Theatr Brycheiniog Opens Cultural Cafe along with a Renewed Purpose

Theatr Brycheiniog are poised ready to return and until performances are allowed, are delighted to be reopening the stage and auditorium as a super-socially distanced café.

The Cultural Café Installation is a celebration of the wonderful myriad of people who would usually utilise the space at Theatre Brycheiniog. A whole cross section of the community in Brecon make use of the theatre for numerous activities, from Tai chi to Taiko Drumming, Ballet Dancing to Band Practice. While the theatre is in limited use those groups of people cannot be as present as they would like to be in the space. In response to this, artist and theatre designer Harry Pizzey has created an installation which depicts sixty members of the Theatre Brycheiniog community from eighteen different user groups making them present once again in the building. These portraits are displayed in the auditorium in a huge sky-like blue arch as a reminder of the amazing range of activities and people that would normally occupy the theatre and will continue to do so when restrictions are lifted.  

Harry said “we hope that the Cultural Café can prove to be a positive force for the championing of the arts in Brecon during this challenging time and a space to relax and socialise whilst supporting your local theatre.”

During February Theatr Brycheiniog also filmed a new short work, written by local celebrated playwright Owen Thomas. Frequent visitors to Brycheiniog’s stage Gareth John Bale and Louise Collins joined the project with another local professional, Director Phil Clark, to create a wonderful performance recording all within Covid-secure measures. When The Night Fell is Owen’s vision of hope, and will be available to watch in full as part of the cultural café.

Owen Thomas, who wrote the breath taking piece let us into his thoughts behind the performance “I was approached by David at Theatr Brycheiniog to ask if I wanted to write a short theatre piece that reflects both the experience we have all gone through over the last 12 months, but also a piece that offers some hope. We have all been through and lost so much. The inspiration took the form of the night. The fact that a night can be long, and it can be incredibly dark, but that morning does come, and the sun does rise. This is something we can all relate to. I think we’ve all had quite enough of the night we are currently enduring and we are all waiting patiently for the morning to break and offer us some relief.”

Theatr Brycheiniog were privileged to have local theatre director Phil Clark also involved in the project. Phil has created work throughout Britain as well as on Broadway and Sydney Opera House. However as a teenager he was a member of Brecon Little Theatre, The Westenders and the legendary Llynsafaddan Players. Speaking about his involvement in directing When The Night Fell, Phil tells us “I really like Owens’ poem for the two voices. It reflects how the world is in this pandemic. A world of darkness needing light. That is similar to theatre going. We put our audience into darkness and then take them on a journey into light. I think Owens’ poem is full of hope.”

Theatr Director David Wilson says “the pandemic caused the venue to close, in line with government instructions, and the majority of the staff team needed to be furloughed. We are immensely grateful to the authorities, UK Government, Welsh Government and ACW for developing rescue funding and the cultural recovery programme. The Trustees and staff team, whilst juggling the challenges of the pandemic, the stay-at-home measures and school closures, attempted to put Theatr Brycheiniog in the best position possible. The cultural café makes superb use of our main space at a time when the full return of audiences is still some way off.”

David continues “we can’t wait to welcome visitors to this new experience of Theatr Brycheiniog and challenge their expectations of what they know about the Theatr and what they believe we are able to offer. Our much-loved building is so much more than just a stage and auditorium, it is also a home to so many of our community groups and a place to experience art and of course culture. We look forward to being able to bring them back safely, and we long for the end of the pandemic when the building can buzz again with all their excellent activity.”

Theatr Brycheiniog is also funded by the Arts Council of Wales, Powys County Council and Brecon Town Council. 

 -Ends-