Neath based bi lingual Theatre in Education company, Theatr na n’Óg have recently celebrated their 25th anniversary year
Over the last quarter of a century, Theatr na n’Óg (formerly Theatre West Glamorgan) has provided professional theatre performances, workshops and drama sessions to more than 1500 schools and for more than 250,000 schoolchildren.
Funded by the Arts Council for Wales and Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend Councils, the company is keen to further develop its work. It has ambitious plans to increase its outreach programme, drama clubs, youth theatre and teacher training.
The company are also embarking on an income generation strategy headed by its new patron Sian Lloyd. Sian who puts her confidence in front of camera down to her school drama teacher, Emily Davies at Ystalfera. Sian believes it is essential for audiences to be introduced to theatre at a young age and that Theatre in Education is a well recognised Educational tool which allows children to freely express themselves and engage with others and for many a Theatr na n’Óg show is often their first taste of live theatre.
Sians enthusiasm is mirrored by na n’Ógs Education officer, Rachel Lloyd, who said in a double page spread in The Western Mail Educational supplement in October, “Our Theatre in Education programme breaks down barriers between actors and audiences to create a forum for learning empowerment and change. It’s not about discovering the gifted few – it’s about finding the ability in everyone and enabling it to flourish”
Na n’Óg take great pride in their relationship with the Education sector. All of their Theatre-in –Education work is moulded by detailed discussion with teachers who help the company deliver work to the national curriculum
Colin Smith, Deputy Head at Garth Primary school, Maesteg has no doubts about the effect such an experience has on his school children “Giving our children the opportunity to see and be involved in a show of this quality is an experience never to be forgotten” And this is what lies at the heart and what drives the company on to increase both quality and breadth of its work, not just in schools but across Wales through main stream Theatre.
Ceri James, Manager of Na n’Óg, is rightfully pleased with the company’s work and says,“Our audience of children can expect theatre as sophisticated and polished as an adult visiting a theatre production would expect”
The company produces three which are specifically linked to the curriculum. The Autumn 2008 production “Morfa The Pit of Ghosts”, a dark Victorian tale, is a partnership between the Swansea Museum and The Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea. This project enables 6000 children and their teachers to experience live theatre in a local venue and to participate in workshops concentrating on the Victorian period, at the museum ( a relationship Na n’Óg have enjoyed with the Museum for 19 years, as is unique in Wales).
Theatre productions are accompanied by education resources which enable teachers and pupils to build upon curriculum requirements and complement the theatre presentation. Teachers also help develop the resource packs, with their time covered by the company, by paying for supply teaching cover.
Uniquely the company organise secondments for teachers for their continued professional development (CPD). On average 12 teachers will work with the company throughout the year.
Unusually for a Theatre in Education Company, Na n’Og actually has its own Theatre base (albeit hired). The Dylan Thomas Theatre, in The Swansea maritime quarter. The Dylan Thomas Theatre, is an amateur Theatre which allows Na n’Og access for six months a year to develop its bi-lingual Theatre programmes. This enables the company to really be able to present the full theatre experience.
This is not lost on the critics. David Adams writing in The Western Mail of a previous na n’Óg show, The princess and The Hunter said “What makes it special is that the professionalism evident in the production and performance is allied to the skills that companies like this have developed –in na n’Ogs case these ensure that the audiences have a good night out, that they feel engaged, that they are not sold short – an ethos embraced by all Wales’s young people theatre companies..this is theatre for young people of a high standard”. Michael Kelligan commenting on the same show said “..the audience screamed the house down. What more could anyone want!”
Of na n’Óg’s, “Nia Ben Aur”, critic Graham Williams said “Those who despair at the way in which the purity of the Welsh language has been chipped away in recent years will undoubtedly derive great pleasure from the commitment of the cast. The show has been attracting large and appreciative audiences throughout its tour, proving that even at a time when American pop culture reigns supreme, there is a massive appetite for entertainment which credits its target audience with intelligence and respect for the mother tongue.”
Non professional critics too heap their praise on the company’s work. Chloe Morgan aged 11 said (of na n’Ogs show, Stowaway) “ it was the best trip we have ever been on..I’m going to tell my whole family about Stowaway”
And what of the future now they have 25 years under their belt?
The company are determined that they will continue to deliver the highest quality of programming that they are able, although it will be a challenge to develop as significantly in the future as they have in the last nine years.
During this time, productivity has increased by over a third, performance weeks trebled and they have increased their production output by two additional projects for schools, enabling an additional 4000 children and young people to see live theatre productions at their school or local venue.
Finances therefore, not ambition (they have that in bucketfuls!), will dictate how the company can develop further.
Ceri James said, “We have been fortunate to have built very strong foundations so far, we have a dedicated, hard working and outstanding staff team, we own our own base, have a solid track record of performance, programmes that are even oversubscribed and continued arts council funding and valuable support from our Council supporters. But you never know in these straightened times, when calls on the public purse grow ever stronger, what our financial situation will be in years to come. That is why we will be undertaking a number of sponsorship and incomegeneration initiatives via the private sector.
We shall also be developing our touring work within Wales and in the UK, extending our portfolio.
For 2009 the company will be embarking on a new show for 5-7 year olds “The Boy, The Chick and the Golden Egg” and a new touring Theatre shows in association with Taleisin , Cyrano, a new adaption by Keiron Self and a musical comedy “The Bankrupt Bride, based on an original idea by the Company’s Director, Geinor Styles”.
In a unique collaboration Theatr na n’og are part of an international web based initiative, Web Play. The company are the only company in Wales which is part of this international initiative where children can interact directly with company designers and writers developing ideas in set and costume design, marketing materials and story lines.
Ceri James is looking forward to future growth of the Company “Hopefully, we can deliver to our vision and in years to come we will be able to say, as one of our audience critics once said, “My favourite performance yet, although I say that every year”
