Pembrokeshire talent, faces and places are to feature on big screens this summer in the culmination of a project inspired by the Sea Empress disaster. The film Go Tell the Bees, which recently had its premiere at Manorbier Castle, is the triumphant result of a four-year project driven by National Theatre Wales TEAM and involving the people of Pembrokeshire. Co-created by Naomi Chiffi, Di Ford and Sita Thomas, it was funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council Wales, with the intention of creating a large-scale, live event to celebrate the project. Although Coronavirus restrictions meant that plans needed to change, it was decided that the creation of a film would be the safest way to share the work, whilst still achieving the ambition of featuring as many people and places as initially hoped.
Social distancing measures however mean cinemas must operate with a reduced capacity. The centre s biggest screen would normally have room for 188 people and two wheelchair spaces but that has had be cut down to some 40 people and one space for a wheelchair while the capacity of its smaller screen, that has 58 seats, has been reduced to just 12 and a wheelchair space. The cinema opened under the same restrictions following last year’s spring lockdown and the imposition of new public health measures which forced Chapter’s cinema to close on December 4. Chapter’s booking system also automatically block books empty seats to ensure social distancing when a customer purchases a ticket.
Arlena Thornton and Danni Moore have been on the board of directors for a number of years. The women have been appointed as co-managers and plan to revamp elements of the build and bring the theatre into the modern era. Arlena, 28, said: Over the past decade or two, the theatre has been unfortunate to go through some really turbulent times in surviving and remaining open. Because of this, a lot of time and money has been put into the survival of the theatre which has left the reputation to grow of a cold, old fashioned, and in some areas, a falling apart venue.
Artist impression of plans at Theatr Clwyd, Mold. Picture: Howarth Tompkins Theatr Clwyd, Flintshire and Wales most important cultural organisation, that serves its communities with world-class theatre and arts, is to enter the next phase of public consultation, with free open-to-all digital events where anyone can find out more about its landmark redevelopment project. This final phase of public consultation on the multi-million-pound redevelopment scheme, follows extensive consultation in 2019 and will feature updated design images by architects Haworth Tompkins. The 45-year-old building will be extensively refurbished and repaired, along with significant improvements to ensure that this once-in-a-lifetime project will see a greener, more energy efficient building enabling large savings on gas, electricity, and water costs, and make better use of resources.