The Llangollen Eisteddfod celebrated ten years of its Inclusion Project today [WEDNESDAY 4TH JULY] with the performance of its newly commission piece, SEND A Message on the Royal international Pavilion stage.
Facilitated by a generous grant from the ScottishPower Foundation, the performance captured the hearts and minds of festival audiences, as five unique groups from across Wales and Shropshire came together to deliver the piece to excited crowds.
This year’s participating groups were Ysgol Tir Morfa, a community special school in Rhyl that caters for pupils aged 3 – 19 years with a wide range of additional learning needs; specialist school, St Christopher’s in Wrexham, Derwen on Tour (DOT), a group of Creative Studies students from Derwen College in Gobowen, Shropshire, who offer Makaton sign, song and dance performance and workshops, Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn from Denbigh, North Wales’ regional centre for autism education, and the Theatretrain Regional Choir from Mold.
Reflecting the diversity of society and the International Eisteddfod’s ethos of promoting understanding and acceptance though music and dance, the fully inclusive project saw all five groups present their own short performance before coming together to perform the joint piece. This finale was based on the groups’ thoughts on the theme SEND A Message and promoted the idea of spreading love and peace via music, song and dance.
The specially commissioned piece was written by poet Aled Lewis Evans and composer Owain Llwyd. The performance choreographed by Angharad Harrop, with Leslie Churchill Ward as Artistic Coordinator.
To further celebrate its tenth year and highlight the legacy of the project, groups who had participated in the Inclusion Project in previous years were also invited back to the festival to perform on the outside stages and watch this years’ groups take to the stage in the main Pavilion.
Leslie Churchill Ward, Artistic Coordinator, said: “The Inclusion Project is close to everyone’s heart here at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, as it provides people who may not usually get the chance the opportunity to perform on stage, in front of an international audience.
“Thanks to the ScottishPower Foundation’s generous and continued support we have been able to deliver on this important objective of inclusivity at the festival for a decade now – long may it continue!”
Ann McKechin, Trustee and Executive Officer of the ScottishPower Foundation said: “This year’s performance was, once again, a roaring success and we would like to congratulate all of the groups involved.
“Every year the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod maintains its commitment to inclusivity, by allowing people with diverse abilities the opportunity to come together, learn from one another and perform on the Royal International Pavilion stage.
“The ScottishPower Foundation is committed to funding projects like this that support the arts, reduce inequalities of opportunity and inspire people to fulfil their potential.”