• Small as in Shumacher's "small is beautiful" also as in a small compact company, and of course the use of puppets to portray the world in a small understandable way. Small as in transforming big bites of information into digestible chunks to turn it into commonly held knowledge at a local community level. A certain amount of work in UK is with children and young people making another appropriate link with "small".
• World is the world of human interaction and in turn the interaction with the earth's environment. World as in one world, and "all the world's a stage" are also relevant links.
• Small World as with coincidental meeting, the networking with colleagues about theatre, culture, development, new approaches and old wisdom. The positive connections with people we meet world wide sharing the same ideas and the commonality of cultures, where they intersect as well as the common need for diversity and identity,a global village and an internet of thinking. And the small world problem known as 6 degrees of separation. eg we are just six social links away from everyone in the world.
• Theatre as described in the shorter Oxford English Dictionary vol 2 from the Greek meaning " place for viewing " and Theatro - cracy, "absolute power exercised by the ancient Athenian democracy, as exhibited at their assemblies in the theatre' See Legislative Theatre for the National Assembly for Wales ( don't mix theatro- cracy up with theocracy, a god headed government or Theocrasy a mingling of various deities into one.) Theatre as in the whole range of human emotions, colour, magic, music, and all the forms we encounter and share. From shadow puppets to spectacular parades, mask and mime, Grotowski to Golek, Brecht to Bunraku, ritual to risible, demystifying the process and re investing in the magic. The theatre of law and theatre of war are our next focus as we pursue democracy at street level and aim at drama for peace culture. Theatre for human rights, (Uganda project) and theatre to explore issues concerning governance such as our "womens' participation in the Democratic Process in Tanzania, add depth to the headline about us in the Telegraph " theatre of life and death" We also presented to an all party meeting of Welsh members of Parliament at the House of Commons. SWT also mentioned on the floor of the house of commons. A week later we perfomed in the National Asssembly of Wales' building in Cardiff to children and Policy MakersThe children and AMs asked questions and the policy makers made policy for wales on refugee issues highlited in our show.
• Small World Theatre is no longer just our company of 2 it is now a charity and expanding in a slow, small is beautiful kind of way, but more than that it is becoming a way of working and interacting with people and culture. Small World Theatre is becoming recognised as a generic term, a way of working and a methodology. It is taking on a life of it's own.
• We are also about to build Canolfan Byd Bychan / Small World Centre in Cardigan West Wales.

Bill Hamblett 2000 updated Oct 2005

Performances, Participatory theatre, Workshops, Consultancy Street theatre, Training, Digital media, Community Arts, Presentations, Illustrated talks, Legislative theatre, Advocacy, Research, Intergenerational work, Shadow, Rod, Glove & Giant Puppetry, Masks, Mime, Drama, Storytelling, Role play, Processions.

COMPANY POLICY

1. To collaborate with communities using participatory approaches to explore and effect social change.
2. To produce performances using the universal language of theatre to communicate important ideas and feelings to young people and adults in a non-exploitative way.
3. To write produce and perform engaging, innovative shows that reflect local and global concerns.
4. To promote international cultural links through theatre.
5. To learn from other cultures.
6. To experiment with techniques which increase the effectiveness and excitement of live performance.
7. To teach and exchange skills with interested groups including communities, extensionists, teachers, artists and other performers.
8. To increase the status of puppetry within theatre, film and T.V. as well as with public, voluntary sector and private sector funders and sponsors.

Ann Shrosbree Bill Hamblett

SWT has received support from F.A.O.( UN ), SCF, OXFAM , S.O.S. SAHEL , CAFOD , THE NUFFIELD FOUNDATION , THE FOUNDATION FOR SPORTS AND THE ARTS , THE NATIONAL LOTTERY, THE ARTS COUNCIL OF WALES, THE BRITISH COUNCIL , FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, VIRGIN ATLANTIC, NETWORK FOUNDATION, AGE CONCERN, CYFANFYD, BARING FOUNDATION, SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL . THE ESME FAIRBURN TRUST. CEREDIGION COUNCIL. CARDIFF 2005, CARDIFF LEA., THE MILLENNIUM COMMISSION, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, OXFAM, THE SOCIAL RISK FUND. THE LLOYDS FOUNDATION. THE WALES ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT. EUROPEAN OBJECTIVE ONE FUNDING, EUROPEAN SOCIAL RISK FUND , THE FOYLE FOUNDATION AND OTHERS

Small World Theatre	Small World Centre	What's On West Wales	Intergenerational	Allotmemt

				http://www.rhandir.org

Small World Theatre, Canolfan Byd Bychan, Bath House Road, Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales, SA43 1JY

Tel: 01239 615952 ..............Fax :01239 615835

e mail info@smallworld.org.uk