Clêr Stephens reprises the role of Mags in Belonging 2018

As we near the end of another successful tour of Belonging around Wales and a visit to Ireland, Clêr shares her thoughts on families affected by dementia and reprising her role as Mags.

"As time goes on there will more and more older people and a higher number of those will be living with dementia. I’ve seen a few plays dealing with dementia and I think Belonging shows the ripple effect, there’s the person living with dementia and then there’s the family and the carers.

The character I play is Mags. She and Morys have been married 42 years. They met in their teens and are just one of those very down to earth couples who've worked hard all their lives, not big major ambitions, just steadfastly going through life and then they're suddenly faced with dementia.  They have no children so the next generation isn’t there to support them.

I don’t think there’s enough support for people living with dementia and their families at the moment, and it’s not going away, it’s very short-sighted. You can’t just chuck dementia in a box, shut the door and hope it’s going to go away. It’s not. Wake up!"

Mags (Clêr Stephens) and Morys (Llion Williams) on their wedding day

"I think the connection with my character, Mags comes from the fact that I have friends and family who have a connection to that world. I’ve seen how they’ve had to adjust their lives. I feel their frustration.

Re-Live haven’t done this play just so you can leave, get fish and chips on the way home and forget about it. I believe they help to spread the word, raise awareness and make connections between people going through similar circumstances. It’s not a play that says ‘goodbye we’re leaving you on your own’; they are very supportive of people in a long-term way.

If there’s someone who meets us and it changes the way they look at people with dementia, or we can show carers our support, then it’ll be worthwhile."

Belonging will be showing at The Borough Theatre, Abergavenny on Weds 6th June.                2pm & 7.30pm performances. 

Information and tickets here: https://boroughtheatreabergavenny.co.uk/events/belonging/

Mae Clêr Stephens yn atgoffa rôl Mags yn Perthyn 2018

Y cymeriad rwy’n chwarae yw Mags. Mae hi a Morys wedi bod yn briod am 42 mlynedd. Fe gwrddon nhw yn eu harddegau ac maen nhw jyst yn gwpl halen y ddaear sydd wedi gweithio’n galed trwy gydol eu bywydau, dim uchelgeisiau mawr, jyst yn mynd trwy fywyd ac yn sydyn dyma ddementia’n taro. Does ganddyn nhw ddim plant felly nid yw’r genhedlaeth nesaf yno i’w cefnogi nhw.

Wrth i amser fynd ymlaen, bydd mwy a mwy o bobl hŷn a bydd nifer uwch o’r rheini yn byw gyda dementia. Rwyf wedi gweld rhai dramâu yn mynd i’r afael â dementia ac rwy’n credu bod Perthyn yndangos yr effaith ehangach, mae’r person sy’n byw gyda dementia ac yna mae’r teulu a’r gofalwyr.

Dydw i ddim yn credu bod digon o gefnogaeth i bobl sy’n byw gyda dementia, a dydy cyflwr ddim yn mynd i ffwrdd. Wrth i ni heneiddio, mae mwy o bobl yn byw gyda dementia. Mae’n fyr-weledol iawn ar hyn o bryd. Ni allwch chi jyst taflu dementia mewn bocs, cau’r drws a gobeithio y bydd yn diflannu. Dyw e ddim. Deffrwch!

Morys (Llion Williams) and Mags (Cler Stephens)

Rwy’n credu bod y cyswllt gyda fy nghymeriad, Mags, yn dod o’r ffaith bod gennyf ffrindiau a theulu sydd â chysylltiad â’r byw hwnnw. Rwyf wedi gweld sut maen nhw wedi gorfod addasu’u bywydau.Rwy’n teimlo eu rhwystredigaeth.

Nid yw Re-Live wedi cynhyrchu’r ddrama hon jyst er mwyn i chi allu gadael, cael pysgod a sglodion ar y ffordd adref ac anghofio amdani. Rwy’n credu eu bod yn helpu lledaenu’r gair, i godi ymwybyddiaeth ac i greu cysylltiadau rhwng pobl sy’n mynd trwy sefyllfaoedd tebyg. Nid yw’nddrama sy’n dweud ‘hwyl fawr, rydym yn eich gadael ar eich pen eich hun’; maen nhw’n gefnogol iawn o bobl mewn modd hir dymor.

