Welsh boost at Lyric Theatre
Welsh language programming will feature prominently in the future of the £1.6million refurbished Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.
Part of the opening programme of Welsh content has had to be changed in recent months because of slippage in the planned opening date of October 22.
It had been planned to show the annual Welsh Language production by Ysgol Berfformio Dyffryn Tywi Coleg Prifysgol y Drindod, a Welsh version of the Wizard of Oz.
This was to have been followed by a half-term week of family film leading into performances by Caledon and Salome.
With the theatre opening date now delayed, the Carmarthenshire County Council theatre team has been forced to construct a new programme for the first weekend at quite short notice.
County executive board member for leisure services Clive Scourfield said: “Our theatre programming unit have faced great difficulties in putting an opening programme together to reflect the strong cultural identity of Carmarthenshire, balanced with the pressures of external influences such as funding agency requirements, the availability of performers, and in this instance, contractor timetables.
“We are actively marketing the re-opening of the Lyric throughout the month of November, not just on the opening night. The Lyric will continue to provide a programme promoting the unique linguistic identity of Carmarthenshire for the coming months and years ahead.
“Two weeks after the opening weekend, Carmarthen based Merlin Youth Theatre will be performing the musical Footloose.
“There are also two Welsh language pantomime productions at the Lyric in December followed by an English language pantomime in early January 2010.
“Ysgol Berfformio Dyffryn Tywi Coleg Prifysgol y Drindod agreed to reschedule their performance and as a gesture of good will the council is waiving its fee. The company will move back to its pre half term slot in 2010 under normal terms and conditions.
“The remainder of the Lyric’s programme is planned to run as normal although Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Spring 2010 production will perform at Theatr Elli. This is as a result of a direct request from the company. The company’s next production is scheduled for the Lyric Theatre.”
“It had been in our plans from the outset that the key event to mark the Lyric’s improved facilities would be “an evening with Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson” and although not promoted as such and still in the planning, this event will signify a major step forward in the Lyric’s provision for disabled persons and wheelchair users in particular. In the past we have been unable to ensure disabled access on stage and this will no longer be the case.”
The council is hopeful it will be able to fix a date for the late Spring/early Summer 2010, with a night of performances around Dame Tanni’s appearance, showcasing local talent from Carmarthenshire with LLAIS, Carmarthenshire Youth Theatre Group, and some renowned and up and coming dance and music soloists and groups of all ages.
The council will also be looking to launch the new programme of both Welsh and English ‘live’ theatre, specialist film, and literary, comedy cabaret events, to complement the opening of commercial cinema in the town next Spring, as part of this main opening event.
The wait to open the Apollo multiplex cinema in Carmarthen is placing added and unplanned pressure on the programming of the Lyric and will continue to do so until the new cinema opens next year.
Notes on Welsh events at Lyric -
The Lyric Theatre was re-opened it in October 2004 by Carmarthenshire County Council.
Since then there have been 65 Welsh language events attracting an audience totalling 30,000 with an average attendance of 461.
Of the 65 events nine were full week Welsh Language amateur and local productions and or events which had a total of 3003 an average 333 participants and actors on stage or acting a stage crew and or members of the orchestra.
In respect of Welsh language touring theatre in Carmarthenshire, Council run theatres are excluded from the Arts Council of Wales' Night Out Scheme as they are owned and managed by Local Authorities.
This means that a number of Welsh Language productions in the Carmarthen area will be performed at the Haliwell Theatre or community venues such as Pontyberem Welfare Hall who qualify under the scheme .
The authority works closely with these companies and local venues to avoid a clash of events. The council has no way of influencing this.
Carmarthenshire Theatres operates a One Audience One Programme policy where events will alternate between venues in Llanelli and Carmarthen and occasionally Ammanford. To encourage audiences to attend the Council operates a free shuttle buses for customers to travel from one town to the other. Welsh Language events are included in the Free Shuttle Bus programme.
Part of the opening programme of Welsh content has had to be changed in recent months because of slippage in the planned opening date of October 22.
It had been planned to show the annual Welsh Language production by Ysgol Berfformio Dyffryn Tywi Coleg Prifysgol y Drindod, a Welsh version of the Wizard of Oz.
This was to have been followed by a half-term week of family film leading into performances by Caledon and Salome.
With the theatre opening date now delayed, the Carmarthenshire County Council theatre team has been forced to construct a new programme for the first weekend at quite short notice.
County executive board member for leisure services Clive Scourfield said: “Our theatre programming unit have faced great difficulties in putting an opening programme together to reflect the strong cultural identity of Carmarthenshire, balanced with the pressures of external influences such as funding agency requirements, the availability of performers, and in this instance, contractor timetables.
“We are actively marketing the re-opening of the Lyric throughout the month of November, not just on the opening night. The Lyric will continue to provide a programme promoting the unique linguistic identity of Carmarthenshire for the coming months and years ahead.
“Two weeks after the opening weekend, Carmarthen based Merlin Youth Theatre will be performing the musical Footloose.
“There are also two Welsh language pantomime productions at the Lyric in December followed by an English language pantomime in early January 2010.
“Ysgol Berfformio Dyffryn Tywi Coleg Prifysgol y Drindod agreed to reschedule their performance and as a gesture of good will the council is waiving its fee. The company will move back to its pre half term slot in 2010 under normal terms and conditions.
“The remainder of the Lyric’s programme is planned to run as normal although Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s Spring 2010 production will perform at Theatr Elli. This is as a result of a direct request from the company. The company’s next production is scheduled for the Lyric Theatre.”
“It had been in our plans from the outset that the key event to mark the Lyric’s improved facilities would be “an evening with Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson” and although not promoted as such and still in the planning, this event will signify a major step forward in the Lyric’s provision for disabled persons and wheelchair users in particular. In the past we have been unable to ensure disabled access on stage and this will no longer be the case.”
The council is hopeful it will be able to fix a date for the late Spring/early Summer 2010, with a night of performances around Dame Tanni’s appearance, showcasing local talent from Carmarthenshire with LLAIS, Carmarthenshire Youth Theatre Group, and some renowned and up and coming dance and music soloists and groups of all ages.
The council will also be looking to launch the new programme of both Welsh and English ‘live’ theatre, specialist film, and literary, comedy cabaret events, to complement the opening of commercial cinema in the town next Spring, as part of this main opening event.
The wait to open the Apollo multiplex cinema in Carmarthen is placing added and unplanned pressure on the programming of the Lyric and will continue to do so until the new cinema opens next year.
Notes on Welsh events at Lyric -
The Lyric Theatre was re-opened it in October 2004 by Carmarthenshire County Council.
Since then there have been 65 Welsh language events attracting an audience totalling 30,000 with an average attendance of 461.
Of the 65 events nine were full week Welsh Language amateur and local productions and or events which had a total of 3003 an average 333 participants and actors on stage or acting a stage crew and or members of the orchestra.
In respect of Welsh language touring theatre in Carmarthenshire, Council run theatres are excluded from the Arts Council of Wales' Night Out Scheme as they are owned and managed by Local Authorities.
This means that a number of Welsh Language productions in the Carmarthen area will be performed at the Haliwell Theatre or community venues such as Pontyberem Welfare Hall who qualify under the scheme .
The authority works closely with these companies and local venues to avoid a clash of events. The council has no way of influencing this.
Carmarthenshire Theatres operates a One Audience One Programme policy where events will alternate between venues in Llanelli and Carmarthen and occasionally Ammanford. To encourage audiences to attend the Council operates a free shuttle buses for customers to travel from one town to the other. Welsh Language events are included in the Free Shuttle Bus programme.
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