Do you remember Welsh theatre company Brith Gof?Did you see its production Gernika! at the National Eisteddfod in Llangefni in 1983 or Pax in Aberystwyth railway station in 1991? Did you perform with the company? Are you interested in contributing to an oral history of innovative theatre in Wales? The Department of Theatre, Film and Television, University of Wales and the National Library of Wales announces a major collaborative project, involving staff from both institutions. Background Between 1981-2002 Brith Gof developed ground breaking approaches to theatre making in Wales and beyond: its productions included physical theatre, devised performance, site-specific work, bilingualism. The company also pioneered sophisticated forms of documentation such as self-published booklets and the recording of large-scale performances for television broadcast. The National Library of Wales is the current custodian of a substantial deposit of material on the company’s work, in multiple formats and a variety of media: video, film, photographs and slides, audio tapes, plans, drawings, scenarios, scripts and note-books… Continuing academic, professional and popular interest in Brith Gof mark this as a unique and invaluable national resource. Aim The aim of the collaboration is to increase access to the multi-media archive of Brith Gof and to enhance appreciation of the historical, cultural and aesthetic significance of an important Welsh theatre company of the 1980s and 1990s. Events A key feature of the project is a series of public and participatory one-day events to be staged over the next twelve months under the title Rhwng Cof ac Archif/Between Memory and Archive. Each event will focus on particular productions from different periods in the company’s history and will include the participation of former company members – directors, performers, technicians and administrators – as well as funders, critics and academic researchers. Through presentations, interviews and discussions, practical demonstrations and the showing of a range of surviving documentation especially copied and prepared at the National Library – videos, photographs, plans, drawings, production notes – the aim is to re-evoke the productions for a contemporary audience. But what survives? And what is thrown away? What is remembered? And what is forgotten? Is there a conflict or contradiction between memory and archive? In order to bridge the gap between material preserved in the archive and what is remembered, we are seeking contributions from those who witnessed the original productions. Each event will provide an opportunity to contribute: – in discussion – in a video diary room – on a paper questionnaire. Events will be bi-lingual with full simultaneous translation. But can we ever conjure up the spirit of the times? What was it like in Wales in 1983? The intention is to create an oral record of happenings up to twenty-five years ago. Each event will be videoed and the material deposited in the National Library as part of the Brith Gof archive. It will also contribute to new initiatives in digital archiving being undertaken by the Department and the Library. And does the work still have relevance? Could it inspire a new generation of young theatre makers? Whether you were there at the time or are simply interested in the history and work of Brith Gof, you are cordially invited to attend. All events are free. Programme In the first event on Saturday 13 October 2007 company founders Lis Hughes Jones and Mike Pearson introduce three early works from the period when the company was housed in the Barn Centre in Aberystwyth: Gernika! (1983), based on the destruction of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War and created with the Welsh National Theatre in Llangefni; Ymfudwr (1983) which focused on the emigrant experience and which was performed in Argentina, Italy, Poland, Eire and Spain; and Rhydcymerau (1984) inspired by the work of Welsh writers Gwenallt and D.J. Williams. Event I: Saturday 13 October 10am-4.30pm Gwthio'r ffiniau: Ymfudwyr (1983), Gernika! (1983) Rhydcymerau (1984) The Foundry Studio, Parry-Williams Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth Event 2: Saturday 1 December 10am-4.30pm Pax: Aberystwyth Railway Station (1991) Y Drwm, National Library of Wales; Aberystwyth Station Events are organised for the Department of Theatre, Film and Television by Prof Mike Pearson and Margaret Ames. For further details please contact: Louise Ritchie Email: llr@aber.ac.uk Telephone: 01970-621506 |
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| Louise Rtchie e-mail: llr@aber.ac.uk |
Monday, September 24, 2007 |
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