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Watch out for the pink suitcases popping up around Caernarfon this week as the town is taken over by a surprisingly different arts festival (28 Jun – 2 July) |
Spectacular circus, theatre, dance and music acts will fill Caernarfon Castle, Victoria Dock, the Town Square and Galeri Arts Centre as Hijinx Unity Festival returns for another five days packed with performances. Hosted for the first time this year in Caernarfon in partnership with Galeri, the Festival will showcase outstanding inclusive and disability arts performances from Spain, France, Germany, Belgium and across the UK from 28 June to 2 July.The Festival is distinctively different in that all of the companies performing at Hijinx Unity Festival feature artists who have physical or learning disabilities. The Festival was created by Welsh theatre company, Hijinx, to raise the profile of disabled and non-disabled artists working together as equals, and to surprise and delight audiences with truly remarkable performances. FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS Highlights of the 2017 line up include a weekend of free performances in and around Galeri (Sat 1 July) and on The Maes (Sun 2 July) in the centre of Caernarfon. Areas of the town will be transformed into eye-catching performance spaces, with more pop up venues on The Promenâd and in Palas Print bookshop. Headlining the weekend are dare-devil French circus artists Cirque Inextremiste with a breath-taking balancing act on The Promenâd. Elsewhere in town, they will be joined by German theatre company Blaumeier-Atelier, Seville-based dance company Danza Mobile, and Hijinx’s own pop-up theatre shows ‘The Pods’, to name but a few acts. Pioneers of accessible theatre for children, Taking Flight Theatre Company will bring a nautical feel to Shakespeare’s The Tempest which will be performed all around Victoria Dock. Join Unity @ Castell Caernarfon on Fri 30 June for four jam-packed hours of inclusive street theatre, flamenco and contemporary dance from Germany, Spain and Great Britain. The Festival also offers a ticketed programme of performances at Galeri from 28 June – 1 July, including: BoHo, a dystopian musical misadventure produced by Hijinx and Theatr Clwyd; I Belong, raw and un-tamed physical theatre from Belgian company Theater Stap; and a stunning flamenco double-bill from Seville-company Danza Mobile. HIJINX AND FRANTIC ASSEMBLY COLLABORATION Another highlight of the free performance programme is physical theatre show, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, produced by Hijinx in collaboration with Frantic Assembly (performances 30 June & 1 July in Galeri). Frantic Assembly are the renowned Movement Directors of the Broadway and West End hit show The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The 20 minute performance features a 20 strong cast of disabled and non-disabled actors, and will be the culmination of a two-week training residency under the tutelage of Frantic Assembly. ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Through a high quality programme of performing arts, the Festival promotes positive images of disability and social inclusion to audiences. Since its creation in Cardiff in 2008, it has grown to attract over 20,000 visitors a time from across Wales, the UK and Europe. 