CC(3) PWA13 Communities and Culture Committee Scrutiny Inquiry : Promoting Welsh Arts and Culture on the World Stage Response from :Wales International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences AGOR DRYSAU – OPENING DOORS GŴYL THEATR RYNGWLADOL CYMRU I GYNULLEIDFAOEDD IFANC 2008 WALES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES 2008 REPORT cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 1 Contents Page 2 – 3 Introduction 4 Funding, sponsorship and support 5 Aims of the Festival 6 ‐ 7 Facts and figures about AGOR DRYSAU – OPENING DOORS 2008 8 Locations of performances 9 Staff 10 Programme and companies ‐ AGOR DRYSAU 2008 11 ‐ 12 Responses 13 Visitors from other countries 14 Budget cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 2 Introduction This was the fifth AGOR DRYSAU ‐ OPENING DOORS organised by Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch. The main location of the festival was Aberystwyth where performances were staged in Canolfan Celfyddydau Aberystwyth, Morlan, Canolfan Arad Goch and a number of local schools. In Aberystwyth 47 performances of 18 productions by 14 companies were given in 5 days; the total audience number in Aberystwyth was 4136. The festival also had the co‐operation of theatres and arts centres in other towns: 9 performances were given in 7 venues by 3 of the foreign companies to audiences of 835. Average audience size per performance in Aberystwyth in 2008: 88 (2005: 82) Average audience size per performance in other venues in 2008: 92 (2005: 97) In Aberystwyth audiences came from most of the local primary and secondary schools – facilitated by Arad Goch’s contacts with schools though its own work; in a number of schools the head teachers decided to ensure that each child would see at least one of the festival performances. The enthusiastic co‐operation of the secondary schools enabled the festival to attract a large number of teenagers. cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 3 The opening ceremony of the festival was attended by Peter Tyndall, Chief Executive of ACW who welcomed the visitors and sponsors. As well as the audiences of children the festival was attended by a large number of Welsh theatre professionals and students. The festival was also attended by artists, festival directors, promoters and representatives from other countries: 43 people from 19 other countries attended AGOR DRYSAU – OPENING DOORS 2008. In addition 53 artists, theatre promoters and directors from other parts of Wales attended. Aberystwyth provided an ideal location – from the point of view of its size and facilities and once again the festival organisers and the people of Aberystwyth were complimented for the warmth of their welcome. The theatre facilities available in Aberystwyth are ideal for such a festival. Once again the festival had the support of the Director and staff of Aberystwyth Arts Centre and of Morlan. cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 4 Funding, sponsorship and support The main funder of AGOR DRYSAU – OPENING DOORS 2008 was the Arts Council of Wales. Further financial support was given by Ceredigion County Council. Financial support was not available from Wales Arts International or the British Council for the first time since the festival began in 1996; this limited the number of foreign promoters who could be invited. Other sponsorship was give by: • Y Lolfa, • Cerdd Ystwyth, Aberystwyth • DOTS, Aberystwyth • Walkers, Aberystwyth • Ffigar, Aberystwyth • Welsh Books Council • National Library of Wales • Rhiannon, Tregaron • Golwg • Planet • Cambrian News • BCC IT Solutions, Newcastle Emlyn • T J Davies, Aberystwyth • Mid Wales travel • Valuable cooperation and practical support was given by: • Aberystwyth Arts Centre cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 5 We are grateful to all the organisations listed above and to those listed on page 8 for their engagement with the festival. cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 6 Aims of the Festival Although the situation has changed slightly in recent years, theatre for young audiences in Wales remains isolated and much of the work created in Wales is unknown to colleagues and audiences in other countries. Arad Goch believes that a successful culture can and should operate within a cultural and geographical context which is wider than its own immediate social context; Arad Goch has strived since it was founded in 1989 to create practical partnerships with other companies, festivals and practitioners in other countries. The festival has three main aims: • To widen the provision of theatre for young audiences in Wales by offering them the opportunity to experience a variety of new work from other countries. • To widen the focus and experience of professional theatre for young audiences in Wales by creating a broader context for the work ‐ artistic, cultural, geographic and linguistic. • To widen the awareness amongst foreign colleagues of contemporary theatre for young audiences in Wales. cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 7 Facts and figures about AGOR DRYSAU – OPENING DOORS 2005 • AGOR DRYSAU – OPENING DOORS 2005 staged: ∗ 5 productions by 5 foreign companies ∗ 13 productions by 8 companies from Wales ( and one presentation by PICTIWRS of short Welsh films) ∗ 47 performances in 5 venues and 12 schools in the Aberystwyth area (including schools in Aberaeron, Llandysul and Pencader) ∗ 9 performances in 7 venues in other towns in Wales. 