January 2010

The Unknown Theatre Company has an exciting year in prospect for 2010. Our first production will be a special evening, dedicated to celebrating the shared birthday of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim, in March at the Howardian Centre. This will be followed by two One-Act Plays which will be our entries at the Glamorgan One-Act Play festival which will be held in Swansea again, this year on 22-24 April. Also in the planning is a special version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream which the YoYos (our special group for 8-13 year olds) are currently working on.

There are bound to be other events through the year - community concerts and the like - so keep an eye on the site for developments!

July 2009

On 28th June 2009, the Unknown Theatre Company went to the 2009 Youth Glammies, and celebrated another highly successful evening. After a company performance of some songs from Oliver! (to support the appearance of former company member, Sarah Lark), once again, the company came home with its head held high.

The story of the evening (including nominations lists and photos) can be found on the Glammies 2009 page. Congratulations to those members who won awards:

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE - MUSICAL
Emma Batchelor: Lucy Van Pelt (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown)
BEST SUPPORTING MALE PERFORMANCE - MUSICAL
Ben Reynolds: Snoopy (You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown)
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE DRAMA
Chris Powell: Emmanuel and others (Ghost City)
BEST SUPPORTING MALE PERFORMANCE DRAMA
Andrew Machin : Sheepman (The Oedipus Plays)
BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE DRAMA
Lorun Roberts : Milford Visitor and others (Ghost City)

BEST YOUTH DRAMA PRODUCTION : Ghost City

Congratulations are due to everyone involved in the productions. We did some excellent work again this year, and it was great to have it acknowledged publicly.

Additional information, including the adult awards, is available on the Glamorgan Drama League's website www.glamorgandrama.org

June 2009

After our recent success at the Glamorgan One-Act Play Festival, on 6th June 2009, The Unknown Theatre Company achieved another first: performing at the Wales Final Festival of One-Act Plays. It's rare for a youth group to qualify for the final, so we were particularly proud to do so. Ghost City was also significant in the festival's history, as it is (as far as we know) the first time the festival has played host to a piece of contemporary writing of this kind.

The audience didn't quite know what to make of it! It also proved quite a challenge for the company to play in a theatre so much bigger than those we are used to. But the company gave it their best in a competition which pitted them against actors many of whom have been performing together since before our cast was born. We didn't get through to the British final, but everyone gained hugely from the experience, and we were just pleased to be there.

Huge thanks are due to The John Lewis Partnership, Legal & General and Arriva Trains whose generous support allowed the company to take part in the festival.

Well done, everyone.