Artists to present their draft designs for new artworks connecting Goodwick and Fishguard.
16/4/24
The new artworks project commissioned by Pembrokeshire County Council and awarded to Small World Theatre in December 2023, has reached a stage where the proposed artworks can be presented to the public. Residents and stakeholders of Fishguard and Goodwick are invited to join the artists at the opening of an exhibition on 4 May from 11am – 1pm in Fishguard Town Hall to see the draft artwork designs and their proposed locations, as well as offering feedback in person.
The exhibition will remain open to the public from Tuesday 7 - Saturday 11 May from 11am - 2pm. It will explain the themes behind the artworks and include models and images by the artists, including public-realm artist Gideon Petersen, and works by artists Ann Shrosbree, Bill Hamblett, Toby Downing, Ben Cramp, Seán Vicary and Steve Knight. The exhibition will be staffed, and a comments book offers another opportunity to feedback.
The project will connect Fishguard and Goodwick as part of a wider regeneration drive that is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and financed by the UK Government under the Levelling Up Programme.
Regeneration Arts Development Officer, Ruth Jones said: “The idea behind this project is to encourage vibrant town centres by creating an exciting attraction to bring more footfall to the area. We see these artworks and their proposed locations as an opportunity to encourage residents and visitors alike to explore their distinctive towns and enjoy the natural spaces around them.”
Small World Theatre’s Director, Ann Shrosbree said: “The artwork will lead pedestrians and walkers along the existing walkways, paths and roads connecting Fishguard and Goodwick. Our presentation in Fishguard Town Hall will show these locations. We’re also going to share comments and drawings from the public consultations that took place in February and March. We had over 400 comments or drawings, so there’s been lots to inspire this process.”
Further details about the project can be found here smallworld.org.uk/trails-goodwick-fishguard
Small World Theatre appointed to co-create new town trails with community.
6/12/23
Small World Theatre, an artist-led company in Cardigan, has been appointed to work closely with the communities of Fishguard and Goodwick on plans to encourage vibrant town centres.
Small World Theatre will help to design and create a new trail, or series of trails for the twin towns as part of a wider regeneration drive funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund financed by the UK Government under the Levelling Up Programme.
This aims to encourage vibrant town centres, maintain and increase footfall to support shops, decrease vacant buildings, create jobs and increase a sense of pride in place.
Small World Theatre was chosen following a competitive evaluation process. It involved members of the Regeneration Place team at Pembrokeshire County Council and an external public art specialist, Emma Price of Studio Response based in Cardiff.
There were nine other applications from all over the UK.
The trails are an opportunity to celebrate the distinctive history, culture and stories of the area and make an appealing attraction for local people and tourists alike.
Regeneration Arts Development Officer, Ruth Jones said: “We are thrilled that a community-oriented, west Wales based company submitted the best application for this project. Small World Theatre are professional artists and performers known for their event based and community driven work.
“This combination of skills will ensure that the community is involved throughout the development of the trails and that the outcomes are both innovative and high quality.”
The creative group is headed up by the company’s founding directors, artists and performers Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett. They will be working with Gideon Peterson, a Pembrokeshire based artist with many years’ experience in creating public realm artwork using a range of metals.
Toby Downing and Ben Cramp are also named in the team. This creative duo specialise in playful and interactive sculptural projects using upcycled materials.
A digital wayfinding element will also be developed by digital and animation artist Séan Vicary and creative technologist Steve Knight. David Pepper, Fishguard based musician, curator and walking guide completes the team.
Director of Small World Theatre, Ann Shrosbree said: “We are looking forward to engaging with people of all ages to create a trail that reflects and expresses the community’s collective ideas and vision in beautiful Abergwaun and Wdig.”
The project kicks off with community engagement sessions starting on Wednesday, 20th December, with an introductory ‘Meet the Artists’ talk at Theatr Gwaun at 6.30pm. Followed by two fun, co-creation sessions at Fishguard Town Hall on January 20th to begin developing ideas for the project. There will be more opportunities for different groups and individuals to get involved.
