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Founded in 1934 and a registered charity since 1973, the Association offers a wide and varied range of services to Community Drama. Among others, members include amateur and professional theatre practitioners, educationalists and playwrights.
Individual Membership starts from just £16 and Group Membership starts from £36.
The largest specialist Drama Lending Library in the World. Over 300,000 volumes of plays, biographies, critical works and technical theatre books including the entire Playsets and Lending collections of the former British Theatre Association. Members in the UK, Europe and worldwide are served by return of post from Cardiff.
A local hire service for stage drapes and a good photocopying and basic typesetting & printing service. DAW provides information and networking services to the whole range of participatory drama. It gives practical help and advice on current legislative policy governing good practice within the voluntary arts, assists with regional organisation and sometimes gives or obtains grants for members. An increasing part of DAW’s work is providing help, advice and evaluation relating to schemes seeking funding from the National Lottery.
SUMMER SCHOOL 2008
Tutors: Phil Clark and Becky Gould
THE TUTORS
This year’s course should be a humdinger! Following the positive feedback we received from last year’s Summer School we have invited Phil Clark back to tutor on this year’s course. Phil has worked extensively in the UK and Europe as a Director and established Britain’s largest annual Youth Theatre Festival. From 1990 to 2006 he was Artistic Director of the Sherman Theatre Company in Cardiff where he directed nationally and internationally to all scales of audience, prioritising new writing and commissioning some 104 new plays for the company. Phil directed over 45 productions for the Sherman Theatre Company for the stage, TV and radio. Phil teaches regularly at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Actors’ Centre London, Tishe School of Performing Arts New York and the National Association of Youth Theatre’s Summer Festival.
He will be co-tutoring with Rebecca Gould. Rebecca is a Theatre Director and Producer who has specialised in directing new plays. Until recently she was Associate Director at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Currently she is a Learning Associate at the RSC, where she is directing a new national initiative, leading to a Celebration Festival in Stratford in July. She is also currently directing her second show for Adverse Camber, which tours nationally in the Spring.
She has recently directed as an Education Associate at the National Theatre. She was director of the English Shakespeare Company's Education Company and Associate Director of Made in Wales Theatre Company, Cardiff.
She's produced and directed productions and festivals internationally and also co-founded Tinderbox Consultants which worked closely with the Wellcome Trust, setting up a series of 'Imaging the Future' new writing Festivals which foster a wider awareness of advances in science, in dramatic and dynamic new ways.
Summer School 2008 will explore plays with BIG ideas. Working in groups, participants will discover the poetics and structure of the language of plays that ensures vital theatre.
So often during short rehearsal periods, amateur theatre companies are forced to work to tight deadlines. The advantage of a week-long summer school is that it allows the artists to experiment with new, challenging and exciting rehearsal techniques that can invigorate a pressured rehearsal period. The course will encourage the artist to be brave and experiment with new rehearsal techniques that could lead to a more ambitious theatre making process.
Using techniques of Brainstorming, Unitting, Actioning and the discovery of short term and super objectives alongside character motivation the participant will investigate a number of classic and popular texts for large groups of actors with a view to creating exciting, relevant theatre.
At the end of the week there will be the opportunity to show back the work created.
Swansea University is set in rolling parkland overlooking the majestic sweep of Swansea Bay. The campus is a stone’s throw from the old fishing village of Mumbles, whose unique seaside atmosphere is complemented by a vibrant social scene. Travel just a few minutes in the other direction and you reach the Maritime Quarter, a modern waterfront village complete with restaurants, art gallery, theatre and a busy marina.
The Gower Peninsula, Britain’s first “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”, is within easy reach from the University. Unspoilt beaches and dramatic cliff top views provide a stunning location for water-sports, cycling and walking.
Swansea University is easily accessible by road, rail, sea and air. Cardiff International Airport is less than an hour away and the M4 motorway, the main east-west arterial route from London, passes through the northern outskirts of Swansea. Swansea railway station is on the main West coast line from London Paddington, less than 3 hours away. There are also frequent ferry crossings from Swansea to Cork in the Republic of Ireland.
The week involves a schedule of hard work but, as ever on DAW Summer Schools, we don’t forget the social life. An “Escape Committee” will be organising extra mural activities to help unwind at the end of a packed day.
PRICES START FROM JUST £420!
DAW Individual Member rate £420
Non member rate £450
And we can even offer the facility to spread your payments to make things a little easier.
For full course details contact: Gary Thomas
Drama Association of Wales
The Old Library, Singleton Road, Cardiff CF24 2ET
(T) 029 2045 2200 (E) aled.daw@virgin.net
supported by the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government
SUMMER SCHOOL 2006 – ACTING SKILLS: Creating that Element of Magic
We returned to Lampeter University in August for our 2006 Theatre Summer School. Rather than singing our own praises on the successes of the course, we asked two of our attendees to give us their thoughts on how it went for them.
