Ground-breaking theatre performance group to open in Llanelli

By Robert Lloyd

A ground-breaking theatre performance group will be opening its doors in Llanelli on Tuesday, March 12.

Called ‘InterAct’, the group will give disadvantaged youngsters and children with learning difficulties the chance to enjoy drama, dance and singing workshops.

“It really is an innovative venture designed to help children into theatre-based activities,” said Liane Davies, one of the co-founders of the Llanelli venture.

“InterAct is gradually developing in other parts of the UK, but this will be the very first InterAct group in Wales, right here in Llanelli.

“And it’s going to be based at the brand new state-of-the-art Y Ffwrnes theatre in Llanelli.”

The foundation stones for InterAct have been laid by the Stagecoach Charitable Trust, a wing of the hugely-successful Stagecoach theatre arts group.

Liane runs Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest and will be the managing teacher of InterAct Llanelli after establishing the group with a colleague from Pontypridd.

Liane added: “I cannot wait to be the managing teacher of InterAct Llanelli.

“But I have to keep myself in check. For example, let’s ban the word ‘can’t’, and explore the word ‘can’ because that is what InterAct is going to be about. We will provide disadvantaged children and young people with skills for life through drama, music and movement workshops.

“Anyone aged between 10 and 18 is welcome to explore acting, singing and dancing. InterAct includes young people with special physical, educational and financial needs.

“Recently in Stagecoach Carmarthen and Haverfordwest we held a fund-raising ‘Parents Do Stagecoach’ event, during which parents raised £650 towards the opening of the new school.

“My grateful thanks go to everyone who took part and helped. The money raised will make a big difference to a child’s life.”

Liane went on: “Our InterAct Mission Statement reads –

‘We believe that every child and young person has their own potential that, if they can realise it, will improve the quality of their lives and the lives of those around them. We believe that in order to unlock this potential, children and young people need to develop key life skills of confidence, self esteem, self-expression and shared experience.

‘We believe that the most powerful way to do this is through the life enhancing skills of performing arts. We recognise that there are many barriers that prevent people from achieving their full potential in life; in particular the lack of access to opportunities for learning and personal development whether caused by poverty, ethnicity, fear, adverse circumstances, prejudice, poor health, disability and personal circumstances. We call this group of children and young people disadvantaged.

‘We aim to involve as many disadvantaged children and young people between 10 and 18 in our performing arts workshops. We aim to have a workshop in every region of the UK, over time.’”

The Stagecoach Charitable Trust is a nationwide charity (Registered Charity number 1081561). The trust was created to advance the benefit of acting, singing and dancing for all.

Often children and parents can be dissuaded from joining a ‘mainstream’ group because they cannot afford the fees, because the group doesn’t cater for ‘special needs’ or because they fear being different from the majority of people within the group.

The most significant difference in the InterAct programme from the point of view of the students is its total ‘inclusivity’. Not only do the students work together, in one area, for the whole time, so too all teachers and helpers, including the nurse, are encouraged to join in. So the company of actors consists of teachers, helpers, mainstream students and students with a variety of special educational, social and economic needs.

At InterAct, young people are offered the chance to experience the three disciplines of acting, singing and dancing not only from a technique point of view, but from the socialising point of view as well. One of the most crucial aspects of InterAct is the aim to bring together groups of people from all backgrounds, to have fun.

You can find out more about InterAct Llanelli by contacting Liane Davies, phone: 0845 604 1422.