In January 2024, applications from Pembrokeshire based artists will be sought for a paid opportunity to join the team for ten days as a mentored artist. If this appeals to you, come along to the engagement sessions and meet the artists to find out more.
The trails will be completed by Autumn 2024 and will be launched through community public events that bring people together to celebrate this unique peninsula.
Localgiving Community Story
11/10/23
Today we are in the vibrant West Wales town of Cardigan, to learn more about Small World Theatre and their current fundraiser with Localgiving to revive the Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade. Our Head of Communications Luke Upton spoke to Sam Vicary, Communications Manager at Small World Theatre to get the lowdown on their past, present and future.
Read the interview here
Light Fantastic! Support Cardigan Lantern Parade.
28/9/23
Revive Cardigan’s Giant Lantern Parade by supporting Small World Theatre and joining a local fundraising campaign. In the run up to the winter festivities, plans to reinstate the parade on 8th December are afoot, with the launch of a new public fundraising appeal, the backing of Cardigan Town Council, Ceredigion County Council and Leafed Through community bookshop.
Cardigan-based Small World Theatre is renowned for its community work. Following a tradition that they began in 2016, Small World Theatre will create a new ‘Fanastical Beasts’ themed parade with giant illuminated lantern structures, and a fabulous array of handheld lanterns, free lantern making workshops for families, sessions with schools and other local community groups.
In its fourth year in 2019, the attraction brought 13,500 people to town to enjoy and take part in the festivities. This year the team is determined to revive the parade and offer families the chance to be part of an inclusive, exciting event that brings people together.
“In 2020 we launched our first Localgiving fundraiser to support working with families, providing creative workshops and play for young people who were affected by the pandemic.” said Sam Vicary, marketing manager. “Today we ask for your help with our second fundraiser so we can restore Cardigan’s spectacular Giant Lantern Parade to the town.”
“Sadly, our efforts to raise financial support through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund were unsuccessful. We’re working non-stop to find alternative funds” said Ann Shrosbree, exec director. “We’ve set a fundraising target of £2,000 for this campaign to cover the lantern materials, so that we can provide free lantern making workshops to Cardigan and the wider community. If we’re lucky enough to exceed this target, the funds will go towards the parade’s other costs.”
The organisers hope that this campaign is an opportunity to bring the Lantern Parade into the forefront of people’s minds and establish a long-term plan for its continuation as a prominent event in the town’s annual events calendar, shining a light in the lengthening dark of mid-winter.
“We are so grateful to those who can support by donating and helping with our fundraising appeal" said Bill Hamblett, artistic director. “Without you we will not be able to create this year’s proposed parade”.
To generously support the lantern parade with a donation, please follow this link. Your donation will cover your lantern making and contribute towards a non-paying participant who isn’t able to donate.
To find out how you can get involved in fundraising/supporting the campaign, please contact Sam sam@smallworld.org.uk / 01239 615 952.
A new programme of learning returns to Small World Theatre.
13/9/23
Small World Theatre is delighted to be an Accredited Agored Centre once again thanks to PLANED and its amazing Prosiect Cadarnhad.
Following PLANED’s announcement that Small World Theatre is to become its first partner organisation in Ceredigion, plans are afoot to reinstate the awarding body and work with project participants towards further education and recognising individuals’ achievements.
“Our plan is to introduce Agored accreditation in the new term to encourage learning, recognise the skills our participants have developed and build their self-esteem,” said project manager Deri Morgan. “We will begin working through our Amethyst project with young people who are experiencing challenges and struggling with their mental health.”
Director Ann Shrosbree added “Agored will once again be an integral part of the work we do to support young people and adults. We are very proud to be Prosiect Cadarnhad’s new partners and thank them for enabling this next chapter”.
