Heuldro Gaeaf Tickets Selling Fast

The ticket line for Heuldro Gaeaf is hot...apparently.

You can book tickets on - 01492 642357

Here's the latest Press Release

Heuldro Gaeaf
12 – 24 December 2006
Gwydir Forest near Llanrwst, Conwy

“Something Strange has Happened to Santa’s Grotto”

The next North Wales Stage production is the last of the Labyrinth triology that started with Caerdroia in 2005 and was followed by Heuldro Haf in June 2006. This time, with ‘Heuldro Gaeaf’ the aim is to bask in the warmth of the Christmas spirit and create a journey that’s an unforgettable experience for groups and families.

Perhaps it’s sheer folly to stage an outdoor performance in the middle of winter, high up on a hill at the edge of Snowdonia. But then, how often do we get the opportunity to go on an adventure to the dark forests of our homeland there to explore the essence of the festive season.

Although the details of the ‘Heuldro Gaeaf’ story is secret, we can expect from the previous performance that this won’t be a conventional handling of our treasured images of Christmas. The ‘Caerdroia’, by now well known in the Conwy Valley, has been turned into Santa’s Grotto, and walking the mile long labyrinth cut into the Gwydir forest the audience travelling in groups of five, come across occasional refuges within which mysteries are unravelled.

We can also expect this theatre event, like previous North Wales Stage productions, will become a talking point among the few who succeed in seeing it, and even those who don’t manage to get a ticket in time.

Tickets available £10/£7 and Family Tickets £20 from Menter Iaith Llanrwst – 01492 642357

Heuldro Gaeaf Recruiting

Preparations are underway for the next production in Caerdroia - "Heuldro Gaeaf." Like Heuldro Haf we will be recruiting volunteers both locally and from abroad and employing professional actors from Wales to create the Labyrinth team.

The themes of Heuldro Gaeaf are how Chritmas can put such preassure on families to enjoy themselves that there is something heroic about surviving them. Unlike any of our other productions the audience will travel through the Labyrinth in families (groups of 5 or 6). There will be family tickets available and group tickets for those who pre-book. Further details to come about this...

Rites of Passage 2006

The Rites of Passage training for 2006 went well and the weather was unbelievable. Every day sunny and hot, even into the evening. Perfect for night time Labyrinths. One night it was 22 Centigrade! In September in Wales! Some of the visitors just didn't know what a miracle this was. They came from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Estonia and Portugal.

There's a discussion group for participants in the training at -

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/RitesofPassage2006/

and if there's an interest I can set one up for the training in 2005 too. If enough people show an interest then I will crate a discussion group for paticipants in all our trainings and events. But perhaps they are all speechless!

Double Strike

Cynefin projects in different parts of Europe were both chosen as examples of best practice by funding agencies.

At the recent annual European Youth Programme conference in Athens the Bulgarian Agency presentated the project "To be in...Labyrinth" (directed by Cynefin) as their best Youth Exchange of the year. At the same conference, the British Council presented "Rites of Passage" as an example of best practice of training Cultural Youth Workers. Again, another Cynefin project.

Let's see what the 2006 - 2007 season brings!

On the Cultural Youth Work front -

Cynefin are facilitating an European wide Grundtvig 2 funded project called "Other Ways of Learning" to share and co-devise new creative evaluation and research techniques with adult learners - who will be participant observers of Drums for Peace Youth exchanges.

It's a 1 year project - possibly 2 years - whereby Cynefin will be able to offer free places for adult learners to participate in and research the effects of Youth Exchanges and in the process learn some new exaluation techniques. If you are an adult learner (16+ and in some way disadvantaged!) and would be interested in taking part, please let us know) - mike@cynefin.org.uk

Haul wedi machlud (Sun has set)

The last performance of Heuldro Haf on friday had guest performers Gillebride MacIllemhaoil from Benbecula and Doimnic Macgiolle Bridhe from Donegal. These two traditional singers joined Lou Laurens to sing at the Llanrwst Almshouse before their 'guest slot' in the Heuldro Haf performance. Many thanks to Gillebride and Doimnic.

There will be a movie of the Heuldro Haf project created by Anna Goral of the Glasgow Media Access group, a trailer of which will be put on the website soon.