15 learning disabled actors from across North Wales, who are trained by Hijinx at their academy in Prestatyn, will be at the centre of a number of Festival performances. They will be joined by fellow Hijinx Academy actors from South and West Wales, for a celebration of inclusion that takes place in Caernarfon for the first time this year. Welsh Government, Economy Secretary, Ken Skates, said: “As we celebrate the Year of Legends in Wales this year, the Unity Festival promises to be a legendary event for north Wales – bringing the past to life at some of our iconic historical sites and giving people the platform to create their own legend during 2017. I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has been able to support the growth of this event.” Ben Pettitt-Wade, Hijinx’s Artistic Director, commented: “We are thrilled to be taking the Festival to Caernarfon this summer. The overwhelmingly positive reaction of the public, local community groups and schools to the Festival over the past nine years in Cardiff has been an inspiration and a catalyst for moving it north. We can’t wait to introduce the work of outstanding disabled performers to audiences in North Wales, and above all, provoke thought and discussion about the ability and potential of people who live with a disability.” PARTNER VENUE The award winning creative enterprise centre, Galeri in Caernarfon is the official venue partner of the Festival. Steffan Thomas, Marketing Director at Galeri, commented: “Galeri is delighted to be welcoming Unity Festival, one of Europe’s largest inclusive festivals, and the only one of its kind in Wales – to Caernarfon! What a great opportunity to promote positive images of disabilities whilst encouraging inclusivity within the arts, bringing international innovative artistic events to Galeri and the streets of Caernarfon!” FUNDERS Thanks to funding from Welsh Government’s Major Events Unit, the Arts Council of Wales, Cadw, Caernarfon Town Council and Gwyn & Mary Owen, Unity Festival is able to relocate to North Wales for the first time. The new location opens up opportunities to bring Hijinx’s inclusive ethos to new audiences, school communities and artistic collaborators in North West and North Wales and the North of England. Further information The Festival programme can be downloaded at www.hijinxunity.org.uk. Tickets are available at www.galericaernarfon.com. For future updates on Hijinx Unity Festival 2017 programme, visit the event website at hijinxunity.org.uk follow @HijinxTheatre on Twitter or on www.facebook.com/hijinxtheatre Cadwch eich llygaid ar agor am y cesys dillad pinc fydd yn ymddangos hwnt ac yma yng Nghaernarfon yr wythnos yma wrth i’r dref gael ei meddiannu gan ŵyl gelfyddydol ryfeddol o wahanol (28 Meh – 2 Gorff) Syrcas, theatr, dawns a pherfformiadau cerddorol ysblennydd yn llenwi Castell Caernarfon, Doc Fictoria, Sgwâr y Dref a Chanolfan Gelfyddydau Galeri wrth i Ŵyl Undod Hijinx ddychwelyd am bum niwrnod arall fydd yn llawn dop o berfformiadau. Cynhelir yr Ŵyl eleni yng Nghaernarfon, a hynny am y tro cyntaf, mewn partneriaeth â Galeri a bydd yn rhoi llwyfan i berfformiadau cynhwysol a pherfformiadau celfyddydol eithriadol gan bobl anabl o Sbaen, Ffrainc, Yr Almaen, Gwlad Belg a phob cwr o’r DU. Mae'r Ŵyl yn nodweddiadol wahanol am fod pob un o'r cwmnïau fydd yn perfformio yng Ngŵyl Undod Hijinx yn rhoi llwyfan i artistiaid sydd ag anableddau corfforol neu anableddau dysgu. Cafodd yr Ŵyl ei chreu gan y cwmni theatr Cymreig, Hijinx, gyda’r bwriad o godi proffil artistiaid anabl a’r rhai sydd heb fod yn anabl wrth iddyn nhw weithio gyda'i gilydd fel cydraddolion, ac er mwyn peri syndod i, a diddanu cynulleidfaoedd gyda pherfformiadau gwirioneddol ryfeddol. UCHAFBWYNTIAU’R