Os oes rhywun sy’n cwrdd â ni a bod hyn yn newid sut maen nhw edrych ar bobl gyda dementia, neu’n gallu dangos cefnogaeth i ofalwyr, bydd y cwbl werth yr ymdrech.

Mae Perthyn yn agor fory - 6 Mehefin - Borough Theatre, Abergavenny

Tocynnau a gwybodaeth yma: https://boroughtheatreabergavenny.co.uk/events/belonging/

Sion Pritchard joins Belonging for 2018 tour

Sion talks about his connection with dementia and why Belonging is important to him.

I have a connection to the issues that are dealt with in the play, because my dad was living with dementia for the last few years of his life. I wasn’t expecting to be reminded of lots of the stuff we experienced. Belonging really investigates that in a truthful, honest and humorous way.

My character is called Gareth and he is Sheila’s son. He seems to have his own life and he’s maybe in denial about his mother’s changes or struggling to accept that his mother is getting older and their relationship is changing. Gareth goes through a journey in the play where he begins to take on his responsibilities and learns that this can be a positive experience.

Gareth (Sion Pritchard) and Rhian (Karin Diamond) in Belonging

It’s important to me that Belonging looks at the idea of language. I think positive use of language can make a massive difference to someone’s care and quality of life. Welsh being a minority language in the UK means that it’s not always considered important. My niece is training to be a nurse and she is writing her dissertation on how the decline of the Welsh language in care impacts on older people. I hope that Belonging will help to raise awareness of the importance of Welsh language in healthcare provision.

I think this is the first time I’ve been in a play that will have a direct social impact and could actually change people’s lives.

Belonging is touring Wales from April 26. Please visit the Belonging page for venues and dates near you. http://www.re-live.org.uk/belonging/

Mae Sion Pritchard yn ymuno â Perthyn ar gyfer taith 2018

Mae gennyf gysylltiad â’r materion yr ymdrinnir â hwy yn y ddrama, oherwydd roedd fy nhad yn byw gyda dementia am ychydig flynyddoedd olaf ei fywyd. Doeddwn ddim yn disgwyl cael fy atgoffa o lawer o’r profiadau cawson ni. Mae Perthyn wir yn archwilio hynny mewn modd gwir, onest a llawn hiwmor.

Enw fy nghymeriad yw Gareth a fe yw mab Sheila. Mae’n ymddangos fel bod ganddo ei fywyd ei hun ac efallai ei bod yn gwrthod derbyn newidiadau ei fam neu’n cael trafferth derbyn bod ei fam yn heneiddio a bod eu perthynas yn newid. Mae Gareth yn mynd ar daith yn y ddrama ble mae’n cychwyn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am y sefyllfa a dysgu bod hyn yn gallu bod yn brofiad cadarnhaol.

Gareth (Sion Pritchard).

Mae’n bwysig i mi fod Perthyn yn edrych ar y syniad o iaith. Rwy’n credu bod defnydd cadarnhaol o iaith yn gallu gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr i ofal ac ansawdd bywyd unigolyn. Mae’r Gymraeg yn iaith leiafrifol yn y DU sy’n golygu ei bod ddim yn cael ei ystyried i fod yn bwysig o hyd.

Mae fy nith yn hyfforddi i fod yn nyrs ac mae hi’n ysgrifennu ei thraethawd estynedig ar sut mae dirywiad y Gymraeg yn y maes gofal yn effeithio ar bobl hŷn. Rwy’n gobeithio y bydd Perthyn yn helpu codi ymwybyddiaeth o bwysigrwydd y Gymraeg yn narpariaeth gofal iechyd.

Rwy’n credu mai dyma’r tro cyntaf i mi fod yn rhan o ddrama a fydd yn cael effaith gymdeithasol uniongyrchol a allai newid bywydau pobl.

