Welsh Gypsy youth get all animated

1 November 2009
Welsh Gypsy youth get all animated

A short film made by youngsters of two travelling communities about the Gypsy heritage in Wales has premiered at a Pembrokeshire theatre.

Pupils from Monkton in the county and Bynea in neighbouring Carmarthenshire helped create The Travelling Harpist.

It tells the story of the Wood family who, in the past, bought their music and way of life to Wales.

The aim of the lottery funded project was for young travellers to celebrate Romany culture in Wales.

Working with professional film makers they were encouraged to explore stories, the music and the language of the Gypsy heritage of Wales.

Cardiff-based Cinetig visited Bynea school in Llanelli which has a unit for traveller children where they worked with the school to produce part of the animated film.

They then went to Monkton in Pembrokeshire which also has a unit for traveller children where the main part of the project took place.

Pupils had the red carpet treatment when the animated short was premiered at the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven on Wednesday night.

Each youngster who worked the project was also presented with their own copy on a DVD and a booklet including ideas, drawings, quotes and photos on Romany culture they created.

You can watch ths film here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8307060.stm