Prosiect Cadarnhad is a National Lottery Funded project that provides Agored Cymru accreditation for people in South West Wales. Both organisations look forward to many exciting years of working in partnership to promote wellbeing across communities.
Medieval marketplace, puppet parade, choirs and folk music at St Davids Pilgrim Fayre.
24/4/23
A LIVELY Pilgrim Fayre will be held later this month to mark the achievements of a project celebrating the historic links between North Wexford and North Pembrokeshire.
The event on bank holiday Monday, 29th May 11am-6pm at St Davids Bishop’s Palace, boasts an exciting family-friendly programme of performance, song, guided walks, a medieval marketplace, traditional skills demos, and film screenings.
It marks the achievements of the Ancient Connections project as it comes to a close and the launch of the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way, with a celebration of communities past and present. The event centres on a lively medieval marketplace hosting an array of stalls.
It will showcase some of the finest wares the area has to offer as well as delicious, award-winning food and drink, made from locally sourced ingredients.
There’ll be mischief makers, meandering minstrels and holy relic sellers and surprise pop-up performances too.
Small World Theatre is delighted to return with the 3m-tall giant puppet of Saint David and a new 6m-long sea monster in a procession through Wales’ smallest city.
Rowan Matthiessen, Ancient Connections Project Manager said: “The Fayre is going to be an absolute feast for the senses and should be a fantastic bank holiday day out for all the family. Small World Theatre never fails to disappoint in creating something fun and engaging for all.”
Thanks to pupils from Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, there will also be colourful costumes in the festival’s Pilgrim Parade leading spectators from the Cross Square into the grounds of St David’s Cathedral. Saint David will visit the giant bee skeps created by artist Bedwyr Williams on his way to join the fun of the Fayre.
Other activities include guided pilgrim walks, led by St Davids Cathedral and the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way; a massed choir performance in the Cathedral led by Span Arts’ choir Côr Pawb; a traditional skills demonstration marquee run by the Tywi Centre; and a programme of artists’ films and documentaries screened in the vaults of the Bishop’s Palace.
The day finishes with an open-air concert of ancient music from Wales and the Celtic nations performed by renowned folk musicians Julie Murphy, Ceri Rhys Matthews, and Jess Ward.
A perfect end to a magnificent celebration in the impressive, historic setting of the ruined Palace.
PRESS and LISTINGS
Pembrokeshire County Council / The Pembrokeshire Herald / Wales 247 / Tivyside Advertiser / Tenby Observor / Nation Cymru / Yahoo / Pembrokeshire Online / Ground News / The Herald / Wexford Pembrokshire Way / The Western Telegraph / Independent IE
EVENT programme and project background
Inclusive arts project supporting diverse groups will inspire emerging talent and create a community performance.
3/2/23
Small World Theatre is excited to announce the launch of a new project supporting neurodiverse and disabled children/adults, and young people with mental health issues in West Wales. Funded by the Arts Council of Wales, the Corlan project is set to deliver performance-based activities and supportive sessions that will nurture new talent and explore self-expression through the arts.
Small World’s creative programme uses the skills and expertise of staff and associate artists. Participants are invited to share their stories using art forms such as puppetry, clowning and physical theatre. They’ll discover how aerial circus can be a relaxing experience as well as building confidence and fitness. They’ll find support within mental health sessions, including a new Queer group for older young people.
“It is an exciting time for us to be working with our partners Clynfyw Care Farm and the Disabled Children’s Team. We intend to provide opportunities for local families with children with autism to take part in creative, sensory experiences as well as fun, arts-based sessions to a wider group of young people,” said Director Ann Shrosbree. “Sharing experiences builds trust and empathy. We will use our skills to help Corlan participants express themselves. The aim is that their stories are collectively performed or shared with the community so we can understand each other better.”
The Corlan sessions will be fun, free and based in Small World Theatre, Cardigan from April - July 2023. If you’d like to know more, please visit smallworld.org.uk or contact Sam Vicary the project coordinator, sam@smallworld.org.uk.