Mae Perthyn yn teithio Cymru o fis Ebrill 26. Ewch i'r dudalen Perthyn am leoliadau a dyddiadau yn eich ardal chi. http://www.re-live.org.uk/perthyn

#Belonging2018 #Perthyn2018

Gillian Elisa joins Belonging cast

Following her recent appearance in S4C's Craith/Hidden Gillian joins the Belonging cast, playing the role of Sheila as the production tours Wales again in 2018.

Oh the last few days have been wonderful for me. This part has come out of the blue – and I feel really ready for it. I know a lot of companies are doing plays about dementia, but I felt so drawn to this script and especially the part that was offered.

My characters name is Sheila and she’s quite upbeat, she’s a survivor. She feels feisty! 

Sheila (Gillian Elisa) and Gareth (Sion Pritchard)

Sion Pritchard and I are the two new people in the cast, even though the original cast have performed it before they’re starting their own processes from scratch with us. This is a a new set up, a new pattern and a new journey. I’m really impressed that Peter Doran won Best Director and Llion Williams won Best Actor. I’ll have to pull my socks up!

I think Belonging will help a lot of people. I hope people can find things in it that they can draw upon and connect to. I think it would have helped me if it had been on when I was still caring for my brother.  My brother Alun died in November. He had dementia, but I somehow came through that. Two of my aunties also had it, so I’ve experienced the illness first hand. I thought ‘I can offer something here. I can help’. I like the humour in Belonging - humour is what kept my brother and I going. I think without humour this world wouldn’t be worth living in.

Sometimes you do get angry and frustrated when someone you love suddenly changes and you don’t know how you’re going to cope with it, but you do cope with it. You’re constantly learning, I even feel like I’m still learning now.

When I went through it with my family members I felt I was learning the hard way and I hope I can pass on my own experiences by doing this play to help other people.

Belonging is about to tour Wales from April 26. Please visit the Belonging page for venues and dates near you. 

 Mae Gillian Elisa yn ymuno â'r cast Perthyn

Yn dilyn ei ymddangosiad diweddar yn Craith / Hidden ar S4C, mae Gillian yn ymuno â'r cast Perthyn, gan chwarae rôl Sheila fel teithiau cynhyrchu Cymru eto yn 2018.

Mae’r ychydig ddiwrnodau diwethaf wedi bod yn wych i mi. Daeth y rhan hon allan o unman – ac rydw i wir yn teimlo’n barod ar ei gyfer. Rwy’n gwybod bod nifer o gwmnïau’n gwneud dramâu am ddementia, ond roedd rhywbeth deniadol iawn am y sgript yma ac yn enwedig am y rhan a gynigwyd i mi.

Enw fy nghymeriad yw Sheila ac mae hi’n berson go bositif, mae hi wedi goroesi llawer. Mae hi’n teimlo’n ewn! Rwy’n canfod ei chymeriad mwy a mwy wrth i ni ymarfer.

Sion Pritchard a finnau yw’r ddau berson newydd yn y cast, er bod y cast gwreiddiol wedi perfformio’r ddrama o’r blaen, maen nhw’n dechrau’r broses o’r dechrau gyda ni. Mae hwn yn drefniant newydd, yn batrwm newydd ac yn daith newydd. Rwy’n hynod falch bod Peter Doran wedi ennill Cyfarwyddwr Gorau a bod Llion Williams wedi ennill Actor Gorau. Bydd rhaid i mi weithio’n galetach!

Sian (Karin Diamond) and Sheila (Gillian Elisa)

Rwy’n credu bydd Perthyn yn helpu llawer o bobl. Rwy’n gobeithio bod pobl yn gallu gweld pethau yn y ddrama y gallant eu defnyddio a chysylltu â hwy. Rwy’n credu byddai hyn wedi fy helpu i pe byddai wedi bod ymlaen pan roeddwn dal i ofalu am fy mrawd. Bu fy mrawd Alun farw ym mis Tachwedd, roedd ganddo ddementia, ond rhywsut roeddwn i’n ffodus. Roedd gan ddwy o fy modrybedd y cyflwr hefyd, felly mae gennyf brofiad personol o’r cyflwr. Roeddwn i’n meddwl ‘Gallaf gynnig rhywbeth yma. Gallaf helpu’. Rwy’n hoffi’r hiwmor yn Perthyn ­– hiwmor oedd beth gadwodd fi a fy mrawd i fynd. Byddai dim gwerth byw yn y byd yma heb hiwmor yn fy marn i.

