Theatr Gwaun, in Fishguard is making use of a sustainable development fund by having 54 solar panels installed to help power the theatre in the future.
The Theatre applied to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s sustainable development fund for £15,000 and has installed 20kw of solar panels to generate up to £2000 of electricity a year.
Theatre Gwaun is one of the oldest cinemas in Wales (first being used as an entertainments venue from the late 1890’s) It is now a theatre, cinema and arts/events venue, which is mainly run by volunteers (after being saved from closure by Friends of Theatre Gwaun in 2010) and is working towards a greener future with the installation of the solar panels and the south facing theatre roof, costing £22,472. The installation could reduce consumption by up to 70 percent.
The theatre’s digital projector, lighting and heating as well as other factors, currently costs around £5,000 a year. The venue’s chief executive, Sue Whitbread, said of the grant
“It will allow the theatre to generate 20 kilowatts for electricity, making its operations greener and more cost effective.”
Like other theatres across the country, Theatr Gwaun have felt the impact of Covid 19 and the closure of its doors during these difficult times. The dedication of the theatre’s volunteers has proved heart-warming, with scaffolding being using to make repairs on the west wall of the venue in preparation for the installation of a mural this summer, in association with Ancient Connections project. Ancient Connections is an arts, heritage and tourism project, which links Wexford and North Pembrokeshire. The project invited artists to submit ideas for a mural that encouraged local people and visitors to take more interest in the history and heritage of the town.
Theatr Gwaun have always been keen to promote the local area and local talent, with previous events such as the Writers Festival (2013 -2015) and the International Women’s day event, which proved popular for 2019 and 2020. In November 2020, they announced plans to launch Martha’s café and a meeting/event space which could be Covid 19 secure, following strict government guidelines on arts venues reopening. With the help of generous donations, funding and volunteer power, the foyer and café area of the theatre have been revamped, coronavirus safety measures installed throughout and the auditorium made ready. Although much of this had to be put on hold, they now hope to open in the near future.
They have also recently launched the Young Film Makers project, which is a free event that encourages local talent to get involved with learning the skills to write and produce a film, with the opportunity to also win a camera. They are also advertising new volunteering opportunities, ahead of a grand re opening when government guidelines allow.
For more info visit https://theatrgwaun.com/
