UK Theatre Award Winners for Excellence in Touring

Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru are proud to announce that they have won a UK Theatre Award for Excellence in Touring for this year’s Parti Priodas tour. The company received the award at a ceremony in London on 20 October 2024. This is the first time a Welsh language theatre company has won in the awards’ history.  

After its success at the Boduan National Eisteddfod 2023, an extensive tour was arranged for this exceptional comedy play by Gruffudd Owen, starring Mark Henry Davies and Mared Llywelyn. With the aim of taking our work as close to our audience members’ doorsteps as possible, the production toured to theatre spaces across Wales and direct to the heart of communities with performances at a rugby club and at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival. The team rose to the challenge of designing and adapting for very different spaces while ensuring the same production standards at every venue. 

The production was in high demand across Wales, with an extremely positive response from audiences - and even an additional performance at Neuadd Dwyfor to end the tour. 

Responding to the success, Steffan Donnelly, the company’s Artistic Director, said: 
“Speaking Welsh on stage at the UK Theatre Awards while receiving an award for Excellence in Touring was an incredible experience. The award is a celebration of the company’s ambition and the excellent artistic work we produce. I’m so proud of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s dedicated team, the amazing artists and freelancers who work with us, and our wonderful audiences.

Parti Priodas was a new production of an original play, using comedy to discuss urgent issues in rural Wales. I’d like to thank everyone who collaborated to create and tour this popular and powerful show, especially the author Gruffudd Owen and performers Mared Llywelyn a Mark Henry Davies.”

Angharad Jones Leefe, the company’s Executive Director, added:  
“From costs to sustainability, it’s a challenging time to tour theatre in Wales but it remains at the heart of our vision as a company. It was an incredible experience to have the importance of touring recognised, as well as our continued commitment to touring work in Wales and beyond. Huge thanks to our audiences across the country for their support.” 

Theatr Gen would like to thank all the artists and freelancers who were part of the award-winning production:  
Cast: Mark Henry Davies and Mared Llywelyn 
Author: Gruffudd Owen 
Director: Steffan Donnelly
Set and Costume Designer: Luned Gwawr
Lighting Designer: Jane Lalljee
Composer and Sound Designer: Sam Humphreys
Voice Director: Marged Sion
Movement Director: Cêt Haf 
Sibrwd Author: Chris Harris
Stage Manager on the Book: Carys-Haf Williams
Lighting Technician: James O’Neill
Sound Technician: Guto Evans 
Lighting Programmer: Cara Hood
Assistant Stage Manager: Lleucu Williams
Captioner: Elen Mair Thomas 
BSL Interpreter: Cathryn McShane

UK Theatre is the UK’s leading theatre and performing arts membership organisation. They promote excellence, professional development, and campaign to improve resilience and increase audience across the sector. The award for Excellence in Touring acknowledges the crucial work of touring companies and their contributions to the resilience of the arts sector. The fantastic companies ETT (English Touring Theatre) and Wise Children were also nominated in the same category.  

During the eligibility period (14 August 2023 – 28 August 2024), we staged 92 touring performances in around 50 different locations in Wales, partnering closely with venues, reaching more than 20,000 people with our programme of performances and participation projects. As well as Parti Priodas, productions during this period included Rhinoseros, Swyn, Ie Ie Ie and Brên. Calon. Fi – and the launch of a partnership for developing comedy work with Theatr Clwyd, Ha/Ha. 

Recently, the company has shared a package of work to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with performances of a new adaptation of Fy Enw i yw Rachel Corrie and a digital project for young people in Wales and Palestine in collaboration with ASHTAR Theatre in Ramallah. Next, the company will present Dawns y Ceirw by Casi Wyn, a co-production for primary school children with National Dance Company Wales.  

Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru will announce their 2025 programme soon.