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The birth of a theatre

F G Fisher circa 1962

Last updated: 16 January 2008

Andrew Fisher lets us know about the great contribution his father made to drama, especially for the people of Llangefni.

Born in Bargoed, Glamorgan, Francis George Fisher was educated at Lewis' School, Pengam, and at University College, Cardiff, where he graduated in mathematics and captained the University swimming team.

For a short period he was a teacher in a missionary college in West Africa; then in 1932 a mathematics teacher at Llangefni Grammar School, latterly Llangefni County Comprehensive, becoming deputy headmaster until his sudden death.

George - he preferred his middle name - began writing in English, publishing his first novel, One Has Been Honest, at the age of 21 before his graduation in 1930. He wrote many poems and stories, published in The Adelphi and The Twentieth Century during the 1930s, before turning to drama.

His play The Disinherited was performed in Swansea's Little Theatre in July 1939.

Lieutenant Fisher served in the Navy during World War II and, while he was in Iceland, he learned Welsh from Caradar's booklet Welsh Made Easy. From that time, he was intent on writing plays in Welsh, mastering 'cynghanedd'. He wrote at least five short plays between 1945 and 1952 and three long plays: Catrin (first prize in the National Eisteddfod at Dolgellau, 1949), Y Ferch a'r Dewin (The girl and the wizard) (which shared first prize in the National Eisteddfod at Rhyl, 1953) and Merch yw Medusa (Medusa in a girl) (1951).

He also translated Andre Obey's play, Noa (1951). He produced 30 plays, 20 of these in Welsh, including all his own works and the memorably great productions of the plays of Saunders Lewis. He became a member of the Welsh Arts Council Drama Committee and was awarded the MBE for services to Welsh Theatre in 1958.

His most important contribution was arguably to ensure that Cymdeithas Ddrama Llangefni (Llangefni dramatic society) had a permanent home, with the opening of Theatr Fach in Pencraig, Llangefni in May 1953.

The rapid advance of Theatr Fach Llangefni to a leading role came through purposefully aiming at a higher level than just satisfying a creative urge latent in most communities. Western Mail 20/9/1960.

He was made director of the theatre and realised his vision of an amateur theatre, regularly presenting plays of truly professional standard in Welsh and English. Theatr Fach celebrated its 50th anniversary in May 2005 and this is his monument.

F G Fisher's contribution to the theatre in Wales has been described as vital. Most surviving works and papers are retained in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, in the archives departments in the University of Wales, Bangor and with the archivist in Llangefni. Others are sought for collection, preservation and to be made available to researchers.


your comments

Angie Allen (nee Fisher) Leicestershire
I am his eldest granddaughter, daughter of his middle son Martin Fisher. We spent many holidays in Llangefni when we were young.I remember'Grandfather' as quite a scary man! He had quite a presence. He was also tremendous fun; letting us sit on his knee aged and steer his Jag. up the road! Not long after he died suddenly, my dad took me to the unveiling of a bronze bust in his memory at Theatr Fach.

Hugh Gibbon from Sheppey
I was lucky, Fishy was my teacher in A-level maths 1949/51. He was a brilliant teacher and he was so human too; a lovely man. If only all teachers were like him.

Pandrew Ware.
I too grew from infancy to teenhood in Llangefni. The happiest days I remember were us young lads in the Summers of 1962-64 swimming in the Dingle at Llyn Pwmp. We would get tyre inner tubes and float away up to Spwnin and swim in the warm patches of that Cefni River. Rope swings, chasing girls, catching a trout, smuggling ourselves into the delap' Arcadia cinema. Great days - not forgetting Mr Hawes' slide shows at Xmas time in school. Great boyhood, very Norman Rockwell, if you see his paintings.

gordon weare
I grew up with the Theatre Bach at the bottom of my garden in Pencraig. It was a farm when we moved in, run by Mrs Burrows, that's her in the olde photo, taken around c.1950 ? she had 2 sons, Wyn & Ernest. Part of the Plas Pencraig, and it must've been gorgeous in its day. It had stables, orchards, a summerhouse and lilly pond, even a warren. RAF ppl used it for flats in the late 50's. Great place to grow up. Gordon Weare.

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