Steve has been to several of our Summer Schools in the past and Wendy was not only new to Summer School but new to drama too. We thought it would be interesting to find out what the “old hand” and the “newbie” made of our latest theatre training project.
FINDING THE MAGIC by Steve Vernon
It is said that if you have enjoyed something or somewhere in the past, you should never revisit it for you are bound to be disappointed. I used to be a regular attendee at Summer School in the dim and distant past at Brecon & Atlantic College. I learned huge amounts about drama and acting and had fantastic fun. After a bit of a lay off, other than a brief sojourn two years ago, I decided to go to this year’s course in Lampeter.
Was it as good as I remember?… You betcha!
OK, so the rooms are not the Hilton, but there is an en-suite option. The beds are designed for full length adults and the mattresses aren’t wrapped in a plastic bag (those who remember Brecon will smile – or wince, whichever!). As for the Lampeter food… (remember Steve – try to be positive), let us say, you are unlikely to put on weight (see, there can be a positive side!).
As for the course: brilliant, as ever!
This year’s tutors Janys Chambers and Kevin Dyer are working Actors/Writers/Directors and brought an up to date freshness to proceedings. Faced with a large group (34) they managed to juggle getting everyone to work together whilst breaking into smaller groups at times in order to give everyone a chance to present their work and to benefit from the guidance and expertise Janys and Kevin brought. Owing to limited work spaces available in the university Gary and Aled had to utilise a hall a short walk from the campus. This caused some problems for some people with mobility problems, but needs must, as they say. This meant that there were some problems with people unsure about which workspace they were working in for the next session and the necessary organic nature of the course, not being too rigidly timetabled, caused problems to some attendees but generally we all adapted very well.
Did it achieve its aims? Yes, wholeheartedly so! We learnt new techniques and confidence to explore deeper into our use of “truth” – not “acting”. The “sharing” at the end of the week, where we all presented some of the things we had been working on and watched our fellow students was, to coin an oft over used modern phrase, “awesome”. It was a privilege to see so many talented and committed people and to see how some had grown in confidence since the beginning of the week.
Why should you go if you haven’t been before? It is a week of positive, supportive energy, a terrific learning experience, enormous fun, and addictive. The bonding that occurs naturally during the week is intense and the emotional farewells are like trying to separate super glue.
Should you go? NO! (Because if you all do, there might not be room for me to go again!)
IN AT THE DEEP END by Wendy Ward
What an extraordinary experience! Having never performed in a theatre before, I did fear that I would be totally out of my depth and slightly intimidated by the course, but instead I was made to feel very welcome by all.
It was unusual to feel detached from the real world (but not a bad thing!) being pretty much confined to campus. The entire week was a unique experience, totally new to me and the emotional effect of the week, culminating the final day was not what I had anticipated. It was as though I was leaving my new family. I did reflect that perhaps I had been a guinea pig in the DAW thespianic ‘Big Brother’ house.
The course tutors Janys and Kevin were marvellous. They were professional, passionate and totally dedicated. Each day was intensive and packed full of various activities. The majority of which was a revelation to me, the group exercises especially. Unable to hide when it was ‘my turn’ any initial fears of embarrassment due to my relative inexperience were quickly dissolved, as on each occasion I was rewarded with insightful advice and support. Not only did Kevin and Janys deliver expert tuition, their ability to draw out hidden talents from each of us meant that the week balanced both individual and group development.
The organisers, Aled and Gary (or is it Gareth?!) worked very hard in planning the night time activities, allowing the students to relax and interact, all of us having been fed and watered at the college refectory, I know now the diversity of recipes that can be adapted to include rice!
The week’s social activities, ranging from quizzes and games through to our being unleashed on an unsuspecting Lampeter for a treasure hunt, culminated in a fancy dress extravaganza; top marks for Kevin and Janys in throwing modesty to the wind and getting those swimming cozzies out!
Our final exercise, in which we presented our item of personal significance brought from home, was perhaps the most profound for me. I will definitely honour my pledge to join an amateur dramatics society, drive forward my acting ambitions and polish the skills that I learnt from tutors and colleagues alike whilst at Lampeter.
I would recommend the course to anyone with the acting bug, from untried novices to experienced players.
Some photos from the 2006 Summer School
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To identify and nurture the next generation of dramatists DAW runs several New Writing schemes – Script Reading Service, Playwriting Competition, Workshops of Work-in-Progress and support for first productions. An archive of newly commissioned and professionally performed work has been established within the DAW library. This body of new drama is promoted in order to achieve further productions. Plans are in hand for a UK National Archive of New Writing in Cardiff.
LAUNCH OF DAW'S 2008 ONE ACT PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
This week sees the launch of the DRAMA ASSOCIATION OF WALES’ One Act Playwriting Competition 2008. The competition aims to encourage the writing of plays for amateur theatre in English and Welsh. In addition to cash awards, prize-winning plays will be considered for publication. Previous prizewinners have been published and performed as a result of promotion through our New Writing Scheme.
