A new drama project will help boost key tourism attractions on Anglesey by bringing history alive to the masses.
Court room re-enactments, featuring a shipwreck looters and a maid driven insane, are to be used to entice visitors into Beaumaris Courthouse during holiday periods.
Actors from Cwmni’r Frân Wen have also been recruited to recreate the lives of our Iron Age ancestors at the Llynnon round houses in Llanddeusant.
The Menai Bridge based theatre company form part of a joint theatrical performance project has been commissioned by the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Economic Development Unit and Museums and Culture Section.
Anglesey’s Head of Economic Development, Sasha Wynn Davies, explained, “The purpose of this new project is to boost tourism, promote our tourist attractions and bring history alive to visitors and local people alike.”
Principal Museums, Culture and Archives Officer, Pat West, added, “We’re really looking forward to having the actors at our sites. They’ll certainly bring added value and help enrich the experiences visitors enjoy at Llynnon and Beaumaris.”
The project will achieve this by using actors to create a real life interpretation of life at Beaumaris Courthouse, where prisoners of all descriptions met their fate from the 17th century onwards, and will also focus of Iron Age life at the reconstructed roundhouse settlement on the grounds of Llynnon Mill.
The scripts have been penned by Angharad Tomos; with director, Carys Gwilym, in charge of actors Iwan Evans, Nerys Lewis, Gwyn Parry and Neil Williams. Mari Elain Gwent is in charge of design.
Performances will begin during the May Half Term holiday with a special launch at Beaumaris on Friday, May 28th. In 2011, additional performances will be held during the Easter, Half Term and summer holidays.
Artistic Director for Cwmni’r Frân Wen, Iola Ynyr, added, “We welcome the opportunity to work in collaboration with the Isle of Anglesey County Council and commend the vision which has recognised the Arts as a medium to reinforce and support their aims.”
“The Company’s vast experience of producing challenging, exciting and inspirational theatre for children and young people will ensure the best possible theatrical experience for the local people and tourists visiting these locations. Having been based on the Island for 15 years, we’re especially glad to support creative and community activities on Anglesey and look forward immensely to the audiences’ response.”
The theatrical performance project is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Welsh Assembly Government and the Isle of Anglesey County Council.
Performances are held on the following dates: Beaumaris Courthouse and Goal: Monday, Thursday, Saturday; and Melin Llynnon round houses: Wednesday, Sunday.
