who are here on holiday, and it has now become an important element in the tourist economy of the region.  During the summer of 2010 the Arts Centre offered a programme in just one month that many other organisations would find hard to match in a year.

As well as the success of 'Chicago' this summer also saw higher than average attendances at Musicfest, the Arts Centre's International Music Festival and Summer School.  Again, this event is now in its third decade and continues to offer an amazing array of performances from leading musicians during its week long run.  The festival ran at the end of July and within one week there were 24 concerts, 6 open masterclasses, 15 free events and 5 showcase concerts from the Summer School participants.  The Musicfest Summer School this year welcomed 115 students from around the world for a week of intensive study with the Musicfest musicians, and on courses for wind and string players, composers, conductors and harp, amongst others.

Despite the weather doing its best to stop play, two outdoor events took place in August.  Firstly the amazing 'Colourscape' structure, which enables visitors to 'walk through colour' was open on the field next to the Centre for three days and attracted over 550 visitors.  Then on the 27th August Shakespeare's Globe Theatre first visit to the Arts Centre attracted 370 people to their production of The Comedy of Errors which was also performed on the Arts Centre field.

All this combines to ensure that the Arts Centre remains a thriving and forward-looking organisation.  The summer months remain an important part of our year round programme of work and activity of the highest standards, to develop new opportunities to excite, enthral, entertain, and inspire our audiences, and to showcase to visitors the excellence of the arts sector in Wales.

'Chicago' - Y sioe haf fwyaf llwyddiannus erioed yn hanes Canolfan y Celfyddydau, Aberystwyth

Mae Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth wedi cael ei sioe haf fwyaf llwyddiannus erioed, gyda'i chynhyrchiad proffesiynol o 'Chicago' yn torri recordiau gwerthiant tocynnau.  Erbyn diwedd y 44 perfformiad, 'roedd 10,176 wedi gweld y sioe.

Ers 30 mlynedd bellach mae Canolfan y Celfyddydau wedi cynhyrchu ei sioe haf ei hun, sioe gerdd adnabyddus fel arfer, achlysur sy'n rhoi pleser i'n cynulleidfa leol yn ogystal â thwristiaid.  Dros y blynyddoedd mae'r cynhyrchiadau wedi tyfu mewn maint a chynnwys, ac erbyn hyn maent o ansawdd sydd ymhell tu hwnt i'r uchelgais gwreiddiol.  Cynhyrchiad 2010 oedd 'Chicago - The Musical', gydag Anthony Williams yn cyfarwyddo, a chafwyd 44 o berfformiadau dros 5 wythnos o 23 Gorffennaf tan 28 Awst.  Gyda chast o un ar bymtheg o actorion a dawnswyr proffesiynol, band byw a set pwrpasol ysblennydd, bu'r cynhyrchiad uchelgeisiol hwn o ansawdd y gellid ei chymharu â sioeau blaenllaw Llundain.  Mae sioe o'r math hwn yn fenter heriol i unrhyw fudiad ond yn sgil uchelgais y Ganolfan, a'i hyder yn y sioe, cafwyd canlyniadau campus gyda'r incwm o werthu tocynnau yn cyrraedd dros £170,000, bron £30,000 yn fwy na'r cynhyrchiad hynod lwyddiannus blaenorol yn 2009 sef The King & I.

Er bod llwyddiant masnachol yn hanfodol bwysig mewn cynhyrchiad o'r maint hwn, bu Chicago yn llwyddiant artistig ysgubol hefyd, gan ddenu adolygiadau gwych:

This is a production which has real pizzazz.  With great choreography it is coruscating musical theatre.  Y Stage

A jaw dropping theatrical experience.  The band was terrific and the standing ovation undeniably deserved.  Western Mail

A production that has real class.  It's as fine a Chicago as you could ever hope to see.  Theatre in Wales

As a consistent quality producing venue it stands alongside the Watermill and the Menier Chocolate Factory.  Theatre in Wales

Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf mae'r Ganolfan wedi gweithio'n galed i ddatblygu maint a chynnwys ei chynhyrchiad haf ac yn hyn o beth bu cefnogaeth ariannol Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru trwy ei gynllun 'Y Celfyddydau y tu allan i Gaerdydd' o gymorth mawr i ddatblygu ansawdd y cynyrchiadau er mwyn parhau i wella profiad y gynulleidfa.  Mae'r sioeau haf erbyn hyn wedi ennill enw da ledled y DU, ac fel rhan o ddatblygiad newydd, mae'r Ganolfan yn trefnu adfywiad o gynhyrchiad haf 2006 sef 'Fiddler on the Roof', a gyfarwyddwyd gan Michael Bogdanov, i fynd ar daith o gwmpas prif ganolfannau'r DU yn 2011.

