Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch will be travelling to Nepal on 13 November 2026, continuing the company’s development of international connections through an exciting collaborative project bringing together the cultures of Wales and Nepal.
Ffion Wyn Bowen, Artistic Director of Arad Goch, and Cêt Haf, Freelance Movement Director and Choreographer will represent Wales and Arad Goch during the visit, working in partnership with Educational Theatre in Nepal on a project entitled Mererid’s Aawaaj( Mererid’s voice).
The project focuses on celebrating and empowering the voices of girls and women through stories, music and dance. Bringing together two cultures and two languages, the collaboration will explore Welsh and Nepali traditions and stories, celebrating female heroes within both cultures while recognising the strength, experiences and unique stories that every girl and woman has to share.
The project will bring together creative artists from Wales and Nepal to deliver drama, music and dance workshops with a variety of groups of women, girls, children and young people in Kathmandu. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, stories and ideas, contributing to the creation of a new piece of theatre combining elements of Welsh and Nepali culture. The creative process will culminate in performances in Kathmandu.
The partnership between Arad Goch and Educational Theatre in Nepal builds on a relationship that began in 2019, when Sunaina Panthy, Artistic Director of Educational Theatre in Nepal, joined Arad Goch in Aberystwyth as an intern, assisting with Agor Drysau / Opening Doors, Wales’ International Theatre Festival for Young Audiences. Since then, the two organisations have maintained their relationship and shared a desire to find an opportunity to work together again.
The project offers a valuable opportunity to exchange creative practices, learn from one another and develop new ways of using theatre as a tool to empower individuals and communities. Both organisations share a commitment to creating theatre with children and young people through their own languages and cultures.
Alongside the creative collaboration, Ffion Wyn Bowen will also contribute to the British Council’s For CCI creative and cultural industries networking event in Kathmandu on 17 November. Ffion will deliver a case presentation on young people and the creative industries, sharing Arad Goch’s experience of developing the Agor Drysau / Opening Doors Festival and the opportunities it creates for young people and artists.
Ffion Wyn Bowen, Artistic Director of Arad Goch, said:
“We are really excited to have the opportunity to bring Welsh and Nepali cultures together through such a meaningful project. Stories, music and theatre have the ability to cross borders and connect people, even when our languages and experiences are different. We are looking forward to sharing our experiences, learning from our partners in Nepal and creating something special with local communities. It is also important that we celebrate the voices of girls and women and provide opportunities for them to be heard.”
The project has received funding through the British Council’s Connections Through Culture programme, which supports international collaboration and creative exchange between the UK and countries around the world.
Arad Goch is proud to continue representing Wales on the international stage, sharing Welsh creativity, language and culture while developing new and lasting partnerships around the world.
