Theatr Iolo’s Artistic Director to step down after 27 years

Artistic Director, Kevin Lewis, is stepping down from his role at the Cardiff based theatre company after 27 years. He is leaving Theatr Iolo at the end of March 2018 to pursue new opportunities after nearly three decades creating award-winning theatre productions for children and young people.

During his time at Theatr Iolo he has created over 70 productions and toured work developed in Wales across the UK and the world.

Highlights during his tenure include being the first Welsh theatre company to perform at Sydney Opera House, developing a series of world renowned projects for the very young with Sarah Argent, and winning several awards including a Beacon of Excellence Award by Arts Council of Wales, a Tron Award for Best Play for Young People for ‘Bison and Sons’ and a Theatre Critics of Wales Award for Best Play for Children for ‘Grimm Tales’.

Of his time at the company, he said: “I have been so lucky and privileged to have been Artistic Director of Theatr Iolo for the last 27 years and, in the company’s 30th birthday year, I feel it is now time for me to move on.

 

“I am indebted to the hundreds of talented and passionate colleagues with whom I’ve worked over the years to create and present and sometimes perform theatre that has delighted, stimulated, and transported tens of thousands of children and young people and their teachers and families.

 

“I am also hugely grateful to the colleagues across the globe (many of whom have become dear friends, one of whom became my wife!) with whom I have collaborated and talked into the night about our shared passion for the most important of audiences.

 

“I am particularly indebted to the children, young people, and teachers we have worked with whose thoughts, ideas and experiences have inspired and shaped the work we do. I would also like to thank the Theatr Iolo board for their support over the years, Cardiff Council and Arts Council of Wales whose funding has enabled the work to happen.

 

“It is time for a new Artistic Director to lead the company and I am most excited to see how the company will develop under their leadership.”

 

As Theatr Iolo embarks on its 30th anniversary, the charity is now seeking to recruit a new Artistic Director to develop the artistic direction of the company for the next 30 years, while continuing to deliver artistic experiences of the highest quality for children and young people across Wales.

 

Rebecca Gould, Chair of the board of Theatr Iolo, said: “After 27 years with the company, we are naturally sad to see Kevin leave Theatr Iolo.

 

“Under his artistic direction, the company has gone from strength to strength and he has played a hugely important role in the development of children’s theatre in Wales and beyond.

 

“We are very grateful for all that he has brought to the company and wish him well for the future.

 

“While he is leaving us in his current role, we look forward to continuing our association with Kevin.

 

“As we celebrate Theatr Iolo’s 30th anniversary it is an exciting time for someone new to come in and lead and shape the next chapter of our story.”

 

Theatr Iolo will be recruiting during April and information will be available at www.theatriolo.com

Cyfarwyddwr Artistig Theatr Iolo yn rhoi'r gorau iddi ar ôl 27 mlynedd

Mae’r Cyfarwyddwr Artistig Kevin Lewis yn rhoi gorau i’w rôl gyda‘r cwmni theatr yng Nghaerdydd ar ôl 27 mlynedd. 

Mae'n gadael Theatr Iolo erbyn diwedd mis Mawrth 2018 i ddilyn cyfleoedd newydd ar ôl bron i dair degawd o greu cynyrchiadau theatr a ennillodd sawl gwobr i blant a phobl ifanc.

Yn ystod ei gyfnod gyda Theatr Iolo, creodd dros 70 o gynyrchiadau ac fe aeth â gwaith o Gymru ar daith ledled y DG a'r byd.

Mae uchafbwyntiau ei gyfnod wrth y llyw yn cynnwys sicrhau mae Theatr Iolo oedd y cwmni theatr Cymreig cyntaf i berfformio yn Nhŷ Opera Sydney, datblygu cyfres o brosiectau o safon byd-eang i blant ifanc iawn gyda Sarah Argent, ac ennill sawl gwobr nodedig, gan gynnwys Gwobr Ragoriaeth gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, Gwobr Tron am y Ddrama Orau i Bobl Ifanc ('Bison and Sons') a Gwobr Beirniaid Theatr Cymru am y Ddrama Orau i Blant ('Grimm Tales').

 

Wrth sôn am ei gyfnod gyda Theatr Iolo, dywedodd Kevin: "Dw i wedi bod yn ffodus iawn - roedd yn fraint yn wir - cael bod yn Gyfarwyddwr Artistig Theatr Iolo dros y 27 mlynedd diwethaf. A'r cwmni'n dathlu 30 oed eleni, mae'n amser da i mi symud ymlaen.

 

"Dw i'n ddyledus iawn i'r cannoedd o gydweithwyr talentog ac angerddol y bûm i'n ddigon ffodus i weithio gyda nhw dros y blynyddoedd, wrth greu a chyflwyno - a pherfformio hefyd o bryd i'w gilydd - weithiau theatr sydd wedi cyffroi, herio ac ysgogi degau o filoedd o blant a phobl ifanc, ynghyd â’u hathrawon a'u teuluoedd.

 

"Dw i hefyd yn ddiolchgar iawn i gydweithwyr ledled y byd - daeth llawer ohonynt yn ffrindiau annwyl, ac un o'u plith yn wraig i mi hyd yn oed! Cefais gyfle i gydweithio gyda nhw bob un a thrafod ein cariad cyfun at y theatr a'r gynulleidfa bwysicaf un - pobl ifanc.

 

"Mae fy nyled bennaf, efallai, i'r plant, y bobl ifanc a'r athrawon a weithiodd gyda ni ac a rannodd syniadau, meddyliau a phrofiadau. Fe siapiodd y rheiny y gwaith a wnawn. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i fwrdd Theatr Iolo am eu cefnogaeth dros y blynyddoedd, ac i Gyngor Caerdydd a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru am nawdd a alluogodd i'r gwaith hwnnw ddigwydd.

 

"Mae hi'n bryd i Gyfarwyddwr Artistig newydd gymryd awenau'r cwmni bellach ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld sut y bydd y cwmni'n datblygu ag arweinyddiaeth newydd."

 

Wrth i Theatr Iolo gychwyn ar flwyddyn o nodi pen-blwydd y cwmni’n 30 oed, mae'r elusen bellach yn ceisio recriwtio Cyfarwyddwr Artistig newydd i ddatblygu cyfeiriad artistig y cwmni ar gyfer y 30 mlynedd nesaf, er mwyn parhau i gyflwyno profiadau artistig o'r radd flaenaf i blant a phobl ifanc ledled Cymru.

 

Dywedodd Rebecca Gould, Cadeirydd Bwrdd Theatr Iolo: "Ar ôl 27 mlynedd gyda'r cwmni, mae gweld Kevin yn ein gadael yn destun tristwch, yn naturiol. 

 

"O dan ei gyfarwyddyd artistig ef, aeth y cwmni o nerth i nerth ac fe chwaraeodd e ran hollbwysig yn natblygiad theatr i blant yng Nghymru a thu hwnt.

 

"Rydym yn ddiolchgar iawn iddo am yr oll a wnaeth dros y cwmni ac yn dymuno'n dda iddo yn y dyfodol. 

 

"Ac er ei fod yn gadael ei rôl gyfredol, rydym yn edrych ymlaen at barhad ein perthynas â Kevin.

 

"Wrth i ni ddathlu pen-blwydd Theatr Iolo yn 30 oed, mae'n gyfnod cyffrous i rywun newydd ymuno â'r cwmni, i arwain ac i siapio pennod nesaf ein stori."

 

Bydd Theatr Iolo yn recriwtio yn ystod mis Ebrill ac fe fydd gwybodaeth ar gael yn www.theatriolo.com.

 

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