West End star Mark Evans is bringing musical magic into the lives of Wales’s young children.
And in his new television role Mark, 26, hopes to ensure future generations will gain as much enjoyment and fun out of nursery rhymes as their parents and grandparents.
The all-round entertainer takes the main eponymous role of Marcaroni in a children’s TV series which begins on S4C on April 27.
A CD of some of the brand new songs to be featured in the 52 episodes has been released.
It is a hugely ambitious project which has involved some of the nation’s most talented artistes and writers as well as skilled behind-the-scenes craftsmen and women.
And as well playing one of the characters in the series Caryl Parry Jones – award-winning singer, poet and composer – was one of the originators of the project.
She has collaborated on several works in the past with Swansea guitarist and composer Christian Phillips, who dreamt up the mythical character, Marcaroni – the composer of all children’s songs.
Christian has two children, Cai, seven, and Josie, who is only 12 months old, and he said he would love to think of Josie learning some of the songs he and Caryl were responsible for.
Seeing the potential for a children’s TV programme, they approached producer Nia Ceidiog, managing director of the independent company Ceidiog, who was equally enthusiastic.
Coincidentally, Nia had been researching the need for new children’s songs. It revealed that, while nursery rhymes and nonsense songs are very important to the development of language in small children, traditional songs all over the world are losing ground.
She said: “Many children in Wales these days have no knowledge of nursery rhymes and it is said that parents are more likely to sing pop songs than nursery rhymes to their children which is a great shame.
“Other forms of entertainment such as television, radio and online serve up music which isn’t always appropriate. We decided to be the TV company to redress the balance.”
Nia has a distinguished track record in producing high quality children’s television.
She wrote the original Fireman Sam stories in both English and Welsh and Y Diwrnod Mawr (Big Day), her ground-breaking documentary series for pre-school children, has been nominated for a hat-trick of awards.
The series was shortlisted for an international Rose D’or Award and a Children’s UK BAFTA. It’s now been named as a finalist in the Celtic Media Festival awards.
S4C commissioned Marcaroni for the pre-school Cyw slot – and that is when the work really began for Caryl and Christian, who had to come up with 52 different songs and scripts for the accompanying stories.
“What they have achieved is quite amazing,” said Nia. “In one weekend Caryl wrote 13 songs and no two are alike. They’ve done a fantastic job.”
The icing on the cake came when Mark Evans, finalist in the Eurovision Your Country Needs You, agreed to take on the central role of Marcaroni – the mythical, ageless maestro who lives in a clock tower, and who composes all the songs for little children.
Mark was able to fit in the punishing schedule between finishing a nationwide tour with the musical Oklahoma and returning to the West End to star in Wicked.
“I’m so glad I was able to do this, because it’s really been fun,” he said during a short break from filming.
“I had no idea what to expect at first but it has turned out to be one of the best jobs I have done. Every day is totally different,” he said.
Mark is convinced young children will take to Marcaroni and to his fellow-characters. His faithful housekeeper and friend – the rhyme to Marcaroni’s tune – Oli Odl is played by Non Parry, who is Caryl’s cousin.
“This is a hugely ambitious project but everyone is so enthusiastic and is giving 100%,” she said.
Originally from Rhuddlan, Non, who was a member of the pop group Eden, now lives in Bridell, near Cardigan.
The two resident fairies Doh and Re, who help bring fun and mischief into each song, are played by the diminutive Nia Ann Jones from Carmarthen, who is best known for her part in the S4C hit Con Passionate, and Gwydion Rhys Griffiths, 22, from Maenclochog, near Pembroke.
Gwydion, a former winner of the Richard Burton Prize at the National Eisteddfod, graduated at Trinity College, Lampeter last June, and is rapidly making a name for himself as a performer.
Nia said: “I think it’s a great idea to bring out the CD before the TV series begins, so that children can get to know them and recognise them when they come on TV,” she said.
Caryl, who plays Anti Poli in some of the stories, is delighted with the way everything has come together in such a colourful and entertaining fashion.
“It has worked out even better than I expected and I am so pleased that Mark was available to do it,” she said.
“Children love nonsense songs and a bit of magic, and what gives me the most pleasure is to think that young children will be singing my songs and getting some enjoyment out of them,” she added.
Siân Eirian, S4C Head of Children’s Services, said, “This ambitious project is part of S4C’s Cyw service for pre-school age children and is aimed at re-establishing nursery rhymes and children’s songs in the everyday lives of younger children in Wales.
“I’m confident it will provide a wealth of new learning and musical resources to help enrich the lives of younger children in Wales. Having Mark Evans taking the title role and with the inspiration of composers and writers like Caryl Parry Jones and Christian Philips, Marcaroni will I’m sure be a popular series with songs that will be sung by Welsh children for generations to come.”
In addition to the CD there will also be an interactive website to help children become even better acquainted with the songs.
There will be information for parents on the interactive fun-for-children website www.marcaroni.tv which can also be seen on www.s4c.co.uk/cyw
