Welsh Language Music Day, celebrated on the 9th February this year, has become a well-known day in the Welsh calendar. There’s a variety of music available in the Welsh language – from Indie, pop, folk and hip hop there’s something for everyone! Music is also a great way to bring people together and the National Lottery Community Fund are proud to be able to support all kinds of projects that use music to benefit their community.

Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn were successful in 2022 with a grant of £10,000 to celebrate their 40th anniversary. People from all parts of mid Wales and further came together to create a new production of the show ‘Y Mab Darogan’ (their first production in 1981). The production drew young and middle-aged people together at Glantwymyn Community Centre for rehearsals from March 2022 until the start of the production’s journey in October 2022. It gave people in rural areas the opportunity not only to learn new skills and perform but to be able to meet and socialise.

With the huge success of this production Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn has recently been successful again with another £5,000 grant from National Lottery Awards for All to help towards a new production of the show ‘Pum Diwrnod o Ryddid’.

One of the founders of Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn Penri Roberts told us more about the arrangements of the new production.

“Rehearsals will begin in March at Glantwymyn Community Centre. Now that the sheet music books published by Sain is out of print, we are arranging a reprint.

“Once again, we will be touring Wales to perform the show in autumn 2024 and spring 2025. Exact dates and locations will be announced later in the year.

“The production of Y Mab Darogan which received a National Lottery grant of £10,000, was hugely successful as we sold over 5,000 tickets in the various theatres across Wales. We organised a special performance for primary school

children at Hafren Theatr in May 2023 and plan again to perform ‘Pum Diwrnod o Ryddid’ for primary schools in May 2025, which will be the second part of the tour.

“We are very grateful for the support of the National Lottery Community Fund. The £5,000 grant will assist us with costs such as set, costumes and so on and make a big difference to the standard of our new production of Pum Diwrnod o Ryddid.”

Menter Cwm Gwendraeth Elli plan to promote socialising through music with a new Welsh-language production of the musical Annie. Its youth theatre has been successful in the past but the last few years, due to the pandemic, have had an impact and the trends of young people, with technology becoming a competition and a barrier for them to meet in person. Consultation with the young people led to a desire to start the musicals once again.

In November 2023 taster sessions were held with all Cwm Gwendraeth schools with a former member of the theatre which reached over 750 children. Weekly rehearsals have now started in Pontyberem and the aim is to hold 5 performances in Summer 2024; two to primary schools in the area; and 3 in its communities; Pontyberem, Llanelli and Carmarthen.

A £10,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund helps fund venue hiring, marketing, taster sessions, officers, volunteering costs, licensing, and transport. The primary and secondary pupils will increase their confidence and gain new skills by performing in the musical.

We can see that giving children and young people the opportunity to perform creatively is vital for them to develop their confidence and raise their wellbeing. In light of the cost of living crisis, which means parents often do not have the money to let their children join costly performance clubs, it is important to make these opportunities for children easy and accessible.

Sistema Cymru – Codi’r To recognises this as they develop after school musical sessions in two deprived areas of Gwynedd. The organisation was successful in 2022 with a grant of £9,686 to establish these sessions with the original intention of developing people’s social participation and self-confidence following the pandemic.

With so many children wanting a place at the sessions, particularly with the effects of the cost of living crisis, the organisation was successful in another grant in 2023. The sessions offer free activities, healthy snacks and a warm spot while enjoying music.

Berwyn, one of the tutors of the sessions said:

“It’s great to see the children at Clwb Codi’r To, outside of school hours where they can be themselves and we can help support, and tutor them further. It’s great to bring parents into the clubs as well, and we have showings every now and then so that the parents can be part of their child’s musical journey.”

Bari, another tutor added:

“It’s good for the kids to get enjoyment out of music. It’s a safe place for the kids to have fun and learn more about music and playing instruments.”

For more information about grants available from the National Lottery Community Fund to support your community, visit our website: Home | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)