ŴYL Mae uchafbwyntiau rhaglen 2017 yn cynnwys penwythnos o berfformiadau rhad am ddim yn, ac o amgylch Galeri (Sadwrn 1 Gorffennaf) ac ar Y Maes (Sul 2 Gorffennaf) yng nghanol tref Caernarfon. Bydd rhannau o'r dref yn cael eu trawsnewid yn fannau perfformio trawiadol, gyda lleoliadau mwy sbonc i fyny ar Y Promenâd ac yn siop lyfrau Palas Print. Prif atyniad y penwythnos fydd artistiaid mentrus syrcas Cirque Inextremiste o Ffrainc gyda’u sioe gydbwyso syfrdanol ar Y Promenâd. Mewn mannau eraill yn y dref, yn ymuno â nhw bydd chwmni theatr Blaumeier-Atelier o’r Almaen, Danza Mobile, cwmni dawns o Seville a sioeau theatr sbonc cwmni Hijinx ei hun - 'The Pods', i enwi ond rhai perfformwyr. Bydd Cwmni Theatr Taking Flight, arloeswyr theatr hygyrch i blant, yn dod â naws forwrol i ddrama Shakespeare ‘The Tempest’ gaiff ei pherfformio o gwmpas Doc Fictoria. Unity @ Castell Caernarfon (30 Meh 2017): Ymunwch â ni y tu mewn i furiau’r Castell am bedair awr llawn dop o theatr stryd gynhwysol, Flamenco a dawns gyfoes o'r Almaen, Sbaen a Phrydain Fawr. Mae'r Ŵyl hefyd yn cynnig rhaglen o berfformiadau tocyn yn Galeri o 28 Mehefin - 1 Gorffennaf, fydd yn cynnwys: anffawd gerddorol dystopaidd, cynhyrchiad gan Hijinx a Theatr Clwyd; theatr gorfforol amrwd ac afreolus gan Theater Stap, cwmni o Wlad Belg; a dwy ddawns fflamenco drawiadol gan gwmni Danza Mobile o Seville. CYDWEITHREDIAD RHWNG HIJINX A FRANTIC ASSEMBLY Un o’r uchafbwyntiau ychwanegol yn y rhaglen berfformio rad am ddim yw’r sioe theatr gorfforol, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, sy’n cael ei chynhyrchu gan Hijinx ar y cyd â Frantic Assembly (perfformiadau 30 Mehefin a 1 Gorffennaf yn Galeri). Frantic Assembly yw Cyfarwyddwyr Symud enwog y sioe The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time ddaeth yn ysgubol o lwyddiannus ar Broadway a'r West End. Mae’r perfformiad sy’n 20 munud o hyd yn rhoi llwyfan i gast o 20 o actorion anabl a rhai nad ydynt yn anabl, a dyma fydd penllanw cyfnod o hyfforddiant preswyl pythefnos o hyd dan diwtoriaeth Frantic Assembly. MANYLION AM ŴYL UNDOD HIJINX Mae pob un o'r cwmnïau fydd yn perfformio yng Ngŵyl Undod Hijinx yn cynnwys artistiaid sydd ag anableddau corfforol neu anableddau dysgu. Crëwyd yr Ŵyl gan Hijinx, y cwmni theatr Cymreig, er mwyn rhoi llwyfan proffil uchel i’r gwaith trawiadol sy’n cael ei wneud gan artistiaid anabl a phobl nad ydynt yn anabl wrth iddyn nhw weithio gyda'i gilydd fel cydraddolion. Trwy raglen ansawdd uchel o gelfyddydau perfformio, mae'r Ŵyl yn hybu delweddau cadarnhaol o anabledd a chynhwysiant cymdeithasol ymhlith cynulleidfaoedd. Ers ei chreu yng Nghaerdydd yn 2008, mae’r Ŵyl wedi tyfu i ddenu dros 20,000 o ymwelwyr y tro, a hynny o bob cwr o Gymru, y DU ac Ewrop. Bydd 15 o actorion ag anableddau dysgu o bob rhan o Ogledd Cymru, sy'n cael eu hyfforddi gan Hijinx yn ei academi ym Mhrestatyn, yn ganolbwynt i nifer o berfformiadau’r Ŵyl. Bydd cyd-actorion o Academi Hijinx o Dde a Gorllewin Cymru yn ymuno â nhw i ddathlu cynhwysiant – digwyddiad a gynhelir eleni yng Nghaernarfon, a hynny am y tro cyntaf. Dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ken Skates: “As we celebrate the Year of Legends in Wales this year, the Unity Festival promises to be a legendary event for north Wales – bringing the past to life at some of our iconic historical sites and giving people the platform to create their own legend during 2017. I’m delighted that the Welsh Government has been able to support the growth of this event.” Dyma ddywedodd Ben