PERFORMANCES

 

There were 7 performances in July, one more took place at a conference in November.

The July Venues were all in Ely, Cardiff.

Mon 7. at 9.15 am at Glyn Derw High School with yr.7 pupils from Glyn Derw and Millbank and Trelai primary schools

Tues 8. at 2.00 pm at Cwrt Yr Ala junior school with pupils from Cwrt Yr Ala and Hywel Dda primary schools

Wed 9. at 9.15 Glyn Derw High school for yrs.8,9 and 10 also at 2.15 Church of the Resurrection for Herbert Thompson, St.Francis and Windsor Clive primary schools

Thurs 10. 3.00 pm Church of the Resurrection open performance attended mostly by OAP’s and parents

Fri. 11. at 12 .15 am and 2.15 Glan Ely High school

Approximately 2000 people saw the show in its entirety and extracts and comments were broadcast by HTV on their news programme four times and twice on S4C. Some of these performances were recorded on video for the project, at times with two cameras.

Show 1

This was the first time that the entire cast had ever performed together. Year 7 of Glyn Derw and Millbank and Trelai Primary schools years 5 & 6 saw this debut show which was also being recorded for an HTV news feature. The response was enthusiastic. Children’s comments on camera were positive and they indicated that they had absorbed the content, they commented on the dual messages of being mindful of older people and of not stealing cars. The show was also well received by the head teacher and other teachers and it can be said that all concerned were proud of the achievement of the cast.

Show 2

Cwrt Yr Ala Junior school hosted the show and Hywel Dda were invited. This was the first show in an unfamiliar and rather small hall and away from Glyn Derw. Understandably the performance was not as sharp and focused as the first show but it was very well received by the audience. Contact between the older members of the cast and the head teacher were established . Les Bowring was being asked by the headteacher to contribute to the school’s Second World War project when it was discovered that he had been a Spitfire pilot. He declined and said it was the future he was more interested in and did not want to go over the past. Sid, Les and his wife Doreen already volunteer for reading sessions with children in schools, organised by the Healthy Wealthy and Wise project.

Show 3

The cast had two performances in different venues on this day. The morning was in Glyn Derw for yrs.8, 9 and 10. The younger members of the cast were nervous about performing to older students at the same school. The performance was well received although the head felt that the first show on Monday had been better. Immediately after the show all the set, lights and sound equipment, costume and props had to be loaded and the cast got to the other side of the estate. No minibus was available so some students walked with Ann to the venue while others were taken in cars with the older members of the cast.

Show 4

This was the most difficult show to perform as the stage was small and sloping, the day was hot and the performers were tired. Considering this they did very well and the students from Herbert Thompson and Windsor Clive juniors, ( St.Francis did not turn up ), were totally engaged in the play . Teachers comments were very complimentary. Only the performers knew that they could do better but it is a credit to them that they did as well as they did in difficult circumstances. The whole cast opted to come early next day to rehearse and improve parts of the play that they were not happy with.

Show 5

Older people from the community, the public and parents joined the funders of the project at this performance. The presentation was improved by abandoning the stage and performing on the floor, blacking out the windows and having an extra rehearsal in the space. This event also included a visit by the police who entered the building right on cue as the character in the bed exclaims "Coppers!" . This was an accomplished performance which had benefited from the extra work put in by the cast that morning.

Shows 6 &7

At Glan Ely High school. This was, in local student mythology, 'enemy turf' and there was an INSET training day back at Glyn Derw so this meant that the rest of the school had a day off. Not only did the entire cast turn up, having made their own way there in most cases, but they performed like real professionals in what for them must have been a challenging situation

 

Throughout the week the whole cast performed really well completing a punishing schedule which would have taxed the most experienced theatre group. The show was generally perceived as a great success which achieved its objective of creating an inter-generational performance which effectively looked at intergenerational issues. There was a huge amount of positive feedback from all ages and sections of the community.

 

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