Weithiau rydych chi’n gwylltio neu gythruddo pan mae rhywun rydych yn ei garu yn newid yn sydyn a’ch bod ddim yn gwybod sut byddwch yn ymdopi gyda’r sefyllfa, ond rydych chi’n dysgu i ymdopi. Rydych chi’n dysgu o hyd, rydw i hyd yn oed yn teimlo fy mod yn dal i ddysgu nawr.

Pan es i drwy’r sefyllfa gydag aelodau o fy nheulu, roeddwn yn teimlo fy mod yn dysgu’r ffordd anodd ac rwyf yn gobeithio y gallaf basio fy mhrofiadau fy hun ymlaen trwy wneud y ddrama hon i helpu pobl eraill.

Mae Perthyn ar fin taith Cymru o fis Ebrill 26. Ewch i'r dudalen Perthyn am leoliadau a dyddiadau yn eich ardal chi.

#Belonging2018 #Perthyn2018

Llion Williams returns to Belonging

As Belonging returns to the stage this week, Llion Williams, winner of Best Actor for Belonging at the 2016 Wales Theatre Awards,  shares his thoughts about, acting, dementia, language and being back with the Re-Live team again.

It’s not something I do very often - returning to a production like this! But it always felt like a short tour last time; it always felt like we left it too early.

We’ve got a two new cast members this time, so that makes it fresh. Obviously it’s not going to be a complete reproduction of what we did before. I can see that it’s going to metamorphose into something different. And I love touring - I have gypsy blood I think! It’ll be a lovely experience to take it to Dublin as well as touring Wales - it’s always great to take Welsh art out of the country if you can and share it - show what we’re up to here in Wales.

Dementia seems to be a theme that comes up a lot in the theatre these days, but you feel in safe hands with Re-Live, because they work in the field of healthcare and art. You know there’s support behind you to take your performance forward. You know you can trust them.

The strength of Belonging lies in its simplicity. It’s a simple play, but there’s this truth about it that touches so many people’s lives. It doesn’t try to be something that it’s not and because of that people feel very close to it. I think people recognise themselves in it, which always makes the best theatre. Audiences can relate to it.

Llion Williams and Cler Stephens rehearsing at Chapter, Cardiff

Morys has dementia and is struggling with the English language, because that’s what tends to happen with dementia - you return to your native tongue. It’s going to be interesting taking it over to Ireland, because this happens with dementia all over the world and it’s a similar situation in Ireland as with Wales.

It’s very topical in Wales, this idea of bilingualism and the importance of care in the language a person is comfortable with. That’s something that’s really close to my heart. Morys takes that theme as a character. He’s from north Wales and has followed work down south, married a woman called Mags, who doesn’t speak Welsh, but when dementia sets in he returns to his native north Walean.

Llion Williams (Morys) and Cler Stephens (Mags) in Belonging

I play two characters in Belonging, Morys and Mike. No-one ever asks me about Mike, who’s the next door neighbour of Sheila. He can be misunderstood. There’s a comic element to him, which I love because it’s a contrast to the other work I’m doing in the play.

Last time we seem to have reached a lot of people who work in the healthcare profession, as well as theatre goers. I feel we’re actually reaching an audience that the production will have an impact on. They’re living with this, be they carers, be they healthcare professionals or families or people actually living with dementia themselves.

After performances we sometimes have feedback sessions with the audience, which they find very cathartic - I mean they’ve possibly sat and watched their own lives on stage and now they get to talk with other people in similar situations. There’s a lovely spirit to that side of the performance.

