Playhouse Cymru offers schools brave and relevant new plays for large casts of ages 9-11 years to perform as their end of school year play at their local professional theatre. Playhouse also supports and mentors teachers to help them become better theatre directors to get the best out of their children.
Playhouse Cymru runs annually in partnership with The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre in Newport, working with schools in the South East Wales region. In 2026, we will also be partnering with the Park and Dare Theatre in Treorchy to work with schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The teachers from the schools that take part are offered 4 plays to choose from with at least one of these plays offered in the Welsh language.
Playhouse Cymru is part of a wider UK collaboration between Theatre Royal Plymouth, York Theatre Royal, Bristol Old Vic and Theatr Iolo. These organisations work together to commission professional playwrights each year to write short plays specifically for large casts of young people to perform. Previous writer’s include Julia Donaldson, Mike Kenny, David Wood, Philip Ridley and Alun Saunders.
Check out the Playhouse UK website for more information on the UK partnership
Watch this short video to find out more about Playhouse and how it can benefit your school…
What else do I need to know?
Playhouse Cymru has been developed for children aged 9-11 (Year 5 & 6)
The play will be written for a cast of 20-35 so it can be performed by everyone in the class
Schools will have access to brand new scripts, in both Welsh and English, that have been specifically written to be performed by children aged 9-11
Playhouse Cymru costs £350 per class taking part. Thanks to the funding awarded by Postcode Community Trust and raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, schools in Newport will have the cost of the project reduced to just £50!
In 2026, the plays will be performed at The Riverfront in Newport and Park and Dare Theatre in Treorchy
Playhouse Cymru Project Timeline
September - December 2025:
Schools sign up to the project and pay the project fee.
5 March 2026: Digital Writers Workshop
The Playhouse partners, playwrights and the teachers from across the UK come together for a Digital Writers Workshop, held over zoom. This digital event will help the teachers from primary schools across the UK to discover more about the play they have chosen. They will have the opportunity to talk to the writer of their chosen script and learn more about the play and the writer’s vision, as well as exploring how to best direct young people.
14 April 2026: Teacher’s Workshop Day
The teachers from the schools in Wales will come together for a Teacher’s Workshop Day, where there will be specific CPD to help their directing skills and how to get the best out of a large cast of young people. The Teacher Workshop Day is run by Theatr Iolo and will be in person at The Riverfront, Newport.
9 + 10 June 2026: Backstage Tour at The Riverfront
11 + 12 June 2026: Backstage Tour at Park and Dare Theatre in Treorchy
The teachers will be invited to the Riverfront on either of these days for a tour of the Backstage. Dates and times will be arranged by the Riverfront.
May & June 2026: School Visits
The teachers will rehearse their play within their school. A Theatr Iolo practitioner will come and visit the school for at least one half day session to provide bespoke advice and tips on how to stage the play and how to get the best out of each class.
6 + 7 July 2026: Performance Days at The Riverfront in Newport
8 + 9 July 2026: Performance Days at Park and Dare Theatre in Treorchy
In early July, the schools will come together and your class will perform their play to family and friends at The Riverfront, Newport and Park and Dare Theatre in Treorchy.