THE WINNING PLAY IN EACH CATEGORY WILL RECEIVE A CASH PRIZE OF £200 AND BE CONSIDERED FOR PUBLICATION
PLAYING TIME: 20-50 MINS
MINIMUM CAST OF TWO
An Adjudicating Panel appointed by the Drama Association of Wales will read and consider the plays entered into the Competition and will award the following prizes:
For application forms, please contact Teresa at the Drama Association of Wales (DAW) on Cardiff +44 (0) 29 2045 2200 or email Teresa.
The competition is held to promote the writing of One Act plays in English and Welsh. The closing date for entries to the competition is January 31st 2008.
THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO EVERYONE. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED FROM ENTERING IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE WALES WE RECEIVE ENTRIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
On Friday 1st June, the result of the Drama Association of Wales' One Act Playwriting Competition was announced at Theatr Hafren, Newtown, Powys.
This year the Drama Association of Wales received 198 entries, not only from Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland, but also from France, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, the USA and Canada. Thanks to everyone at 'Amdram.co.uk' for your assistance in helping to distribute our information yet again.
The results are as follows:
Winner Of Best Play For A Youth Cast 16-25 Years:
'Another August 919' by Monika Johnson'
from Nottingham
Winner Of Best Play in the Open Section:
'Rosie’s Shoes' by Audrey Ringrose
from London
Winner Of Best Play in the Welsh Language:
'Câr Dy Gymydog' by Manon Wyn Williams
from Llangefni, Anglesey
Winner Of Best Play by a Wales Based Playwright:
'Snakes and Ladders' by Don Rodgers
from Bryncoch, Neath
All playwrights have been sent a result letter with the adjudication of the plays that reached the final stages in their section. The winner of the top three sections will now be published.
Congratulations to the winners and those who made the short list, but our thanks go to all playwrights who sent their work to us.
If you would like an application form for the 2008 Playwriting Competition and a chance to see your work published; or further information on the Drama Association of Wales, please contact Teresa on (T) +44 (0) 29 20452200 (F) +44 (0) 29 2045 2277, email ‘FAO Teresa’ at aled.daw@virgin.net
SPONSORED BY TECHNOCOVER
To date, the Association has published well over seventy plays in both English and Welsh. Scripts are identified through a Script Reading Service and Playwriting Competition. The titles are made available for purchase and productions encouraged among amateur drama companies.
Published four times a year – News, Views, Advice, Dates, Competitions and each edition includes an eight page pull-out Library Supplement giving reviews of all the additions to the Library.
DAW organises the Welsh National Drama Festival from February to June, culminating in the Wales One-Act Final. Regional Festivals currently participating include, Anglesey, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd, Montgomeryshire, Pembrokeshire, Gwent and Glamorgan.
Working closely with the National Youth Theatre of Wales, DAW helps promote work with young people. DAW assists in founding and sustaining youth theatre companies and runs courses and workshops to help improve young people’s skill levels and enjoyment.
DAW is an active member of the Wales Association for the Performing Arts, which promotes professional interests in Wales.
DAW uniquely, operates at the interface between the amateur and the professional and encourages co-operation between them. This produces benefits to both partners and improves the health of drama in Wales and the UK as a whole.
Much of the work of the organisation is concerned with raising the profile of Community Drama and lobbying of regional, national and UK organisations to ensure that community theatre is kept on the agenda. The Association is a strong supporter of the work of the Voluntary Arts Network and values the interface with other national umbrella bodies at UK level. Through its membership of the Central Council for Amateur Theatre, DAW makes representations to the UK national Arts Councils, Theatres Advisory Council and HM Government.
Through its membership of International Theatre Exchange, the UK branch of the International Amateur Theatre Association, DAW is active in promoting amateur theatre in Wales on an international basis. Exchanges are facilitated between Wales based groups and their counterparts overseas. This network is increasingly being seen as a means of promoting the work of Wales based playwrights.
The function of the Drama Association of Wales is to increase opportunities for people in the community to be creatively involved in drama that is fun and of a high standard. To access all these benefits within the UK and overseas is both inexpensive and invaluable.
Aled Rhys-Jones: Director and is a Welsh speaker. Gary Thomas: Administrator, Teresa Hennessy: Member Services Officer and Leon Searle: Member Services Assistant, complete the team.
Group members (i.e. drama societies, theatre companies, youth theatres, WIs, YFCs etc) are organised by area for self-help and co-operation.
AREA ORGANISATION IN WALES
Currently there are six area organisations: Ceredigion, Clwyd, Glamorgan, Gwent, Montgomeryshire and Pembrokeshire.
ORGANISATIONS IN OTHER AREAS
Since the DAW rescue of the former BTA library, over 400 members from outside Wales have joined. Networking services have provided for these members who are eligible to enjoy the full range of DAW activities. The library operates on a mail order basis ensuring access to everyone.
Drama Association of Wales
The Old Library, Singleton Road, Splott, Cardiff CF24 2ET, Wales UK
(T) +44 (0)29 2045 2200
(F) +44 (0)29 2045 2277
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