Feedback on the Finale Presentation, Congregational United Reform Church, Blaina 31.03.04 – 02.04.04 Professor John Harvey, Head of Art, University of Wales, Aberystwyth “I found the performance very encouraging and courageous. You used a sophisticated blend of live and recorded media, and avoided the temptation to always communicate ideas and narrative in a linear and self-evident way. When I was a child, Coed Cae was unaffectionately referred to as Dodge City…I gather that the terrible social problems in the area might suggest that the appellation is still appropriate. In other words you must have had a tough task marshalling, encouraging and instilling confidence into many of those school children. I am sure you will have made a difference on a social level without compromising artistic integrity. That is no mean achievement.” …………………………….. Jenny Stoves, Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Wales “I thought the performance was fantastic – obviously a culmination of lots of different types of workshops/activities leading up to it. It was interesting to see a SWICA performance in a fixed venue but still with all the elements I’d usually expect to see from SWICA.” …………………………….. Dr Brett Pugh, Chief Education Officer, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council “I’d like to congratulate you on a wonderful project in Blaenau Gwent. As Chief Education Officer I was proud to be at the Thursday Evening Performance in Blaina. The work was tremendously innovative and a wonderful experience for the children. You don’t need me to say how it built up their confidence and self-esteem while at the same time developing a wide variety of skills.” …………………………….. Hannah Jenkins, Arts Development Officer, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council “Regarding the play, I thought it was fantastic. It was very imaginative and creative. It was good to see the audience so packed out as well.” …………………………….. Sharon Ford, Education Officer and Ceri Thompson, Coal Curator, National Museums and Galleries of Wales “It was heartening to see that projects such as this are happening in the Blaina local area, and we were both impressed by the amount of work that had obviously gone into the project, both by the organisers and the children. We both learnt something about local folklore as well, which was nice!” …………………………….. Patricia Godding, Secretary UNITY – Poetry and Music “On behalf of the members I am writing to you to thank you for inviting UNITY to participate. The whole experience reminded me of my early working days with an auctioneering company, and how knowledge, comradeship, friendship and loyalty pulled the whole thing together. It has been a privilege to meet and work with a lovely group of people united under the SWICA banner.” …………………………….. Shirley Meyrick, Secretary Blaina Heritage Action Group “The production was of professional standards, the costumes were imaginative and must have entailed a lot of dedication and hard work. The children were wonderful and had obviously worked very hard but one could detect the hard work was more than rewarded in the enjoyment they obviously got out of performing. The research that had gone into in was reflected in the interpretation of events. Reverend Edmund Jones would be very pleased to know that through your efforts his memory has been resurrected for many people.” …………………………….. Joan Campbell, Barrister, SWICA Board Member “I had a thoroughly enjoyable time and of course, I learned something about the Reverend Edmund Jones and the era in which he lived. The production had a real sense of magic and mystery. Some of it was downright creepy ! The use of video images, song and puppetry was imaginative and extremely well done. The performances were excellent throughout, especially the fairies who were surprisingly sinister. The way the stage direction and the music blended together was very effective and atmospheric.” …………………………….. Anita Thomas, Prince’s Trust “We thought Myths, Mines and Memories was excellent and we could see how you had worked hard with many different age groups to put this production on.”

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