Commissions 2021/22
ANNOUNCING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE CEANGAL | CWLWM III COMMISSIONS
Cafodd chwech artist – dau o Iwerddon, dau o’r Alban a dau o Gymru – eu comisiynu i greu chwe darn newydd o theatr ddigidol.
Tha sia luchd-ealain – dithis à Èrinn, dithis à Alba agus dithis às a’ Chuimrigh – air coimiseanan fhaighinn gus sia pìosan thèatair didseatach ùr a chruthachadh.
Bronnadh na coimisiúin ar sé ealaíontóirí– beirt as Éirinn, beirt ó Albain agus beirt ón Bhreatain Bheag – le sé phíosa nua shaothair digiteach a chruthú.
Six artists or partnerships – two from Ireland, two from Scotland and two from Wales – have received commissions to create six new pieces of digital theatre. The pieces will all be presented at a special online event this year, and afterwards on the Ceangal Cwlwm website.
THE COMMISSIONED ARTISTS:
Iwerdon | Èirinn | Éire | Ireland: Róisín Sheehy & Hilary Bowen-Walsh
Yr Alban | Alba | Albain | Scotland: Miriam Donaghey / Rebecca Donovan (shared) & Choirstaidh McArthur
Cymru | A’ Chumrigh | An Bhreatain Bheag | Wales: Karen Owen & Elis Pari
The Ceangal Cwlwm Commissions are selected by representatives from Prifysgol De Cymru/University of South Wales, Theatre Gu Leòr and Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh/NUI Galway. The Ceangal Cwlwm collaborative partnership is supported by Prifysgol De Cymru/University of South Wales, Theatre Gu Leòr, Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh/NUI Galway, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Colmcille, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and an Taibhdhearc, with additional support from Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru.
ARTISTS & PROJECTS
(Hover over each artist to learn about their projects!)
SYNOPSIS
Airson coimisean Ceangal Cwlwm, ’s e pìos bàrdach a chuireas NicArtair an gnìomh, mun neart a tha a’ leantainn bho màthraichean gu clann-nighean, tro sgeulachd ceithir-ginealachdan bhon teaghlach aice fhìn. Bidh a phìos a’ togail air bochdanas, ciùrradh-inntinn, spioradalachd, is creideas ann an trì pàirtean. Fiolmaidh NicArtiar i fhìn am broinn seata de dh’Eilean Ì, far an robh i a’ chreidsinn mar nigheann bheag gu robh spioraid a seanmhair a’ fuireachd as dèidh a bàs. Fhads a tha i a’ bruidhinn, cleachdaidh NicArtair proiseactar airson dealbhan Grianaig far an do rugadh i, is Baile a' Ghobhainn far a bheil i a’ fuireachd a-nis, a’ sealtainn oirre is air an seata, comhla ri dealbhan den teaghlachd bho thasglann sloinntearachd a mhàthar.
NicArtair's piece for Ceangal Cwlwm is a piece of performative poetry about the resilience passed down from mothers to daughters, through the story of four generations of her family, exploring generational poverty, trauma, grief, spirituality, and faith in three sections. The performance of the piece will be filmed in a set made to mimic the landscape of Iona, where the artist believed as a child her grandmother's spirit lived after her death. Images of Gibshill and wider Greenock will be projected onto NicArtair while she speaks, as will her own home of Govan and family portraits from her mother's genealogy archive.
Choirstaidh NicArtair
’S e neach-ealain ioma-chuspaireil, neach-gnìomhachais is neach-cruthachaidh susbaint a th’ ann an Choirstaidh Iona NicArtair, ag obair fon ainm-brannd Choirstaidhiona.jpeg. Ann an 2021, chaidh a h-ainmeachadh aig Duaisean Gàidhlig na h-Alba mar Tosgaire Òg na Bliadhna airson an obair a rinn i gus Gàidhlig adhartachadh air loidhne agus air a’ phrògram cloinne ‘A’ Chùil’, air BBC ALBA.
Choirstaidh Iona NicArtair is a multidisciplinary artist, small business owner, and Gaelic content creator, working under the handle of Choirstaidhiona.jpeg. In 2021 she was named at the Scottish Gaelic Awards as The Young Gaelic Ambassador of the Year, for her work to promote Gaelic on Social media, and Children’s art strand on BBC ALBA called ‘A’ Chùil’.
SYNOPSIS
Fàilte agus fáilte, gu àm aig a bheil dithis bhoireannach òg, agus cultar na h-Èireann is na h-Alba, a’ coinneachadh aghaidh ri aghaidh…
Uill, cha mhòr.