That kind of environment fosters a community. We all know someone know who’s affected by dementia. Some people might feel that they don’t want to come because it might be a bit close to the bone, but it’s totally the other way around; people feel that a heavy burden has been lifted after seeing the performance, so I really would encourage people who are affected by dementia or working in the healthcare profession to come, because I think they’ll get a good deal out of it.

I want to portray dementia in an honest way. I have been called on several times to talk at the Eisteddfod as a result of the awards last time, but I try to tell people that it’s just a matter of trying to portray it honestly and truthfully.

To me 90% of any actor’s preparation is drawing on your own experience. And of course the older you get the more experiences you have to draw upon - good or bad. You can talk about any technique that you like as an actor, but to me it’s getting out there in the world that’s the most effective tool. You can’t portray this world unless you get out there and live in it.

Belonging is about to tour Wales from April 26. Please visit the Belonging page for venues and dates near you.

Mae Llion Williams yn dychwelyd i Perthyn

Wrth i Perthyn ddychwelyd i'r llwyfan yr wythnos hon, mae Llion Williams, enillydd yr Best Actor am Perthyn yng Ngwobrau Theatr Cymru 2016, yn rhannu ei feddyliau am, actio, dementia, iaith a bod yn ôl gyda'r tîm Re-Live eto.

Nid yw’n rhywbeth rydw i’n gwneud yn aml – dychwelyd i gynhyrchiad fel hwn! Ond, roedd yn teilo fel taith fer y tro diwethaf; roedd yn teimlo fel ein bod wedi gorffen yn rhy fuan.

Mae gennym dau aelod newydd yn y cast y tro hwn, felly mae hynny’n gwneud pethau’n ffres. Yn amlwg, nid yw’n ail-gynhyrchiad llwyr o’r hyn wnaethon ni o’r blaen. Gallaf weld y bydd yn trawsnewid i mewn i rywbeth gwahanol. Ac rwyf wrth fy modd yn mynd ar daith – mae gennyf waed sipsiwn dwi’n credu! Bydd yn brofiad hyfryd mynd â’r ddrama i Ddulyn – mae bob tro’n wych mynd â chelf Gymreig allan o’r wlad os medrwch chi a’i rannu – dangos beth rydym ni’n gwneud yma yng Nghymru.

Mae dementia yn thema sy’n ymddangos yn aml yn y theatr y dyddiau hyn ond rydych yn teimlo eich bod mewn dwylo diogel gyda Re-Live, oherwydd eu bod yn gweithio ym meysydd gofal iechyd a chelf. Rydych chi’n gwybod bod yna gefnogaeth y tu ôl i chi i yrru’ch perfformiad ymlaen. Rydych yn gwybod eich bod yn gallu ymddiried ynddynt.

Morys (Llion Williams) and Mags (Cler Stephens)

Cryfder Perthyn yw ei symlrwydd. Mae’n ddrama syml, ond mae yna wirionedd ynddi sy’n cyffwrdd â bywydau cymaint o bobl. Nid yw’n ceisio bod yn rhywbeth nad ydyw ac am y rheswm hwnnw, mae pobl yn teimlo’n agos iawn ato. Rwy’n credu bod pobl yn gallu adnabod eu hunain yn y ddrama, a dyna’r math gorau o theatr i mi. Mae cynulleidfaoedd yn gallu ymdeimlo â’r bobl yn y ddrama.

Mae gan Morys ddementia ac mae’n cael trafferth gyda Saesneg, ond dyna beth sy’n tueddu i ddigwydd gyda dementia – rydych chi’n dychwelyd i’ch mamiaith. Mae’n mynd i fod yn ddiddorol mynd â’r ddrama draw i Iwerddon, oherwydd mae hyn yn digwydd gyda dementia ar draws y byd ac mae’r sefyllfa yn Iwerddon yn debyg i’r sefyllfa yng Nghymru.

