May 26
This is an exciting and unique opportunity to head up a theatre and innovative creative arts venue embedded in its community in West Wales. You will be responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of its rich programme, supported by an experienced team of staff and a dedicated Board of Trustees.
Location Small World Theatre, Cardigan, West Wales
Salary Competitive
Hours 37.5 hours per week, full time
Contract Permanent
Apply by 17/6/26 - 5pm
Interviews on 30/6/26 and 1/7/26
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Opportunity - Director of Small World Theatre.
Small World Theatre (SWT) is a performing theatre company and community arts organisation based in a near zero-carbon building in the centre of Cardigan, West Wales. SWT has a rich heritage in producing and performing large-scale puppet theatre, delivering innovative community arts projects and joyful participatory events. We are proud to be an Arts Council Wales multi-year funded organisation and work with artists, makers, partners and communities on projects embedded in environmental and social-justice, heritage and the Welsh language. From our venue we run Syrcas Byd Bach (SBB) (aerial circus school) and Amethyst (youth mental health programme), we produce theatre, parades, puppetry, deliver artistic commissions and curate a programme of live events. Small World Theatre is a company limited by guarantee and a Registered Charity.
SWT has been carefully nurtured and run by the two founders and a dedicated experienced team supported by the Board of Trustees. The founders will be moving away from running the organisation to focus on creative projects, with the new Director taking the helm. The founders would be happy to mentor the successful applicant during a transition period. We are excited to welcome a Director who has the drive and a passion to develop and deliver an ambitious creative programme, rooted in the values of Small Word Theatre.
Please contact us by email to request the full job description. smallworld.org.uk
Jan 26
Small World Theatre starts the year positively following a grant awarded by the Theatres Trust's Theatre Improvement Scheme, in association with the Wolfson Foundation, offering capital funding towards improvements and urgent repairs to its building.
Funding boost helps future-proof Small World Theatre’s eco-friendly venue.
Small World Theatre is an environmental theatre company renowned for creating giant puppets, public events such as the hugely popular Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade, and art commissions including Art Afoot / Celf ar Droed, the recent public art trail in Goodwick and Fishguard. Based in Cardigan, its venue is a hugely popular creative hub, delivering arts and wellbeing programmes, a thriving aerial circus school, a vibrant youth theatre, and presenting live shows and entertainment throughout the year.
Funding is for a three-part project to repair crucial features that contribute to the venue’s environmental credentials. These include repairing the rainwater harvesting system installed in 2008 for the toilets, washing machine and bathroom sinks - saving energy and costs associated with mains water distribution. The existing sedum roof has slipped and is damaged. Replacing it will provide insulation, reduce flood risk, extracts carbon, boosts oxygen and encourages pollinators. Lastly, damp repairs will save on heating costs and carbon emissions.
Theatres Trust CEO Joshua McTaggart says,
“Theatres Trust is delighted to support Small World Theatre with these crucial repairs, ensuring that the theatre company can continue to be a pioneer in sustainable theatre and offer a beacon of hope to its community in face of the climate emergency.”
Free Inclusion and Anti-Racism Training Announced in Cardigan
Dec 25
Local community leaders are invited to attend a free Inclusion and Anti-Racism training session with Molara Awen on 26 Jan 2026, from 5pm - 7pm, at Cardigan Bowling Club.
The session will offer practical tools and guidance on how to celebrate diversity and actively support an inclusive, anti-racist Aberteifi. Designed to empower those working across the community, the training aims to encourage positive change through understanding, reflection and action.
The event is free to attend, with light refreshments provided. Brought to you by Small World Theatre with funding support from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administrated and supported by the Cynnal y Cardi Team for Ceredigion County Council.
For further details, please contact Ann Shrosbree, ann@smallworld.org.uk
A greener winter ahead
21/9/25
With autumn setting in, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve been awarded funding from the Welsh Government via the Community Energy Wales Capital Grant Scheme to develop a new Smart Local Energy System.
This will enable us to install additional solar panels, a new air source heat pump, a battery storage system and two electric vehicle chargers. With smart controls managing the system, our venue will produce and consume energy more efficiently, and as sustainably as possible.
This news comes quickly after the exciting news that we’ve been awarded funding as part of the recent Capital Investment Fund from The Arts Council of Wales in partnership with Welsh Government. We will make some timely upgrades that include a new, durable disability access ramp, eco-friendly improvements to our rainwater harvesting, sedum roof, and vital damp proofing. We’re also planning some digital upgrades.
These essential improvements will make our venue greener, smarter, and more inclusive.
Local young actors will take part in prestigious festival at the National Theatre.
19/9/25
Ieuenctid Byd Bach has been invited to join the National Theatre’s Connections Festival programme in 2026. Fantastic news for the local theatre company and the young people who’ll take part.
Connections is National Theatre’s youth theatre festival. The theatre has a celebrated history of championing the talent of young people. It commissions 10 new plays for young people to perform each year which are then performed at venues across the U.K.
“Being accepted on the Connections programme is a reflection of the achievements of our youth theatre. Soon we’ll be holding auditions for IBB Senior youth theatre members, and we can’t wait to receive the play we’ll be working with.”
A summer programme to celebrate the River Teifi is announced.
2/7/25
To celebrate the River Teifi's wildlife, culture and heritage, several free summer events have been programmed by Small World Theatre working with spacetocreate this summer, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Llais yr Afon project focuses on restoring and protecting the River Teifi, while involving local communities in its improvement. The project that includes West Wales Rivers Trust and Save the Teifi, has already engaged 300 people in public consultations and is gathering momentum with plans for future events to further input on the river's future.
Ann Shrosbree, Small World Theatre said
"The River Teifi is a beautiful, much loved and vital resource that faces challenges from pollution, climate change and unsustainable land use.West Wales Rivers Trust identified five themes of public concern from the consultation process. These are access to the river, restoring water quality, protecting habitats and species, food and farming and recognising the culture and heritage of one of Wales' most iconic rivers. These inspired a People's Plan for the Teifi."
A new programme of guided walks, talks and creative workshops has emerged from the People's Plan, and we will also include a replica of Idris Mathias' famous illustrated map.
Guy Norman, spacetocreate said
"Idris Mathias' map has been a great source of inspiration. We worked in schools in Cenarth, Llechryd, Cilgerran, Cardigan and St Dogmaels to create collages, prints and shadow puppet theatre performances for showcase events in villages."
A copy of the original Idris Mathias map is expected to draw crowds this summer as it appears alongside the programme. The organisers are inviting more people to share their stories, concerns and knowledge at the events as they work towards creating a new contemporary folk map to be displayed in communities along the Lower Teifi Valley at the end of this year.
The Llais yr Afon Summer Programme appears in St Dogmaels Festival, the Welsh Wildlife Centre, Small World Theatre, Bethania Chapel Vestry, Cardigan County Agricultural Show, Cardigan River and Food Festival and Cilgerran Festival Week.