Tha Saoirse agus Aisling seachd searbh sgìth den glasadh mhòr, air an glacte a-staigh gun rud sam bith a dhèanamh. Tha iad a’ coinneachadh ri chèile is iad a’ scrolladh air Instagram, agus mar as motha a tha an càirdeas eatarra a’ fàs tro videocalls, ‘s ann nas doimhne a tha an ùidh a th’ aca anns an dà chultar a’ fàs cuideachd.
Fhad ‘s a tha iad ag ionnsachadh bho chèile agus a’ comharrachadh an dualchais aca, tha iad a’ tuigsinn, ma thànaig a’ Ghaeilge is a’ Ghàidhlig beò tro mhùchadh brùideil, gun urrainn don dithis aca tighinn beò tron ghlasadh.
Failte and welcome, as two young women and Irish and Scottish culture meet face to face… Well, sort of.
Saoirse and Aisling are bored out of their minds during the depths of lockdown, stuck at home with nothing to do. They meet while scrolling through Instagram, and as their friendship grows via videocall, so does their mutual interest in each other’s languages and history.
As they educate each other in celebration of their heritage, they begin to feel that if both Irish and Scots Gaelic could survive such brutal suppression, both women can definitely survive lockdown.
Miriam Donaghey
‘S e cleasaiche agus sgrìobhaiche le cinneadh measgaiche a th’ ann an Miriam Donaghey. Tha Miriam fìleanta ann an Gàidhlig agus tha i a’ dèanamh ceum ann an Iapanais aig Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann. O chionn ghoirid, tha i air ‘Teine’ a chluich ann an Eerie Isles leis an sgrìobhadair chliùiteach Kenny Boyle. Tha ùidh mhòr aice ann an gnothaichean daonnachdail agus àrainneachdail, agus earbsa aice anns a’ chuach aig a bheil sgeulachdadh sònraichte.
Miriam Donaghey is a Scottish mixed-race actor and writer. Miriam is fluent in Scots Gaelic and studies Japanese at Edinburgh University. She recently played ‘Teine’ in award-winning playwright Kenny Boyle’s Eerie Isles. She is passionate about humanitarian and environmental issues, and believes in the power and importance of unique stories.
SYNOPSIS
Fàilte agus fáilte, gu àm aig a bheil dithis bhoireannach òg, agus cultar na h-Èireann is na h-Alba, a’ coinneachadh aghaidh ri aghaidh…
Uill, cha mhòr.
Tha Saoirse agus Aisling seachd searbh sgìth den glasadh mhòr, air an glacte a-staigh gun rud sam bith a dhèanamh. Tha iad a’ coinneachadh ri chèile is iad a’ scrolladh air Instagram, agus mar as motha a tha an càirdeas eatarra a’ fàs tro videocalls, ‘s ann nas doimhne a tha an ùidh a th’ aca anns an dà chultar a’ fàs cuideachd.
Fhad ‘s a tha iad ag ionnsachadh bho chèile agus a’ comharrachadh an dualchais aca, tha iad a’ tuigsinn, ma thànaig a’ Ghaeilge is a’ Ghàidhlig beò tro mhùchadh brùideil, gun urrainn don dithis aca tighinn beò tron ghlasadh.
Failte and welcome, as two young women and Irish and Scottish culture meet face to face… Well, sort of.
Saoirse and Aisling are bored out of their minds during the depths of lockdown, stuck at home with nothing to do. They meet while scrolling through Instagram, and as their friendship grows via videocall, so does their mutual interest in each other’s languages and history.
As they educate each other in celebration of their heritage, they begin to feel that if both Irish and Scots Gaelic could survive such brutal suppression, both women can definitely survive lockdown.
Rebecca Donavan
Tha Rebecca Donovan 20 bliadhna a dh’aois, agus à Co. Chill Dara ann an Èirinn. Rinn i trèanadh le Acting Coach Scotland o chionn ùine ghoirid. Tha i cuideachd air obrachadh air The Small Hours aig an Tèatar Nàiseanta ann an Lunnainn. Tha ùidh mhòr aig Rebecca ann an Gaeilge/Gàidhlig agus tha i air a dòigh a bhith na pàirt den phròiseact seo.
Rebecca Donovan is a 20-year-old actor from Ireland, Co. Kildare. She has most recently trained with Acting Coach Scotland. Previous projects include The Small Hours at The National Theatre in London. Rebecca has a strong interest in Irish/Scots Gaelic and is excited to be taking part in this project.
SYNOPSIS
Nid mater o wrthdaro na gwrthryfel ydi gwydnwch . Nid mater ymosodol ydi goroesi yn wyneb heriau ac amgylchiadau byd. Ac nid datganiad sy'n gwahanu ac yn amlygu rhaniadau ydyw chwaith.
