Some Welsh speakers in Cardiff say they want to see more Welsh-language performances at the Wales Millennium Centre because Welsh is their first language.
Some of Welsh speakers hope for more Welsh-language shows at the Wales Millennium Centre, according to some musical fans in Cardiff.
Although the Wales Millennium Centre has already staged some Welsh-language performances, some of Cardiff’s Welsh speakers hope to see more shows in Welsh, as they would undoubtedly attend events in their first language. Gwyn Robert, a retired musical fan says that…
“Personally I would like to see more Welsh language performances here, as it’s my first language and I would undoubtedly visit Welsh language events.”
Wales Millennium Centre is a bilingual theatre, some of the staff here are required to speak Welsh in order to serve Welsh speakers. “There is a certain percentage of stuff that have to speak Welsh here, we have to be bilingual,” said Non, a customer relation assistant.
The centre has also scheduled some Welsh-language performances before, such as the Welsh language musical “Branwen: Dadeni” and “Meet the Cast: Anthem”. Each time, they attracted many Welsh speakers, but the frequency of Welsh-language performances has not satisfied the Welsh speakers, even some staffs believe there should be more high quality Welsh-language shows.
“I think the centre needs to promote more Welsh-language performances here because it is a national centre, bilingualism is really important. There was a big Welsh language production that happened earlier this year, the Bramwen, which went down really well,” said Naomi, who is working at Wales Millennium Centre.
Some Welsh speaking audience at the centre, particularly the elderly people, say that the Welsh-language performances here are excellent, but they need more high-quality shows like those. Naomi said, “If there are Welsh-language speakers who don’t feel like we are putting enough of that on space, I think that’s definitely something that we need to bear in mind.”
“I think the government still needs to do more to develop musicals and Welsh-language performances in Cardiff, but I think they’re doing a good job, considering the environment and economic situation, and they are still going ahead,” said Gwyn Robert.