Cwmni’r Frân Wen has received funding from Gwynedd Council’s Community Arts Unit with the financial support of Gwynedd Council’s Strategic Fund to the Arts and Gwynedd Older People’s Strategy to facilitate special additional performances of Martha’s Troubles by Iola Ynyr to the patients at the Children’s Unit, Ysbyty Gwynedd and the residents of Gwynedd Residential Homes for the Elderly.
The production will also be piloted with a cluster of playgroups. This is a new development for the Company as it aims to expand its traditional audience and offer further opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in the arts.
“We are thrilled to receive this funding which enables us to expand our current provision so that the wider community can enjoy our work. This is the beginning of a new partnership and we hope to develop further projects in the future,” said Iola Ynyr, Artistic Director, Cwmni’r Frân Wen.
Reaching a wider audience comes at the end of a full term of performances for 5,793 children aged between 4-7 years at schools across Gwynedd, Anglesey and Conwy. The feedback to the production which has been devised to coincide with the introduction of the Foundation Phase has been excellent:
“Excellent. The children’s attention was caught from the very first minute until the last which is a quite an achievement with this age group.”
Ysgol Ffridd y Llyn
“Truly inspirational”
Ysgol Llandygai
In the production Martha’s Troubles we get to know Gwen – a very anxious little girl. She sees the worst in every situation and nobody knows why. But one day, whilst her father reads her the story Martha’s Troubles the main character, a cat, comes alive. Slowly, the relationship between them develops as they come to understand and respect one another. By the use of music, songs and puppets this production challenges the audience to use their imagination and experience a range of feelings and emotions.
Martha’s Troubles is presented by actors Ioan Lewis Evans and Manon Wyn Williams with Iwan Evans as stage manager and talented musician Neil Browning. The striking set is designed by Mari Gwent who will be leading art workshops to coincide with the performance.
Cwmni’r Frân Wen is a registered charity that provides theatre for children and young people of Gwynedd, Anglesey and Conwy mostly and receives funding from the Arts Council of Wales, Gwynedd Council, Anglesey County Council and Conwy County Borough Council. The Company also provide participatory arts workshops, youth theatre programmes and community and main stage productions.
The production will visit the following residential homes:
- 23 March 2010: Plas Ogwen, Bethesda – Art Workshop 10.30, Performance 2.00
- 24 March 2010: Llys Cadfan, Tywyn – Art Workshop 10.30, Performance 2.00
- 25 March 2010: Plas Hedd, Maesgeirchen – Art Workshop 10.30, Performance 2.00
- 29 March 2010: Plas Hafan, Nefyn – Art Workshop 2.00, Performance 10.00
- 29 March 2010: Hafod y Gest, Porthmadog – Art Workshop 10.30, Performance 2.00
- 30 March 2010: Bryn Llewelyn, Blaenau – Art Workshop 2.00, Performance 10.00
- 30 March 2010: Bryn Blodau, Blaenau – Art Workshop 10.30, Performance 2.00
- (performance held at Bryn Llewelyn)
- 31 March 2010: Plas Gwilym, Penygroes – Art Workshop 2.00, Performance 10.00
- 31 March 2010: Plas Pengwaith, Llanberis – Art Workshop 10.30, Performance 1.45
- (performance at Llanberis Community Club)
- 1 April 2010: Hafod Mawddach, Barmouth – Art Workshop 2.00, Performance 10.00
- 1 April 2010: Cefn Rodyn, Dolgellau – Art Workshop 10.30, Performance 2.00
For further information visit their website www.franwen.com.
