We are proud to have been part of Apprenticeship Week Wales in February 2020, working in partnership with the Welsh Government.

The week-long celebrations showcased the excellent opportunities that apprenticeships offer to young people and employers in Wales. As a national company, it has also been an excellent opportunity for Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru to demonstrate the many benefits of pursuing an apprenticeship in the arts and the wide variety of jobs available in theatre.

More information about the work available here.

Below is a video outlining the project further.

“We’ve all got a story. Some are more painful than others. Releasing them creatively is beneficial. I know that from experience.” – Iola Ynyr

An opportunity to write creatively for anyone suffering from addiction. A series of 6 weekly workshops leading to a preview of the work by professional actors. A project between Literature Wales, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Galeri Caernarfon. Here’s a video created about the project:

In March 2019, Llinos Jones (our Participation Officer) was part of a creative project in Dinefwr with Cadw and Literature Wales. Over three days of workshops, young people from Coedcae High School in Llanelli were given the chance to learn more about the history of Dinefwr and partake in creative workshops to write poetry and create a performance. Below is a video created by Cadw about the project:

Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru prepares packs to accompany various productions. We offer the following:

Resource pack to accompany the production (education establishments  and Welsh learners)

Special offer on tickets for groups

Workshops with specialists in the theatre industry

Pre-show talk with the Director

Work experience on a production

If you would like further information, please contact llinos.jones@theatr.com or fflur.thomas@theatr.com
 

To coincide with the production Merched Caerdydd / Nos Sadwrn o Hyd, an education pack has been developed by an experienced practitioner in the field of education, who is also an examiner for WJEC. The pack has been tailored for the GCSE/A Level Drama course and is suitable for reviewing as part of the Welsh GCSE course. It can also be used as an example of Live Theatre for the review question in Section B of the GCSE Drama paper.

It includes interviews with the team, in addition to activities that enrich a visit to the theatre, and tasks to complete following the visit. The activities follow the pattern of some of the questions which could appear on the written exam papers for GCSE or A Level Drama.

Merched Caerdydd / Nos Sadwrn o Hyd tours Wales from 13 March until 13 April 2019. Full tour details available here.

Two contemporary plays by two of Wales’s most distinct voices, and both plays sharing similar themes.

During the performance it will be possible to use the Theatr Genedlaethol app, Sibrwd, which provides and English synopsis for learners and non-Welsh speakers.

Pre-show talks for Welsh learners

We’re pleased that the National Centre for Learning Welsh will be hosting pre-show talks for advanced Welsh learners at the following venues:

Theatr Clwyd, Mold: 13 March 18:30 – Haydn Rees Room

Canolfan Garth Olwg, Church Village: 22 March 18:45 – Classroom on the campus

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny: 25 March 18:45 – Mayor’s Parlour

Pontardawe Arts Centre: 26 March 18:45 – Studio

Aberystwyth Arts Centre: 29 March 18:45 – Room 2d

Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli: 9 April 18:45 – In the bar area

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff: 11 April, 18:15 – Seligman Room

This pack was developed by an experienced practitioner in the field of education who is also an examiner for WJEC. The pack has been specially tailored for the GCSE / A Level drama course and is suitable also for reviewing a play as part of the GCSE Welsh-medium course. It could be used as one example of Live Theatre for the question on reviewing in Part B of the GCSE Drama Paper.

Experimenting with this type of theatre would also be advantageous for GCSE and A Level pupils as they devise their own scenes based on any practitioner/genre.

The pack places Nyrsys in a rich context, and provides background information to the history of the verbatim play in Wales. It includes interviews with the team, together with activities to enrich a visit to the theatre, and tasks to complete following the visit.

Nyrsys will be touring throughout Wales between 6 November and 8 December 2018. Details of the tour are available here.

First Public Reading, April 2018

The National Centre for Learning Welsh has created a contemporary lesson based on the Nyrsys production. The lesson gives experienced learners who have reached the Higher level an opportunity to have a taste of the production. It includes discussion opportunities, on the themes of health and the health service, a section of the script, relevant vocabulary exercises, video clips of the songs, and notes for tutors.

Every year the National Centre for Learning Welsh creates a series of contemporary lessons to present to learners. More information about the centre can be found here.

During the performance it will be possible to use the Theatr Genedlaethol app, Sibrwd, which provides and English synopsis for learners and non-Welsh speakers.

We’re extremely pleased that the drama groups run by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Menter Gorllewin Sir Gâr have started again. Both clubs are held in Y Llwyfan at 6pm every Wednesday evening. Drama Club (years 3-6) and Senior Drama Club (years 7-9). We warmly welcome new members.

This pack has been developed by experienced practitioners in the field of education, who are also examiners for WJEC. It has been tailored especially for the GCSE / A Level Drama course. For the GCSE examination, it can be used for the question asking for a review of a piece of live theatre, and for A Level it can be used for the question that asks for the influence of live theatre on their artistic choices in relation to the set texts. Estron will be touring Wales 19 April – 19 April. Full tour details can be found here.