Mae’n ddadleuol iawn yng Nghymru, y syniad yma o ddwyieithrwydd a phwysigrwydd gofal yn yr iaith mae’r person yn gyfforddus yn siarad. Mae hynny’n rhywbeth sy’n agos iawn at fy nghalon. Mae gan Morys y thema honno fel cymeriad. Mae’n dod o ogledd Cymru ac mae wedi dod i’r de am waith a phriodo menyw sydd ddim yn siarad Cymraeg, ond pan mae dementia’n taro, mae’n dychwelyd at siarad fel rhywun o’r gogledd.

Rwy’n chwarae dau gymeriad yn Perthyn. Does neb byth yn gofyn i mi am Mike, cymydog Sheila, un o’r prif gymeriadau eraill. Gall gael ei gamddeall. Mae elfen ddoniol iddo, ac rwy’n hoff o hyn oherwydd mae’n gyferbyniad i’w gwaith arall rwy’n gwneud yn y ddrama.

Y tro diwethaf, roedd yn ymddangos ein bod wedi cyrraedd llawer o bobl sy’n gweithio yn y proffesiwn gofal iechyd, yn ogystal â phobl sy’n hoff o fynd i’r theatr. Rwy’n teimlo ein bod yn cyrraedd cynulleidfa y bydd y cynhyrchiad yn cael effaith arnynt. Maen nhw’n byw gyda hyn, boed yn ofalwyr, yn weithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol, yn deuluoedd neu’n bobl sy’n byw gyda dementia eu hunain.

Ar ôl perfformiadau rydym weithiau’n cael sesiynau adborth gyda’r gynulleidfa, ac mae hyn yn gathartig iawn iddynt – wedi’r cwbl, mae’n bosib eu bod nhw newydd eistedd a gwylio eu bywydau eu hunain ar y llwyfan a nawr maen nhw’n cael cyfle i siarad â phobl eraill mewn sefyllfaoedd tebyg. Mae yna ysbryd hyfryd i’r ochr yna o’r perfformiad.

Mae’r math hwnnw o awyrgylch yn meithrin cymuned. Mae pawb yn adnabod rhywun sydd wedi cael ei effeithio gan ddementia. Mae’n bosib bod rhai pobl yn teimlo eu bod ddim eisiau dod oherwydd gallai’r peth fod yn rhy agos i’r gwir, ond i’r gwrthwyneb sy’n wir; mae pobl yn teimlo bod baich trwm wedi cael ei godi ar ôl gweld y perfformiad, felly baswn yn annog pobl sydd wedi’u heffeithio gan ddementia neu sy’n gweithio yn y proffesiwn gofal iechyd i ddod, oherwydd rwy’n credu y byddant yn buddio ohono.

Rwyf eisiau portreadu dementia mewn modd onest. Rwyf wedi cael sawl cais i siarad yn yr Eisteddfod yn dilyn y gwobrau diwethaf, ond rwy’n ceisio dweud wrth bobl mai mater o geisio cyfleu’r cyflwr mewn modd onest a gwir yw hi.

I fi, 90% o waith paratoi unrhyw actor yw tynnu ar eich profiadau’ch hun. Ac wrth gwrs, yr hynaf ydych chi, y mwyaf o brofiadau sydd gennych chi i’w defnyddio – rhai da neu wael. Gallwch siarad am unrhyw dechneg y mynnwch chi fel actor, ond i mi bod allan yn y byd go iawn yw’r dechneg fwyaf defnyddiol. Ni allwch chi bortreadu’r byd hwn oni bai bod gennych brofiad ohono

Mae Perthyn ar fin taith Cymru o fis Ebrill 26. Ewch i'r dudalen Perthyn am leoliadau a dyddiadau yn eich ardal chi

#Belonging2018 #Perthyn2018

#MeToo Wales: Stories from the Creative Industries

Following the outpouring of #MeToo stories from people who have experienced sexual harassment and abuses of power in the creative industries, Re-Live with support from Sherman Theatre will curate a bilingual event in which stories on this subject are heard for the first time in Wales.

The stories will be read by actors to an audience in the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff on Saturday Nov 25th. The stories will have all names, sensitive information and identifying details redacted, ensuring confidentiality and removing legal risk.

The aim of the event is to provide an opportunity for these stories to be witnessed by an audience followed by a discussion on how we work together to bring about change in the creative industries in Wales.

