Barry woman's bid to bring theatre project to town (From Barry And District News)

Barry woman's bid to bring theatre project to town

12:20pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News By Chris Seal

A BARRY woman is appealing for votes in a bid to bring a National Theatre Wales performance to the town.

Dorothy Connell, of Buttrills Road, hopes that if her proposal to the National Theatre Wales Assembly Project is successful, it will also bring local groups together to help organise a bid for a community arts centre in the town.

Dorothy, who is Chair of the Canolfan Porthceri Centre group, wants to encourage debate between Canolfan Porthceri, the Save Our Cinema Association and local history groups campaigning for a town museum.

And if her bid for the performance project wins, a team from National Theatre Wales will spend a month in Barry working with the community, culminating in a bespoke piece of theatre designed to resolve the problem, or answer the question posed in the original proposal.

That question is: "Can groups in Barry work together to access Regeneration funds before the money runs out?"

Dorothy said: "It would be great if we could discuss this to find a way forward for all the different groups."

The winning project will receive a week of rehearsals, three trained performers/artists, a director, a production team and a small production budget. The performance would take place on March 23.

"The team would come here to help organise a piece of theatre about Barry and our proposal," added Dorothy.

"They would choose somewhere to perform the piece, be it in an empty pub, shop, Central Park, King Square – wherever they think suitable."

It is hoped that if the perormance does come to Barry, it will encourage debate between local groups about the ideal location for a community arts centre, and increase the chances of funding from the Barry Regeneration Area Board.

"When you are asking for public money you have to show that you are consulting with the local community," she said.

"This could be the catalyst to stimulate discussion and bring different groups together."

Steve Williams, a committee member of Canolfan Porthceri Centre, added: "Windsor Road United Reformed Church could provide a home for the arts centre that we want.

"Part of the museum could be put in there, as well as the SOCA group having a cinema club in there too for a few times a month.

"It could become a home for a lot of groups that are struggling."

Fellow committee member Pat Temple-Murray added: "Vale of Glamorgan Artists (VOGA) are quite keen to join too and would like to have a permanent exhibition space for their work."

To vote for Barry in the National Theatre Wales Assembly Project go to http://assembly.nationaltheatrewales.org/ Voting closes on February 12.

A public meeting about the progress of Canolfan Porthceri Centre's bid for Windsor Road United Reformed Chrurch will be held on February 11 at 10am. It will be chaired by Cllr Rhodri Traherne, Vale Cabinet member for Economic Development and Regeneration and chair of the Barry Regeneration Board. For more information go to www.porthceri.co.uk/blog