Ni phrofais i erioed negyddiaeth ar sail pwy, na beth, ydw i. Efallai mai lwcus ydw i, ac nid gwydn.
Rydw i'n gynyddol grediniol mai trwy ac oherwydd amrywiaeth, y mae goroesi.
O ran iaith fechan yn nhapestri ieithoedd mawr a bach... yn ferch mewn byd sydd wedi bod yn wrywol o ddifedddwl... o ran bod yn Gymraes yn ei gwlad ei hun... yn amgylcheddwraig mewn llygredd a newid hinsawdd...Hynny ydi, mewn byd ansicr, fod gwydnwch yn golygu ein bod, bob un, yn deall pwy ydan ni yng nghanol enfys o amrywiaeth diderfyn.
Nid yw gwydnwch yn ornest rhwng y cryf a'r gwan. Y mae'n ddathliad o fywyd ac yn ymfalchio yn y pethau bychain sy'n dod á gwên i wyneb y ddynoliaeth.
Mae'n fydolwg sydd wedi'i seilio ar egwyddorion lleol, personol, ond byth yn hunanol.
Gwydnwch 'is neither a battle or a war. It is not a clash or an expression of force. It is not a fight where the stronger exerts its prowess to mute its weaker sibling.
Maybe I am lucky to be able to testify that this world tapestry has never negatively reactrd to my place on this earth. My femininity. My minority language. My small nation next door to the largest and pinkest empirical power ever seen. And then there is the fitting aptness of my poetry.
I feel tough in my unique oddity. In the ftagile beating of my heart. In every day of thriving survival.
Karen Owen
Bardd, golygydd a pherfformwraig 47 oed o Ben-y-groes, Dyffryn Nantlle. Astudiodd Fathemateg Bur cyn penderfynu dilyn gyrfa mewn newyddiaduraeth, a gweithiodd i Golwg, Y Cymro a BBC Cymru. Mae wedi perfformio ei cherddi ledled Cymru ac ar bum cyfandir, a threuliodd chwe mis yn byw mewn cwfaint tra'n ddarlithydd gwadd ym Mhrifysgol Fienna, Awstria. Mae'n athro cynganeddu ac yn ymweld yn aml ag ysgolion i gynnal gweithdai. Yn 2018, hi oedd enillydd Gwobr Goffa Llwyd o'r Bryn yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Caerdydd. Cyhoeddodd dair cyfrol o'i gwaith, a thair CD gan gydweithio gyda cherddorion a lleisiau adnabyddus. Enillodd wobr Llyfr y Flwyddyn (Barddoniaeth) yn 2012.
A 47 year old poet, editor and performer from Pen-y-groes, Dyffryn Nantlle. Karen studied Pure Mathematics before deciding to follow a career in journalism, and worked for Golwg, Y Cymru and BBC Cymru. She has performed her poems throughout Wales and on five continents, and spent six months living in a convent while a visiting lecturer in Vienna University. A teacher of cynghanedd, Karen holds workshops in Welsh schools regularly. In 2018, Karen was the winner of the Llwyd o’r Bryn memorial prize in the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Cardiff. Three volumes of her work have been published, and three CDs in collaboration with well-known musicians and voices. Karen won Book of the Year (Poetry) in 2012.
SYNOPSIS
Fy mwriad ar gyfer Comisiwn Ceangal Cwlwm yw edrych ar wydnwch yn y gymuned amaethyddol yng Nghymru. Mae gwydnwch ac amaethu yn mynd law yn llaw, ond beth am y dygnwch sydd ei angen? Gyda'r diwydiant yn mynd yn fwyfwy ynysig, i ba raddau y gall dygnwch ein ffermwyr gael ei wthio? Fy mwriad yw archwilio’r cwestiynau hyn gyda ‘r gwaith.
My intention for the Ceangal Cwlwm Commission is to look at resilience in the farming community in Wales. Resilience and farming go hand in hand but what about the mental endurance aspect of farming? With the industry becoming increasingly isolated, to what extent can the endurance of our farmers be pushed? My intention is to explore these questions through the work.
Elis Pari
Rwy'n dod o ardal Anelog, Pen Llŷn ac fe wnes i raddio mewn Theatr a Drama o Brifysgol De Cymru yn 2020. Dwi bellach ar fin gorffen gradd Meistr yn y Celfyddydau drwy Ymchwil sy’n edrych ar sut y gellir defnyddio theatr fel cyfrwng sy'n creu clymau cynhaliol a llesol yn ein cymunedau gwledig.
I come from Anelog, on the Llyn Peninsula, and graduated in Theatre & Drama at the University of South Wales in 2020. I am now completing an MA through Research where I’ve been looking at ways to use theatre as a medium to create bonds for support and wellbeing in our rural communities.
