Following the success of last year’s staging of ‘Deffro’r Gwanwyn’ [Spring Awakening], the Urdd’s Youth Theatr Company is back with a brand-new production this summer, ‘Ble mae trenau’n mynd gyda’r nos a chwestiynau mawr eraill bywyd’ [Where trains go at night and life’s other big questions].
The show offers a unique theatrical experience where the audience will be invited to join the cast of 23 young performers from all parts of Wales on a playful train journey.
The opening night is on Friday, 28 June at Cardigan Castle, and the tour includes more community-led venues than ever before to ensure as many as possible can enjoy the creative work of the young people of Wales.
Led by the experienced playwright Branwen Davies, the Urdd’s Youth Theatre Company offers valuable experiences and opportunities for 16-25-year-olds on stage and backstage.
“It’s important that we offer a range of opportunities to our young people each year, as well as our audiences,” explains Branwen Davies, Urdd Youth Theatre Coordinator. “This year the production has enabled a group of young adults interested in writing to create something special and unique. A few of our members are autistic or neurodiverse, and seeing them thrive over the last few months has been the best thing ever!
“Our aim was to create a colourful, energetic, insightful and intriguing theatrical experience that offers the audience an escape into an imaginary world and to forget the world and its problems. It was also important that we took theatre to people’s doorsteps.”
The writing process started in October with a group of 26 young people coming together in a series of ‘writers’ room’ sessions at the Urdd’s residential centres where they discussed and developed the ideas together.
Raaes Richards was involved in the writing process and is now a cast member: “We took part in various activities, toured Pembrokeshire, rapped with the Mari Lwyd… And of course there were writing workshops, from using images as inspiration and creating short stories. I love being part of a project like this, as it helps me develop new skills and boosts my confidence.”
Jona Milone is also very excited to be part of the cast: “The show is completely unique, new and pushes the boundaries of theatre and it’s incredibly exciting to be part of the experiment! Hilarious dogs, umbrellas full of memories and clothes with soul – the show takes us as actors and the audience on a journey.”
The tour opens in Cardigan Castle on 28 June and travels to Dolywern, Newport, Ystradgynlais and Aberffraw before coming to an end in Nefyn at the end of July.
Suitable for all ages, tickets are £5-£10 and include light refreshments. Proceeds from each performance will go to a local charity.