Yn draddodiadol mae misoedd yr haf yn fwy tawel i fudiadau celf - mae'r rhan fwyaf o theatrau yn 'tywyllu' ar gyfer gwaith cynnal a chadw gan dorri i lawr ar ei rhaglenni a pharatoi ar gyfer y tymor hydref prysurach.  Nid felly Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth.  Ers blynyddoedd lawer bu'r Ganolfan, sy'n adran o Brifysgol Aberystwyth, yn gweld misoedd yr haf fel cyfle i ddarparu rhaglen artistig eang ac uchelgeisiol.  Mae'r rhaglen hon yn ychwanegu at y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer cwsmeriaid rheolaidd ac hefyd yn ymestyn allan at gynulleidfaoedd newydd trwy drefnu gweithgareddau penodol i ddenu ymwelwyr i'r ardal ac ar gyfer y sawl sydd yma ar eu gwyliau.  Mae cyfraniad y Ganolfan bellach yn elfen bwysig yn economi twristiaeth y rhanbarth.  Yn ystod yr haf 2010 bu'r Ganolfan yn cynnig mewn un mis raglen na fydda'i cael ei chynnig mewn blwyddyn gyfan mewn llawer o fudiadau celf eraill.

Yn ogystal â llwyddiant 'Chicago' eleni, cafwyd mwy o bobl nag arfer yn mynychu Musicfest, sef Gŵyl Gerdd ac Ysgol Haf Ryngwladol y Ganolfan.  Eto, mae'r digwyddiad hwn bellach ar ei drydydd ddegawd ac yn parhau i gynnig amrediad anhygoel o berfformiadau gan gerddorion blaenllaw yn ystod yr wythnos o weithgareddau.  Cynhaliwyd yr ŵyl ar ddiwedd mis Gorffennaf ac yn ystod yr wythnos cafwyd 24 o cyngherddau, 6 o ddosbarthiadau meistr agored, 15 o weithgareddu rhad ac am ddim a 5 cyngerdd arbennig gan fyfyrwyr yr Ysgol Haf.  Bu Ysgol Haf  Musicfest eleni yn croesawu 115 o fyfyrwyr o bob rhan o'r byd am wythnos o astudiaeth ddwys gyda cherddorion Musicfest, a chafwyd cyrsiau ar gyfer offerynwyr chwyth a llinynnol, cyfansoddwyr, arewinwyr a thelynorion, ymysg eraill.

Er gwaethaf ymdrechion y tywydd i ddifetha'r hwyl, cynhaliwyd dau weithgaredd awyr-agored ym mis Awst.  Yn gyntaf, codwyd adeiladwaith anhygoel 'Colourscape' sy'n gwahodd ymwelwyr i 'gerdded trwy liw', ar y darn o dir ger bwys y Ganolfan am dridiau a denwyd dros 550 o ymwelwyr.  Wedyn ar 27 Awst bu ymweliad cyntaf Globe Theatre Shakespeare â'r Ganolfan yn denu 370 o bobl i'w chynhyrchiad o The Comedy of Errors a berfformwyd ar lwyfan arbennig y tu allan i'r Ganolfan.

Mae hyn i gyd yn cyfuno i sicrhau bod Canolfan y Celfyddydau yn parhau i fod yn fudiad llewyrchus ac arloesol.  Mae misoedd yr haf yn rhan bwysig o'n rhaglen gyfan am y flwyddyn, yn cynnig gweithgareddau o'r safon uchaf, yn datblygu cyfleoedd newydd i gyffroi, difyrru ac ysbrydoli'n cynulleidfaoedd ac yn dangos i ymwelwyr ragoriaeth yr hyn sydd gan y sector celf yng Nghymru i'w gynnig.