At 12.30pm today (November 5 2009) John McGrath Artistic Director of National Theatre Wales announced the company’s first year of work at a press briefing in Cardiff that was simultaneously broadcast to the world via the internet.
Key staff, guests and artists were in attendance at the live event at the company’s shop/office at Castle Arcade, Cardiff, and many thousands logged on to nationaltheatrewales.org to watch the global digital broadcast of the event. It is believed to be the first time a theatre has launched in this way.
Launch gatherings were held simultaneously across Wales in locations where National Theatre Wales will produce work between March 2010 and April 2011.
The first ‘launch’ year of work will theatrically map Wales. One show per month, each month (plus an additional finale) will take place in locations across the country, bringing the very best of Welsh writing, performing and directing together with world class artists and world class ideas from across the globe.
National Theatre Wales will create bold, invigorating theatre in the English language, rooted in Wales, with an international reach. It will produce theatre indoors and outdoors across spaces and landscapes in Wales. It will explore theatre as a space for debate and discussion, and develop programmes to respond to current events happening across the road or around the world.
National Theatre Wales actively encourages dialogue with the people of Wales and beyond, and therefore it welcomes response to its work at nationaltheatrewales.org
National Theatre Wales is supported by Arts Council of Wales via a Welsh Assembly Government investment.