For more information about this event:

http://www.re-live.org.uk/metoo/

An exciting opportunity to work with Re-Live! Cyfle cynhyrfus i weithio gyda Re-Live!

We are looking for an experienced and meticulously organised individual with exceptional administrative coordination and marketing skills to join our small charity and to take the lead in co-ordinating our new training programme.

Please click on the link to find out more:

http://www.re-live.org.uk/training-programme-for-arts-practitioners/

‘Rydym yn chwilio am berson profiadol a thu hwnt o drefnus gyda sgiliau gweinyddol a sgiliau chydlynnu heb eu hail i ymuno â’n tîm elusenol bychan ac i gydlynnu’r rhaglen hyfforddi newydd. 

Cliciwch ar y ddolen i ddarganfod mwy:

http://www.re-live.org.uk/training-programme-for-arts-practitioners/

Coming Home Company perform @ Mental Health Arts Festival

The Coming Home Company will be sharing a powerful evening of song, spoken word and film as part of the Wales Mental Health Arts Festival on Wednesday November 23rd.

Performed by military veterans affected by post-traumatic stress, family and community members, and featuring uplifting performances from the Coming Home Choir, this will be a unique and memorable evening. 

We are excited to be part of the Wales Mental Health Arts Festival, which is challenging stigma and celebrating the power of creativity in mental health.

You can book tickets following the link below and please spread the word to friends and colleagues.

https://goo.gl/MnLkSa

Coming Home

Weston Studio, Wales Millennium Centre

Weds November 23rd 2016 @ 7.30pm

This project is supported by the Community Covenant Fund.

Invitation to Veterans and Family members of veterans

Coming Home to the Arts is now in its second year and we are inviting new veterans and family members to join our creative programme. Based at Chapter, Cardiff this is a friendly, supportive project where members of the local community and veterans and families come together to support one another in a positive way.

We start back on Friday 23rd September and runs for 10 Fridays until Dec 2nd. Participants are invited to take part in the whole day or half day.

Structure of the day:

11am - 1pm Coming Home Choir (open to veterans, family members and anyone from the wider community who would like to support) No previous singing experience required.

LUNCH

1.30pm -3.30pm Theatre based groupwork

The afternoon sessions are an opportunity for veterans and family members to explore issues affecting their wellbeing through theatre, reflective writing and discussion. This group is suitable for people wishing to explore ways of moving forward. This is a rolling group and new members can join at any time, but we invite you to commit to a 10 week programme.

This is not a therapy programme, this is an opportunity to:

• Build your confidence and meet new people
• Explore some of your thoughts and feelings in a supportive group environment
• Learn new coping skills and identify goals for the future
• Boost your mood by taking part in something positive and creative

The project is led by Alison O’Connor, an experienced groupworker and counsellor.

At the end of the 10 weeks there will be an invitation to contribute to a performance at the Mental Health Arts Festival. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of the issues around mental health for veterans and their families.

If you are interested in taking part, contact Alison on 07738 259906 for a chat or email alison@re-live.og.uk.

If you would like to speak to a veteran about his experience of the programme contact Dave on 07794 197253.

Belonging/Perthyn connects with audiences across Wales!

The response to Belonging/Perthyn has been incredible. Audiences across Wales have truly connected with this piece of work and critics have responded with 5 star reviews. Thank you to everyone who came to support this new play about living with dementia. We hope Belonging/Perthyn can tour again next year, watch this space.

Belonging rehearsals underway!

It was a fantastic first week of rehearsals for the Belonging team. We are delighted to welcome guest director, the award-winning Peter Doran to the Re-Live camp! He has a superb cast and crew to guide through the next few weeks of rehearsal and discovery. We were delighted to bring in a variety of dementia experts from our Memoria project to share their experiences with the actors. There is a strong desire from the whole creative team to ensure their portrayals of families living with dementia and the roads they navigate are truthful, respectful and accurate. Can’t wait till May 2nd when the first audiences will see this brand new production and then the tour of Wales begins. Get your tickets now!