Pettitt-Wade, Cyfarwyddwr Artistig Hijinx: "Rydym wrth ein bodd ein bod yn mynd â’r Ŵyl i Gaernarfon Haf eleni. Mae’r ymateb hynod gadarnhaol gafwyd i’r Ŵyl gan y cyhoedd, grwpiau cymunedol lleol ac ysgolion yng Nghaerdydd dros y naw mlynedd diwethaf wedi bod yn ysbrydoliaeth ac yn gatalydd ar gyfer ei symud i’r Gogledd. Allwn ni ddim aros i gyflwyno gwaith perfformwyr anabl cwbl ragorol i gynulleidfaoedd yng Ngogledd Cymru, ac yn anad dim, er mwyn ysgogi meddwl a thrafodaeth am allu a photensial pobl sy'n byw gydag anabledd. " LLEOLIAD PARTNER Galeri, sef y ganolfan berfformio a'r celfyddydau gweledol yng nghanol Doc Fictoria, yw lleoliad partner swyddogol yr Ŵyl. Dywedodd Steffan Thomas, Cyfarwyddwr Marchnata Galeri: “Mae Galeri wrth ei fodd yn croesawu Gŵyl Unity, un o wyliau cynhwysol mwyaf Ewrop a’r unig un o’i fath yng Nghymru i Gaernarfon! Dyma gyfle gwych i hyrwyddo delweddau positif o anableddau gan annog cynhwysedd o fewn y celfyddydau gan ddod â gwaith rhyngwladol arloesol celfyddydol i Galeri ac i strydoedd y dref!” ARIANWYR Diolch i arian gan Uned Digwyddiadau Mawr Llywodraeth Cymru, Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, Cadw, Cyngor Tref Caernarfon a Gwyn a Mary Owen, mae Gŵyl Undod yn gallu adleoli i Ogledd Cymru, a hynny am y tro cyntaf. Mae'r lleoliad newydd hwn yn cynnig cyfleoedd i ddod ag ethos cynhwysol Hijinx i gynulleidfaoedd newydd, cymunedau ysgol a chydweithwyr artistig yng Ngogledd Orllewin a Gogledd Cymru ac yng Ngogledd Lloegr. Manylion Pellach Gellir lawr lwytho rhaglen yr Ŵyl yn www.hijinxunity.org.uk. Tocynnau ar gael yn www.galericaernarfon.com. I gael diweddariadau yn y dyfodol ar raglen Gŵyl Undod Hijinx 2017, ewch i’n gwefa 2017 PROGRAMME LISTINGS Weds 28 June 19.00 Hijinx Soup Galeri Free 20.00 Hijinx & Theatr Clwyd BoHo Galeri £10 (£7.50) Thurs 29 June 18.00 Ghost Buskers Community pop band Galeri Free 19.00 Dawns i bawb Community Dance Gala Galeri £6 Fri 30 June 10.00 – 14.00 Various performers Unity @ Y Castell Castell Caernarfon Free (usual Castell entry fees apply) 18.00 Cirque Inextremiste Extrêmités The Promenade, Caernarfon Free 19.00 Hijinx & Frantic Assembly Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Galeri Free 20.00 Theater Stap To Belong Galeri £10 (£7.50) age guide 16+ Sat 1 July 11.00 TwoCan Theatre TwoCan Toucan Palas Print bookshop Free 12.00 Taking Flight Theatre Company The Tempest Victoria Dock, Caernarfon Free 14.00-18.00 Various acts Unity @ Galeri In and around Galeri Free 14.00 TwoCan Theatre TwoCan Toucan Palas Print bookshop Free 16.00 TwoCan Theatre TwoCan Toucan Palas Print bookshop Free 18.00 Cirque Inextremiste Extrêmités The Promenade, Caernarfon Free 19.00 Hijinx & Frantic Assembly Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Galeri Free 20.00 Danza Mobile Bailo…Luego Existo / El Espejo Galeri £10 (£7.50) 21.30 Vaguely Artistic / Sound Express Festival Party Market Hall Free Sun 2 July 13.00 – 16.00 Various Acts Unity @ Y Maes Y Maes (Castle Square), Caernarfon Free 13.30 TwoCan Theatre TwoCan Toucan Palas Print bookshop Free 14.00 Taking Flight Theatre Company The Tempest Victoria Dock, Caernarfon Free 15.30 TwoCan Theatre TwoCan Toucan Palas Print bookshop Free 16.00 Cirque Inextremiste Extrêmités The Promenade, Caernarfon Free Ticket for performances at Galeri are available at: www.galericaernarfon.com 01286 685222 |
| Highjinx Theare web site: http://hijinxunity.org.uk/ |
| Vanessa Morse e-mail: Vanessa.Morse@hijinx.org.uk |
Saturday, June 24, 2017 |
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