Cwmni’r Frân Wen has received funding from Gwynedd 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 futures,” said Iola Ynyr, Artistic Director, Cwmni’r Frân Wen.
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.
The Company will also perform ‘Martha’s Troubles’ and represent North West Wales at Agor Drysau / Opening Doors, the Wales International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences held in Aberystwyth during the week of the 15th of March, 2010.
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.
For further information visit their website www.franwen.com.