Thanks to all the actors and volunteers who contributed to Heuldro Haf. I'm still in awe of the amazing array of talented people brought together for this production and the committment they showed to staying present throughout and to each audience member.

There are some photo's here for those who missed it but especially for those who didn't.

Caerdroia Jobs

Golygfa Gwydyr

WANTED

Caerdroia Project & Site Manager

For strategic development of an exciting community project in the Gwdyr Forest near Llanrwst. We are looking for people to develop the Caerdroia site – a labyrinth in Gwydyr currently used as a venue for theatrical productions. The person or persons if job share will:

• Develop the Caerdroia into an environmentally sustainable business
• Plan and progress educational, cultural, artistic and theatrical events
• Facilitate active involvement of the community
• Maintain and develop the site’s physical structures.

If you can match some or all of these requirements we’d like to hear from you. Fulltime salary £22,000, job share divided as appropriate.
Golygfa Gwydyr is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

For an informal discussion or an application pack contact
Rosie Evans. 07843766054
Alltwen , Nant Bwlch Yr Haearn, Trefriw, Conwy. LL27 0JB
Closing date for applications: 29th June 2006





Golygfa Gwydyr

Eisiau

Rheolydd safle prosiect Caerdroia


I ddatblygu prosiect cymunedol cyffrous yng nghoed Gwydyr ger Llanrwst. Rydym yn chwilio am bobol i ddatblygu safle’r Caerdroia – labrinth yn Gwydyr sy’n ei ddefnyddio’n bresennol i gynhyrchiadau theatrig. Fydd yr ymgeisydd[ion] yn gyfrifol am:
- Datblygu’r Caerdroia i fusnes cadwrol amgylcheddol
- Cynllunio digwyddiadau addysgol, diwylliannol, celfyddol a theatrig
- Hybu cyd-weithred yn y gymuned
- Cadw a chynnal adeiladwaith y safle

Os medrwch lenwi’r gofyniadau yma, hoffem glywed ganddoch. Cyflog llawn amser £22,000, neu rhannu swydd.
Mae Golygfa Gwydyr yn gyflogydd cyfartal ac yn croesawu cynigion o bob rhan o’r gymuned.

Am fwy o wybodaeth cysylltwch a
Rosie Evans 07843766054
Alltwen, Nant Bwlch Yr Haearn, Trefriw, Conwy. LL27 0JB
Dyddiad cau 29th Meh 06.

19th June Opening Night: Heuldro Haf

Despite the midges and despite the rain the opening performance was attended by a full house of 32 people. With people travelling from afar as Llanidloes and Copenhagen to catch this rare opportunity.

This is the most sinister Labyrinth we've created and perhaps the most fun. There's no darkness, like before, which means Mike can't use his usual refrain when something looks shabby..."It's allright, it will be dark".

It is probably the closest we'll get to a plot as well, although whether the audience gets it is another matter. When they do they can explain it to us.

Meanwhile, there are giants, devils, priests and kings and other animals too.

Pictures to follow...

Heuldro Haf ar y Gorwel (on the horizon)

Heuldro Haf starts rehearsal on the 12th June and opens on the 19th June until the 30th June. There are 6 actors from Wales -

Gwyn Parry, Dylan Williams, Lou Laurens, Ceri Cunnington, Jacqui Banks, Ceri Rimmer

and 5 from Europe -

Ivana Joksimovic and Milos Dilkic from Serbia, Konstantin Kostov from Bulgaria and Sonia Magalhaes and Osvaldo Couto from Portugal.

We will also have local volunteers working alongside us to make this year's first performance a varied and exciting ensemble piece...spread out over a mile.

Tickets can be booked at the Menter Iaith Conwy office, on the square in Llanrwst or by calling the ticket line on - 01492 642357.

There are group tickets for afternoon matinees (groups of 15 - 30) at £7 per head instead of the standard price of £10 per head.

Also, for those who are interested in participating...the theme this year is the fair and maybe you would like to create a fair stand for the production, there will be a weekend workshop on the 10th June. You can email me at iwan@cynefin.org.uk for more information about this.

Bulgarian Labyrinth Website Launched

Congratulations to our Bulgarian Colleagues on the launch of their new website.

http://www.labyrinth-bg.com/

Which has photographs of the Plovdiv workshop in March 2006 and information about past and current activities.