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2003 For e ign For e ign Productions Companies Performances Performances 2005 productions companies from Wales from Wales in Aberystwyth in other towns 2008 cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 8 • 4,136 people came to see 47 performances in Aberystwyth within a period of 5 days (2005 – 4,119 to see 50 performances). • 835 people came to see 9 performances in other towns. • Total audience of 4,971. 7000 6253 6000 5000 4302 4119 4000 2003 2817 3000 2005 1485 2134 2000 2008 1000 0 Audience in Aberystwyth Audiences in other towns Total • In addition to members of the public and performers from Wales and abroad, AGOR DRYSAU – OPENING DOORS 2005 was attended by 43 theatre promoters, international festival directors and agents from the rest of the UK and abroad. • 19 countries were represented in AGOR DRYSAU ‐ OPENING DOORS 2008. • following the festival 5 companies/individuals from Wales have been invited to perform in festivals in other countries: Arad Goch, Theatr Clwyd, Theatr Iolo, DYNION/Tân Dance and Cath Aran. cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 9 Performance Locations: The performances were presented at the following locations: ∗ Aberystwyth Arts Centre ∗ Canolfan Arad Goch, Aberystwyth ∗ Morlan, Aberystwyth ∗ a number of schools in the Aberystwyth area ∗ Theatr Felinfach ∗ Pontardawe Arts Centre ∗ Theatr Brycheiniog ∗ Canolfan y Mileniwm ∗ Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor ∗ Galeri, Caernarfon ∗ Theatr Ardudwy, Harlech cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 10 Staff AGOR DRYSAU – OPENING DOORS 2008 was led by the Artistic Director of ARAD GOCH along with other company staff, and the administrative marketing systems of the company were used to promote the festival. It should be noted that it would not be possible to hold the festival without Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch investing a percentage of their core funding and the time of their core staff at the expense of the company’s own work. It is suggested that this should be considered when financing the festival in the future, and that other ways of sustaining the festival should be explored that do not affect the core work of Arad Goch. An Assistant Organiser and a Schools Marketing officer were employed during the run‐up to the festival. Because of this it was possible to (i) attract sponsorship from new directions for the festival, and (ii) to ensure sell‐out audiences for many of the performances. In addition other staff, administrative and technical, were employed for a week or two weeks during the festival. cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 11 Programme and companies As well as five companies from abroad, the eight Welsh theatre‐in‐education companies were also invited to perform at the festival ‐ six of them accepted the invitation; in addition, Cath Aran and DYNION (TAN Dawns) were invited to perform and Rhodri ap Dyfrig of PICTIWRS was invited to present short films for young people work at the festival. The Angel’s Leap/Naid yr Angel Théâtre Maât Belgium Bag Ddawns Spectacle Theatre Wales Burning Monkey Arad Goch Wales Cath’s Magic Cauldron/Hudlath Cath Cath Aran Wales Dynion 20 Dynion Wales Echoa Arcosm France Grimm Tales Theatr Iolo Wales Hamlet Det Lille Turnéteater Denmark Hood in the Wood Tangere Arts England Johnny Delaney Cwmni’r Frân Wen Wales Jumping on My Shadow Team Theatre Ireland Moon Dragon Theatr Gwent Wales The Lazy Ant Spectacle Theatre Wales Lenny Theatr Iolo Wales The Voyage Clwyd Theatr Cymru Wales Under the Carpet Theatr Iolo Wales Winter Pictures Arad Goch Wales PICTIWRS Rhodr ap Dyfrig Wales Because of work and planning patterns, most companies from Wales rarely keep their work ‘in rep’; in general, therefore, the companies from Wales offered their current productions. However, following criticism of the 2005 festival when the standard of much of the work from Wales was questioned, this time the Director of the festival ensured that each production was seen before being invited to the festival; this ensured a higher general standard of work from Wales. In addition to the performances a number of other events were organised including two sessions of rehearsed readings of new scripts (from cc(3) - pwa13 - wales international festival of theatre for young audiences - report.doc 12 Wales and abroad) and a seminar about the creation and use of live music in theatre for young audiences.