For nearly 50 years, the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven has built a reputation as a home for new writing in west Wales, championing Welsh and Welsh made stories, and sharing them with audiences across the UK and beyond. As the Torch approaches its half-century next year, the Theatre wanted to inspire the next generation of playwrights and storytellers by creating the Cynefin Stories Project for the young people of Pembrokeshire.

Funded by the RWE Foundation, their generous support of £50,000 has enabled the Torch Theatre to deliver the Cynefin Stories Project as its flagship education programme free of charge to young people across Pembrokeshire with 16 schools and members of the county’s Elective Home School Education network benefiting from writing sessions hosted by seven playwrights, from our county or with strong links to the Torch, empowering pupils and their communities.

“The partnership reflects our joint ambition to provide high quality opportunities for young people, helping them develop skills, confidence and a stronger connection to the place we all call home,” explained Tim Howe, Head of Youth & Community at the Torch Theatre.  

He added: “We knew that placing young people's voices and experiences at the heart of our Torch Theatre’s 50^th birthday celebrations would require support. With our shared commitment to supporting young people and expanding future opportunities for the communities we serve, the RWE Foundation became the perfect project partner.”

Working with professional playwrights over four sessions, will give young people the opportunity to develop a range of valuable skills, including interviewing, creative writing and editing as one of the visiting playwrights, Ceri Ashe explains:

“It’s been such an exciting project to be a part of so far. It’s great to see the reaction of the children when I tell them that the show can be anything that inspires them and to see what they come up with. I’m looking forward to see the stories that they come up with based on what they find out in the interviews they do with people in the community.

“Verbatim theatre is my speciality as a playwright so it’s such a wonderful opportunity to combine my love of working with young people and my passion as a playwright and to have a venue like the Torch theatre to work with in Pembrokeshire.”

In addition to the workshops for the learners, teachers at the schools will receive training sessions to support student learning beyond the life of the project ensuring a healthy and productive legacy.

Pupils at Milford Haven School have already got their teeth into the project and the long term impact the project has for young people across the county is impressive as Elizabeth Greenish, the school’s English and Drama teacher explains:

“After Day 1 of the Cynefin project, I’m really pleased to say that all of our pupils who took part thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. They had a lot of fun, engaged really well with the activities and responded very positively to the session.

“It was lovely to see them getting involved, sharing ideas and enjoying the opportunity to be creative. We’re really looking forward to seeing how the project develops over the coming sessions,” concluded Elizabeth.

For further details on the Cynefin Project contact Tim Howe at the Torch Theatre on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.

About the RWE Foundation gGmbH

The RWE Foundation GmbH is an international foundation dedicated to educational equity across Europe, with a particular focus on Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. The Foundation supports children and young people through key educational transitions, helping them progress successfully from early childhood through school and into employment.

Particular emphasis is placed on supporting children and young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. By funding projects that strengthen continuity in learning and support, the Foundation aims to reduce barriers during educational transitions and create better opportunities for long-term educational success.