Training courses galore! Two courses available within the GDL region this week - on the same day: Saturday 24th July 2010.

In the Howardian Centre in Cardiff, The Unknown Theatre Company are running a special day of creative courses for young people including performance poetry, and writing your own musical. Fee £10 for the whole day! For full information see The Unknown Theatre Company's website: www.unknowntheatre.co.uk

--------------------------

And on the same day in Neath, there's a Clowning Workshop for adults. This is what course organiser Damian Healy (well known to Neath Little Theatre audiences) has to say:

(please note: The Clowning outlined here is not connected with circus tradition clowning, but focused on performance clowning and comedy - the course is designed to cultivate the intuitive performer.)

"Laughter is the best medicine... well, at least that's what that dead guy said... In this one day workshop we will be exploring laughter and clowning - not silly shoes, and wigs - but the fun and simplicity of being ridiculous in the space - it is about play. I will be focusing on the individual, and what makes you funny - exploring individual quirks, and just what it is that makes us so ludicrously unique. How we are the clown in our daily lives - and how often we don't realise!

The workshop will be light-hearted, and playful - with plenty of laughs thrown in. It is suitable for all skill levels, but will be tailored to those unfamiliar with clowning. For those interested in theatre it will be of great benefit to performance, and for those who are not, it will be a great confidence builder and a good laugh. "

There are 20 places available, and will cost - £20 per person. 18+ only.
Venue: Neath YMCA, Neath, South Wales.
Please email damian-healy@live.co.uk for more information, and to reserve a place.

Once again, Ian Sarginson GODA was our adjudicator for the Glamorgan One-Act Play Festival, held in Swansea's Dylan Thomas Theatre, 22-24 April.

There was stiff competition, but winners had to be chosen, and in the end it was Telstars Theatre Company's night, winning Best Adult Production for Ritual for Dolls - and other awards. The Unknown Theatre Company picked up the Youth Award for Cotton Girls.

Offstage, outside influences made this the most eventful and unpredictable festival in recent years. The full story and details of winners is now available. Photos to follow shortly.

Following the trend of recent years, two GDL productions - Telstars' Ritual for Dolls and The Unknown Theatre Company's Cotton Girls - made it through to the Wales Final Festival of One-Act Plays, held in Swansea on 4 & 5 June.

(Another GDL production, Gelligaer Young Farmers' Lear's Daughters, was the reserve production, in case any of the invited shows was unable to perform.)

And we had a great night: Telstars picked up the presentation award, and The Unknown Theatre Company won the festival, and went on to represent Wales at the British Final at the end of the month.

And while the girls from Unknown - the first youth company to represent Wales at the British Final - gave undoubtedly their best ever performance of Cotton Girls, it was Ireland's night, with the Howard de Walden deservedly going to the excellent production of Melody by Deirdre Kinahan, from Lurig Drama Group.

The Drama Association has circulated some important information about the Olympic .380 BBM Revolver - as it fires blanks it may be used in stage productions. They guns are being reclassified as illegal and need to be handed in. Find out more in the pdf released by the Metropolitan Police.

Plays receiving a 'rave' critique can be recommended by the service readers to DAW for consideration for publication though DAW does not accept any obligation to publish.

For further information, contact DAW at on 029 2045 2200, or via email at teresa@dramawales.org.uk or see their website www.dramawales.org.uk.

07.01.08

updated 17.03.10