Creative partnerships boost mental health in West Wales.
2/2/23
Small World Theatre is delighted to have been commissioned by Hywel Dda University Health Board to deliver Uplifting Aerial sessions in a second round of ArtsBoost beginning in March 2023.
ArtsBoost is designed to improve mental health and reduce feelings of distress for children and young people known to Specialist Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (SCAMHS), Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB). To be eligible to apply, you must be known to SCAMHS and either waiting for, or accessing support from your local primary mental health team.
The arts are proven to help with health and wellbeing, and Small World Theatre in Ceredigion, Span Arts in Pembrokeshire and People Speak Up in Carmarthenshire are the creative partners commissioned to deliver arts-based activities.
For more details about ArtsBoost, please contact Kathryn Lambert, Kathryn.Lambert@wales.nhs.uk, Hywel Dda UHB, Arts in Health Coordinator.
A link to Hywel Dda’s press release 30/1/23
Young people urged to have their say with future in mind.
1/2/23
The National Lottery Community Fund’s Mind Our Future programme is supporting young people’s mental health and resilience across Wales to the tune of 10.8 million pounds. The Ceredigion youth project, Dyfodol Ni, is headed up by Cardigan’s Area43 to work with partners to engage and empower young people in West Wales through the programme.
Small World Theatre’s AMETHYST project is delighted to be part of the partnership, offering fun, arts-based sessions starting in February. The creative team invites young people aged 12-18 to Drama Games and Aerial Circus taster sessions that will raise spirits and inspire! These sessions are fun, free and an opportunity for young people to have their say.
Deri Morgan, Amethyst’s project manager said “It’s so important that young people have their say. The Amethyst project provides support to young people experiencing issues around mental health, and working with the Dyfodol Ni partnership is a great way to make improvements across Ceredigion. It will help shape and support mental health services for the future.”
To join Drama Games and Uplifting Aerial sessions, please book ahead by contacting Deri, deri@smallworld.org.uk. Full details on smallworld.org.uk.
Learn skills to support young people with mental health needs with Small World Theatre.
12/9/22
The AMETHYST project is sharing skills and learning opportunities with other professionals and those interested in working with young people who are struggling with their mental health. Meet the project’s team and experience the work we do in 3 free sessions at Small World Theatre beginning December 2022.
Small World Theatre’s project began in 2016 with 2 facilitators and 2 support workers. We are still a small team, but we are looking to raise awareness of our work and share some of our methodology and practices to benefit a wider demographic.
With 20+ years of experience, our facilitators hold a safe space in group work using methods such as Theatre of the Oppressed, alongside therapeutic theory and endorphins raising games to improve health and wellbeing. We’d like to give other professionals the opportunity to experience these methods.
The workshops will be experiential, so we expect those who attend to take part in the activities. Spaces are limited and open to ages 18+. Please contact project manager Deri Morgan for further information deri@smallworld.org.uk
Mythical stories set to illuminate Cardigan Castle.
29/8/22
FFABL (Welsh for Fable) is a magical, spectacular lantern and light festival launching in Cardigan Castle this year.
Experience the wonderment of Christmas whilst meandering through wintry stories and Welsh mythology. You will also encounter some of the creatures and heroes from Wales’ finest book of legends, the Mabinogion.
Cardigan Castle is the birthplace of the first Eisteddfod in 1176. “Christmas is a time for stories” said Jennie Caldwell, Wired Wood artist “our inspiration comes from ancient tales, poems and music performed through the ages to great audiences within Cardigan Castle’s walls.”
Small World Theatre, Wired Wood and Cardigan Castle thrilled visitors in 2021 with their first venture, a Halloween Spooktakula. Their new collaboration is set to delight and enthral visitors during the Christmas season. Visitors are invited to join the exciting light trail and wander through the house and grounds during night time opening hours. “We’re working with talented light, sound, giant lantern and puppet making artists to bring the first FFABL tales alive”, said Jonathan Thomas, manager of Cardigan Castle. “Many of you will recognise characters from the Mabinogion, including the king turned into a wild boar for his sins, the legendary Brân the Blessed and the goddess who became an owl.”
