A theatre festival in a rural town is set to see 15-minute productions take place in unusual venues including a chip shop and a café.
The first Heart of Wales Theatre Festival, taking place in Llandovery on Saturday September 28, will feature new theatre productions created by prominent Welsh writers and theatre makers specifically for unexpected locations within the town centre.
Venues include a fish and chip shop, the clock tower café, the castle ruins, and the local library.
During the festival there will also be free adult masterclasses, children’s workshops, street performers and stalls. There will also be an opportunity of a paid shadow scheme for a resident of the town interested in pursuing a career in the arts to assist one of the directors in their rehearsal period, to gain an insight and experience into a professional theatre production.
Luke Bailey and Ella Peel have created the concept and are organising the event. Both are actors themselves and live locally.
Luke Bailey said:
“The festival has been designed to engage seasoned theatre-goers and first timers alike. The unusual venues will play host to performances designed solely for them. There are five brand-new, one-act, plays commissioned specifically for the festival.”
Ella Peel added:
“Our aim of the Theatre Festival is to showcase the stunning tourist destination of Llandovery, my hometown, to visitors in fresh and inventive ways. We hope the event will also challenge locals to engage with the community, their home, their nation and the arts in powerful new ways.”
All the artists and creatives involved are Welsh and Wales-based professionals. They range from emerging talent to established professionals.
The project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Carmarthenshire County Council. Full details and tickets are available here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/heart-of-wales-fringe-festival
