Gwlad!
Gwlad!
Harvey Evans
Director
Harvey Evans is a director and singer from Newport.
He is an alumnus of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Some of his notable directing credits include ‘Don Giovanni’ for Bath Opera, ‘The Egg’ for the RWCMD Atmosphere Festival, and ‘The Game’, a short community film with Operasonic. He has also worked as an Assistant Director for the Welsh National Youth Opera and as an Associate Director for Bampton Classical Opera. Throughout his journey in the arts, Harvey has been dedicated to promoting innovation and collaboration with communities. His upcoming projects include some exciting R&D opportunities and presenting his project ‘The Game’ in France.
Chris Harris
Writer
Chris is a writer, translator and director.
He is the recipient of The Richard Carne Playwriting Award. He has a BA from Aberystwyth University, an MA from the University of Amsterdam. He trained as a playwright with the Sherman Theatre Playwriting Group. His plays include: ‘Cariad yn Oes y Gin’ (Theatr Bara Caws) and ‘Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du’ (Theatrau Sir Gar). He is also developing: ‘Y Boi Madfall’ (Theatr Iolo) and ‘’Gwen yr Arth Wen’ (Blackwood Miners Institute). He has also translated for Theatr Iolo’s Playhouse scheme. He also writes for radio: ‘Gwen yr Arth Wen’ (BBC Radio Cymru) and ‘Tic Toc’ (BBC Sounds). His first film ‘Claddediageth Chwaer’ will be produced by S4C, BBC Wales and It’s My Shout will be released Autumn 2024. He sits on the Advisory Board of the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, is a board member for Theatr Bara Caws and is a member of TYA Cymru.
Stacey Blythe
Composer
Stacey Blythe is a composer, performer and multi-instrumentalist based in Cardiff.
She has performed across the UK, Europe, Australia, America and Brazil as a soloist, with the folk group Ffynnon, Welsh folk duo Elfen and world music duo Gitan. She has also toured and recorded with artists including Maria Hayes, Dylan Fowler, Julie Murphy, Meredith Monk, poets such as Patrick Jones and storytellers including Nick Hennessey. She has worked on community and professional projects for organisations such as Welsh National Opera, No Fit State Circus, National Dance Wales, National Orchestra of Wales, Opersonic, Ty Cerdd, Live Music Now, Trac and BBC Radio 4. Originally from Birmingham, Stacey has lived for most of life in Cardiff and is a fluent Welsh speaker. She lectures as a musical director and performance coach at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Visit www.staceyblythe.com
Pedro Lloyd Gardiner
Producer
Pedro Lloyd Gardiner is a producer and performer from St Helena.
He has worked extensively across TV, Film & Stage. He has a BA in Acting from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and a PGCE in Drama from the University of Hertfordshire. Pedro has had lead roles for NBC, Sony Picture and BBC. Best known for his voice over work he been working recently with Netflix dubbing foreign language projects, he is also currently the voice of Cineworld. As Awen’s Creative Producer, Pedro started the Lansiad project last year when he directed and produced their first public show, Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown at the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl. Pedro is thrilled that this year Lansiad will be able to perform this fantastic new play at the Eisteddfod.
Cast
Isabella Colby Browne
Isabella is a North Welsh actress currently living in Cardiff. She recently won the Medal Bobi Jones in the Eisteddfod yr Urdd, and is thrilled to return to the Eisteddfod to perform in this exciting and thought provoking show.
Isabella (she/her) is an American Citizen who grew up in North Wales. She trained at Rose Bruford College before moving to Cardiff and learning Welsh, recently winning the Medal Bobi Jones in the Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Recent credits include: Where the Leaves Blow/Ble Mae’r Dail yn Hedfan (Regional Tour); Under Milk Wood (The Sherman Theatre); The First Three Drops (Regional Tour); Ain’t Mushroom ‘Tween Here and The Moon (Theatr Clwyd). Film Credits: A Chat About Ducks (Unit 148 Films); Elysian Fields (FinalFrameFilms); Can The Moon Walk Me Home (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts). Additional credits: Creative Enabler and Actress in The First Three Drops (Regional Tour).
Hannah Novello
Hannah Novello (she/her) is 22 year old Welsh actress living in Cardiff.
She recently performed in ‘Amserlen’ by Alys Hedd Jones, which was the winning drama piece in the Urdd Eisteddfod this year. She is absolutely delighted to be performing in Chris Harris’ adventurous new play, ‘Gwlad! Gwlad!’, at the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol.
She trained at Wales Academy of Voice and Dramatic Arts, where she gained a BA in Performing and an MA in Musical Theatre. She recently performed in ‘Amserlen’ by Alys Hedd Jones, which was the winning drama piece in the Urdd Eisteddfod this year. Other recent credits include: Claddedigaeth Chwaer (It’s My Shout); Smashed Live (Regional Tour).
Cari Wilson
Cari Wilson is a twenty year old performer from Bridgend and she is looking forward to performing this play at the Eisteddfod this year.
Cari is currently on a gap year but will be training at Italia Conti from September. Cari has been a part of numerous youth and amateur productions with Bridgend Youth Theatre as well as ‘My Lands Shore’, the Welsh musical based on the Merthyr uprising with The Performance House. Cari was also a part of an original play, Hydwythedd/ Resilience written by Mari Izzard. Professional credits include: Jack And The Beans Talk & Other Sheep Tales (The Cardiff Open Air Festival), Y Fenyw Mewn Du (Theatr Na Nóg).
Ffion Wilson
Ffion (she/her) is a South Wales based actress from Bridgend.
She is thrilled to be performing in this exciting new play. She has been involved in a number of different productions across South Wales but most recently, ‘Cinderella the Pantomime’ as Dandini, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk the Pantomime’ and Louise in ‘Gypsy the musical’.