Heuldro Haf (Draft Flyer)

With Heuldro Haf, our next production, approaching quickly here's the draft for the Heuldro Poster/Flyer.

Kindness

I've been asked my some participants for the poem which we used as inspirational material for the Labyrinth there two weeks ago. Here it is -

Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
Feel the future dissolve in a moment
like the salt in a weakened broth
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
All this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
The passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in the white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

Naomi Shihab Nye, Words Under the Words, Eighth Mountain Press, 1995

Who's that singing on Trailer 1?

Many people have commented on the amazing music that is the soundtrack of Trailer 1. That's Lou Laurens recorded live in the Caerdroia Labyrinth performance in 2005. We were incredibly lucky to have her guest perform there a couple of nights. Nights that I won't easily forget standing there in the dark centre of the spiral listening to this and other song and the concertina swimming through the evening breeze, mingling occasional with Carmen's flute playing on the other side. Time took on the strangest quality those nights, folded in on itself so that every moment was vast and soft.

Lou's website is - http://www.loulaurens.freeserve.co.uk/

To Be In Labyrinth

The Bulgarian Youth Exchange last week was a great success. Organization by Biveda was without a hitch and the Bulgarian team of young people were incredibly generous and efficient.

An instillation was created in the Plovdiv bathhouse thanks to the Arts Today organization, who kindly borrowed it to us for the 4 days of building and performing.

Though very cold inside the space was soon heated by the warmth generated between exchange participants and audience. Thanks go to everyone that took part and if reading this are invited to add their comments about the week by clicking in the link below.

Plovdiv Update

Iwan met with Bulgarian Partners, Bistra, Polly, Big Yavor and Little Yavor this week and travelled to Plovdiv to recce the site of the third Sensory Labyrinth Youth Exchange. Katalin from Hungary and Luis from Portugal were also there.

The old Roman and then Turkish bathhouse which will be the site of the Labyrinth is a fantastic series of 10 chambers connected by low doorways. The ceilings are high and concave with open holes which will allow us to create fires inside. The sound of the voice resonates deeply with the walls. A very exciting prospect.

Cynefin Promo Video

Iwan is in Belgrade working on a Cynefin promo video with Jelena. The idea is to have a central narrated sequence exploring the theory of Sensory Labyrinth Theatre bookended by the trailers. The first trailer, a new one which will be uploaded to the site next week and the final bookend will be the trailer already up here on the website.

Plovdiv Labyrinth Youth Exchange

Our colleagues in Theatr Tsvete in Sofia, Bulgaria have told us that their application to the European Youth Programme to host a Labyrinth Youth Exchange has been successful. Young drama students from Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Wales and Bulgaria will come together in March to create a Labyrinth in the beautiful town of Plovdiv.

There are still places available for young people from Wales, the cost is £150 which includes all travel, food, accommodation, insurance and fees. If you are interested email iwan or call him on 01348 811122. The dates of the exchange are the 16th - 23rd of March. Iwan will make a Recce visit in early March and will post pictures here from the location.

Creative Wales Award

Iwan Brioc, Artistic Director of Cynefin, has been awarded a grant of £10,000 by the Arts Council of Wales. The Creative Wales Award will allow Iwan to conduct preliminary research and write a book proposal for Sensory Labyrinth Theatre.

The project is called "I'm a Different Person Now" which is a phrase often used by audience members to Cynefin productions. How just one theatre performance can have such an impact is one of the things Iwan will be asking with the research.

You can follow how his ideas develop and comment on them by follwing the weblog for the project.

Caerdroia 2006

We've news from Llwyfan Gogledd Cymru (North Wales Stage) that the Arts Council has agreed to fund two productions at the Caerdroia site next year. That's a greant of £46,550, which owes a lot both the reputation of Llwyfan Gogledd Cymru and the success of th last years performances.

The two productions will be called Heuldro Haf and Heuldro Gaeaf meaning Summer and Winetr Solstice. The performance dates are

19th - 30th June Matinee and Evening Performances and

11th - 24th December Evening Performances only

More news here as plands develop and actors are confiremed. There will be 6 local professional actors accompanied by 6 performers from Europe and another 6 local volunteers. If you are interested in volunteers to perform please let us know. It will be a months full time committment and we can pay expenses.