FFABL will open nightly (5-8pm) from Thursday 1 December until Monday 2 January (closed Christmas and Boxing Days). There will be a makers market showcasing an amazing variety of gifts and produce. Delicious food and drink will be prepared by Kitchen 1176 for the occasion. Tickets £12 adult/£8 child/£35 for a family of 4, must be pre-booked online or bought in person from the reception at Cardigan Castle. More details online cardigancastle.com
Launching Welsh stories with puppetry and animation.
11/8/22
Small World Theatre is sharing stories throughout August and September, releasing storytelling with puppetry online for the enjoyment of all. Amser Stori is a new children’s library of performed tales in Welsh created for children available on their website and in partnership with AM, supported by Arts Council of Wales.
Small World Theatre combines traditional puppetry skills with exciting character animation to tell its first tale ‘Cawl Cerrig’ on 18 August. Through shadow puppetry and expressive narration, viewers will enjoy this Persian folk story about the value of sharing.
Small World Theatre invites viewers and remote learners to explore a new version of ‘Y Llwybr Mellt’ in September. Originally created by the company as a live theatre performance with Welsh playwright Meredydd Barker, it has been beautifully adapted into a narrated series for the digital stage. Follow Ella’s exciting journey on the back of a flying hare across continents, learning the importance of protecting our planet.
Amser Stori’s collection also includes ‘Criw Coed ar Gwenyn Coll’ written by Carys Glyn. Join the forest crew - Owl, Deer, Blackbird, Eagle and the swift Salmon as they save a bee and learn about their environment.
“The online collection began during times of remote learning, when parents and educators were looking for material to encourage their children,” said Ann Shrosbree, Director of Small World Theatre “Learning ground-breaking digital puppetry skills, collaborating with artists, talented writers and actors, helped us engage with audiences deeply affected by the consequences of lockdown. We’re now excited to release this beautiful Welsh language collection and see this as a great resource to share.”
Visit Small World Theatre’s website for details of the release dates and links to the stories smallworld.org.uk
Cardigan's Small World Theatre's giant creations appear in North Wales.
1/12/21
Giant insects and creatures created by Cardigan's Small World Theatre are inspiring local communities and greeting visitors on the North coast of Wales. Small World Theatre has been busy this year working on two major commissions for Conwy County Council and the ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here’ market town of Abergele.
As jungle fever gripped Wales, three new giant creatures appeared in the ‘I’m A Celebrity Too’ Art Trail. Originally commissioned by Venue Cymru in 2020, the art trail was curated by Oriel Colwyn with support from Conwy Arts Trust, Cartrefi Conwy and Abergele Town Council, designed to welcome the ITV show to Abergele. The sculptures include a giant spider on the walls of Gwrych Castle, a giant rat and a grass snake (that continues to grow in length thanks to community weaving workshops).
A few miles along the coast in Colwyn Bay, Small World Theatre has worked closely this year with communities to create an environmental, local themed art trail. Led by Imagine Colwyn Bay and in partnership with the Bay of Colwyn Town Council’s In Bloom Committee, the project is funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Gwynt y Môr Windfarm Fund.
Helen Jackson, Programme Coordinator for Imagine from Conwy County Borough Council explained “Six sculptures inspired by local heritage and nature have been created, plus a small flock of fake news printed seagulls dotted around town to link the trail. Small World Theatre has used recycled and salvaged materials where possible in keeping with the environmental theme and their ethos”.
Ann Shrosbree, Director and a Small World Theatre artist added “It has been really inspiring to work with the young people and community groups to develop their ideas through to the finished installations.
Photo credit: Paul Sampson