SYNOPSIS
Seo scéal Ádhamh agus Éabha, a gcathú agus a dtrialacha a d’fhulaing siad ag an díbirt ón nGairdín Pharthais tráth. Chruthaigh Dia an duine ar a dheilbh féin, agus ó shin tá an chine duine ag streachailt leis an géarchéim eiseach: An staid dhaonna. De réir an Bhíobla, 'Bhásaigh an bás ar gach fear, mar gur pheaca go léir iad.’
An féidir le Ádhamha agus Éabha brí a bhaint as beatha in easpa Dé? Idir chreidimh agus moráltacht, tiocfaidh fadhb an oilc chun tosaigh dóibh.
This is the story of Adam and Eve, their temptations and trials upon banishment from Eden. God created man in his own image, and since then man has struggled with the existential crisis: The human condition. According to the Bible, 'Sin entered the world through man and death came to all people.' Can Adam and Eve make sense of life without God? Between faith and morality, the problem of evil will come to the fore.
Hilary Bowen-Walsh
Is aisteoir, stiúrthóir agus scríobhneoir í Hilary. I measc na saothar amharclainne a luaitear lena hainm tá 'Smidiríní' (Mumbro Top), ‘Sruth na Teanga’ (Branar), ‘Mise, Mollser’(Amharclann na Mainistreach),‘The Travels of Jonathan Swift’ (Best Ensemble Irish Times Theatre Awards 2020), An Dara Réalt'(An Taibhdhearc), ‘Dorchadas Draíochta’ (Graffiti), agus ‘Luíse’ (Celia de Fréine).
Hilary is an actor, director and writer. Theatre credits include 'Smidiríní' (Mumbro Top), 'Sruth na Teanga' (Branar), 'Mise, Mollser' (Abbey Theater), 'The Travels of Jonathan Swift' (Best Ensemble Irish Times Theatre Awards 2020), 'An Dara Réalt' (The Taibhdhearc), 'Dorchadas Draíochta' (Graffiti), and 'Luíse' (Celia de Fréine).
Image credit: Aline Sene
SYNOPSIS
Tá sé ar intinn agam físeán a chruthú atá spreagtha ag fíorscéal Lís na Beannaí Ní Dhálaigh a saolaíodh ar charraig in aice An Bhlascaod Mór in 1878. Beidh an físeán á dhéanamh i Heilbhic, Gaeltacht na nDéise i dteannta Sophie Hutchinson, rinceoir agus Natalia Uí Fhaoláin, scannánóir. Shamhlóinn go raibh an-cheangal ag Lís leis na héanlaithe agus an nádúr. Beidh an mothú seo á chruthú sa físeán trí mheán na filíochta agus an rince. D’imigh Lís ar imirce go Meiriceá in 1897. Seasann na héanlaithe mar mheafair don imirce agus mianach an duine fanacht ina áit dhúchais nó imeacht thar sáile.
I plan to make a film that is inspired by the true story of Lís na Beannaí Ní Dhálaigh who was born on a rock near The Great Blasket, Kerry in 1878. The film will be shot at Helvic, Waterford Gaeltacht with Sophie Hutchinson, dancer and Natalia Uí Fhaoláin, film maker. I imagine that Lís had a strong connection with the birds and nature and I wish to transmit the feeling through the medium of poetry and dance. Lís immigrated to America in 1897. The birds represent a metaphor for emigration and our human nature to settle on native land or go overseas.
Róisín Sheehy
Is file, drámadóir, rinceoir agus craoltóir í Róisín Sheehy. Tá duaiseanna Oireachtas agus Stewart Parker Trust buaite aici dá cuid saothar drámaíochta agus filíocht. D’fhoilsigh Coiscéim a céad leabhar filíochta Líomóidí ’s Rúbarb i 2021. Bronnadh Complacht Patrick Kavanagh uirthi i 2021. Tá Róisín an-tógtha le rince comhaimseartha. Tá Róisín ina cónaí i gCill Chainnigh. Is as Corca Dhuibhne ó dhúchais di. Chóirigh agus rinc sí i dtaispeantasaí éagsúla i nGaeltacht na Rinne, Corca Dhuibhne agus Pavilion Theatre, Baile Átha Cliath.
Róisín Sheehy is a poet, playwright, dancer and broadcaster. Her poetry and plays have been awarded Oireachtas na Gaeilge and Stewart Parker Trust awards. Her debut poetry collection Líomóidí ’s Rúbarb was published by Coiscéim in 2021. She was awarded a Patrick Kavanagh Fellowship in 2021. She lives in Kilkenny and is originally from West Kerry Gaeltacht. Róisín is invigorated by dance and has danced in various production in the Gaeltacht and Pavilion Theatre, Dublin.