The first tv programme I produced after leaving HTV Wales in 1989 was ‘Cyrchfan Cyfiawnder’ (Destination Justice), an hour-long drama doc for S4C. It was made by tv production co-operative, Teliesyn. I had just become a member. I had spent 8 years working for the ITV station in Wales but the shift to an independent company meant learning how to operate without the bureaucracy and the safety net of a national broadcaster.
It was an in-at-the-deep-end experience for me because this was an ambitious large-cast film, re-creating a major, and well-known, piece of Welsh history. The props, costume and make-up departments were in the limelight as we rustled up soldiers and citizens to film in some of the locations of the actual events in of 150 years earlier. Firearms, pikes, weapons – lots of potential for damage and lots of insurance calculations!
I was delighted to be invited to take part in a special screening of this documentary, organised by Newport Hub. Alas, I wasn’t well enough to go, at the last minute
Deng mlynedd ar hugain yn ôl mynnodd Casnewydd goffaú Gwrthryfel y Siartwyr ym 1839 yn gant a hanner mlwydd oed mewn ffordd ryfeddol – drwy lwyfannu opera werin “The Forbidden Hymn”. Wedi’i gyfarwyddo gan Michael McCarthy, denodd y prosiect cymunedol uchelgeisiol hwn blant ysgol, corau a bandiau pres o’r ardal. Bu’r ddrama/ ddogfen ar gyfer S4C a ddeilliodd, “Cyrchfan Cyfiawnder”, yn dilyn y cynhyrchiad o’r ymarferion cynnar, gan arwain at ail-greu ar raddfa lawn y gwrthdaro gwaedlyd o flaen Gwesty’r Westgate, Casnewydd. Dyma le bu dinasyddion blin a byddin Prydain yn ymladd dros safbwyntiau cwbl wrthwynebol ar ddyfodol ein cenedl.
Manteisiwch ar y cyfle i weld y rhaglen Gymraeg hon a gyflwynwyd gan ‘cofiadirwr y werin’ – y diweddar Athro Gwyn Alf Williams, ffigwr allweddol yn natblygiad cyflwyno hanes arloesol ar y teledu. Bydd dangosiad arbennig am 6 y.h. ar ddydd Llun, Rhagfyr yr 2il yng Nghanolfan y Newport Rising, 170 Commercial Road, Casnewydd NP20 1JN. Mae’r rhaglen yn nodi trobwynt hollbwysig yn hanes y dosbarth gweithiol Cymru – a Phrydain. Bydd tri aelod o’r tîm cynhyrchu − Siân Gale, Colin Thomas ac Angela Graham – yn bresennol ac ar ôl y dangosiad bydd sesiwn holi ac ateb.
Thirty-five years ago Newport decided to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Chartist Rising of 1839 in a remarkable way – by putting on people’s opera “The Forbidden Hymn”. Directed by Michael McCarthy, this ambitious community project drew in school children, choirs and brass bands from the area. The build-up to the production was recorded by television cooperative Teliesyn. The resulting drama/documentary, entitled “Cyrchfan Cyfiawnder” (Destination Justice) and made for S4C, followed the production through from its early rehearsals, culminating in a full-scale re-enactment of the bloody conflict at the Westgate Hotel in Newport. Here angry citizens and the British army fought out their very different perspectives on the future of our nation.
Take the chance to see this Welsh-language programme that was presented by ‘the people’s remembrancer’ – the late Professor Gwyn Alf Williams, a key figure in ground-breaking presentation of television history. There will be a special showing at 6 p.m. on Monday December 2nd at the Newport Rising centre, 170 Commercial Road, Newport NP20 IJN. The programme marks a crucial turning point in Welsh – and British working class – history. Three members of the production team – Sian Gale, Colin Thomas and Angela Graham – will be there for the screening which will be followed by a q and a.