Written by Bill Hamblett from Small World Theatre:
"Small World Theatre was formed as a charity in 1997 but it had existed years before then. Ann Shrosbree and I, the founders, have been working together since 1979 when a small puppet company initially called Dandelion Puppets was formed. The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynllyth commissioned the first show on a theme of Ecology as it was referred to then.
The name change to Small World Theatre reflects what the company is all about. 'Small' highlights Shumacher's axiom, 'Small Is Beautiful'. 'World' is appropriate as we travel internationally and bring stories home as well as creating them through theatre and puppets. A small world also hints at the networks and connections we have made. Theatre as described in the headline from a Times article about our work in Africa, "Theatre of Life and Death". Small World Theatre (SWT) is a name we are very happy with. A passion to deal with real issues drives our work.
Canolfan Byd Bychan/Small World Centre is our new creative space for creative community. It is an inspiring building designed with many sustainable features. At last, not just a warm dry space big enough to build giants in, but a place to bring other groups to work with us on projects and training. The building's design enhances and reflects the way we work. No corridors, open inclusive spaces networking together, multi layered, sustainable, friendly and redolent with local and global cultural influences. The Environmentally friendly design is also aesthetically inspiring.
Photographs on our web site can hardly capture the effect of walking into the main space and experiencing the multi levels angels and structure of the interior. Visit the building and have a tour by appointment.
Small World Theatre works in many ways to effect change. The Arts and Culture for Development methodology we use overseas, informs our work here in Wales with social inclusion, community regeneration and arts and theatre in the social context. This means our work in participatory in nature and often community or participant led.
We also bring stories home and work in schools here on education for sustainability and global citizenship. Issues are often environmental, sometimes cultural. Human rights, democracy, refugee issues and intergenerational projects are themes that often occur. Some of our performances are devised and performed by the community and a percentage of our work we research, produce and perform ourselves in schools and theatre venues.
Cot Merddyn / Merlin's Coat and the new show about forests Commissioned for The Royal Welsh Show By The Forestry Commission are both available for booking. Check our website for more events like Open Access play days and Wet Weather Wales Events in and around Cardigan. If you see giants wandering the streets of Welsh towns chances are that they could be Small World's.
The varied nature of the work keeps us on our toes and we find most aspects of the work rewarding and enjoyable. However some of the research we do can be harrowing, for instance collecting and recording refugees stories in detention centres and refugee camps in Hong Kong and on the streets in Vietnam for the show 'Moving!' More recently we interviewed newly arrived asylum seekers and refugees in Wales for the 'Diogel? / Safe?' and other refugee projects.
Whether it is a forest in a desert in Sudan that is the long term result of a project, HIV AIDS and human rights awareness in Uganda, participation in the democratic process for women in Tanzania or regeneration and development in deprived areas of Wales it is very gratifying when a project delivers the goods.
Building Canolfan Byd Bychan/Small World Centre in Cardigan provides an opportunity to pull all the multi-coloured threads of what we do together and weave a coherent pattern to pass on to a successor generation. The building is next to the newly expanded Theatr Mwldan in Cardigan. We hope to work closely with them and Creative Mwldan as well as a huge selection of community groups in the area.
The Cardigan area has been our base for over 29 years for many compelling reasons. The people, the scenery, the lifestyle and the slow ebb and flow of a tidal culture.
Abertiefi holds historic significance and has attracted many artists and creative people who arrive to find an artistic and creative culture was here well before the first Eisteddfod was proclaimed from the ancient castle. It is a place to learn from the past to be able to live in the present for the benefit of the future.
For years, playwrights and Oscar nominees have humbly said that their work has never led to change but just reflects culture as it changes. We have found that the immediate nature of our work with issues and communities can affect change. The best tool to manage cultural and political change is culture itself.
Arts and culture used in community regeneration, social inclusion and engaging the harder to reach sections of society is now so proven, monitored, evaluated and reported on that it is baffling that some funders, policy makers and even the media can still be unaware of the benefits."
By Bill Hamblett from Small World Theatre