Miners Theatre, Ammanford:

• Post-show talk, 19 April

Pontio, Bangor:

• Pre-show talk for welsh learners, 8 May

Canolfan Morlan, Aberystwyth:

• Post-show talk, 9 April

Chapter, Cardiff:

• Pre-show talk for welsh learners, 14 May
• Post-show talk, 15 May

Galeri, Caernarfon:

• Post-show talk, 19 May

A pack created especially for Welsh learners, which includes an introduction to the play, new vocabulary and ideas for discussing the production.

Notes for the tutor to accompany the Welsh learners pack. These notes provide an introduction to the play to higher level learners and encourages them to see it at the theatre. It’s possible to present the elements from this unit across more than one session.

This pack has been developed by experienced practitioners in the field of education, who are also examiners for WJEC. It has been tailored especially for the GCSE / A Level Drama course. For the GCSE examination, it can be used for the question asking for a review of a piece of live theatre, and for A Level it can be used for the question that asks for the influence of live theatre on their artistic choices in relation to the set texts. Y Tad will be touring throughout Wales between 21 February and 16 March 2018. Details of the tour are available here.

Pontio, Bangor:

• Pre-show talk for Welsh learners February 21 at 6.30pm. Chair: Eirian Conlon
  The talk will be in conducted in welsh. Tickets are free to this event but must be reserved beforehand.
  
• Post show talk 22 February

Pontardawe Arts Centre:

• Post-show talk, 27 February

Theatr Felinfach, Aeron Valley:

• Post-show talk, 2 March (evening performance)

Sherman Theatre, Cardiff:

• Post-show talk, 8 March

Theatr Clwyd, Mold:

• Post-show talk, 13 March

Garth Olwg Centre, Church Village, Pontypridd:

• Pre-show talk for Welsh learners (matinee performance). Talk begins at 12.15pm and chaired by Helen Prosser.

Pecyn i ddysgwyr (Pack for Welsh-learners)
This resource pack for Welsh learners was developed by Canolfan Iaith Nant Gwrtheyrn with support from National Centre for Learning Welsh and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru.

This text is available only in the Welsh language.

In order to ensure a long-term legacy for our work, it is now possible to read and study the script of Hollti – an original and contemporary script by the young author Manon Wyn Williams. The script is available to read at your leisure, or to study by students in secondary schools, further education colleges and higher education establishments.

Before being allowed to use the script, you must inform us by contacting thgc@theatr.com

The director Michael McCarthy discusses the final few days of rehearsals before the world premiere of Y Tŵr at Sherman Theatre, 19 May 2017.

The writer, poet and musician Gwyneth Glyn discusses writing the libretto for Y Tŵr, setting the words of Gwenlyn Parry to music.

Here’s the conductor, Richard Baker, discussing the role of the conductor and working on an opera in the Welsh language Y Tŵr

Here are the singers, Caryl Hughes (Female) and Gwion Thomas (Male) discussing Y Tŵr

Here’s the designer, Samal Blak, discussing the design concept of  Y  Tŵr

Michael McCarthy, Director of Y Tŵr and Artistic Director, Music Theatre Wales and Arwel Gruffydd, Artistic Director, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru discuss working together on Y Tŵr, a new opera based on the seminal play by Gwenlyn Parry.

The composer Guto Puw talks about creating Y Tŵr – the opera.

As a part of Theatr Gen Byw – our new, exciting enterprise – the performance of Macbeth on 14 February 2017 was broadcast live to centres throughout Wales, including Chapter (Cardiff), Pontio (Bangor), Galeri (Caernarfon), Theatr Colwyn (Colwyn Bay), Torch Theatre (Milford Haven), Glan yr Afon (Newport), Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Ystradgynlais Welfare Hall, Neuadd Dwyfor (Pwllheli), Taliesin Arts Centre (Swansea) and Theatr Clwyd (Mold).

As a result of this enterprise, there is now an opportunity for education establishments – in particular secondary schools, further education colleges and higher education establishments – to watch and use a film of Macbeth for educational purposes until the end of 2017. Two versions are available – a Welsh-language version and a subtitled Welsh-language version.

Before being allowed to use the film, the consent form must be signed and returned, stating that you are willing to comply with the conditions noted.

Into Film Cymru are a film education organisation, supported by the BFI with Lottery funding, who work with 1,000 schools in Wales, providing resources, teacher training, support for film clubs and networking within the film industry. To coincide with Macbeth and to promote Shakespeare Week 20–27 March, Into Film Cymru have a bilingual resource available for secondary schools which aims to engage youngsters with the recent film adaptation of Macbeth. The resource can be used to compare and contrast the film and stage versions of Macbeth.