Today we are in the vibrant West Wales town of Cardigan, to learn more about Small World Theatre and their current fundraiser with Localgiving to revive the Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade. Our Head of Communications Luke Upton spoke to Sam Vicary, Communications Manager at Small World Theatre to get the lowdown on their past, present and future.

 Luke Upton (LU): Thanks for the time today, you are based in Cardigan - tell us a little bit about your community.

Sam Vicary (SV): Cardigan or Aberteifi in Welsh, is border town on the coast and Small World Theatre ( @smallworldtheatre ) is neatly placed to work with communities across all three counties in West Wales (Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire). We work with a creative community of artists and makers who are dedicated to encouraging arts participation and improving health and well-being. Cardigan town is the second largest in Ceredigion, with a primary and secondary school, many independent traders, a theatre and cinema venue, award-winning places to eat and drink and a welcoming destination for visitors. In contrast according to the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) 2019, our small town (pop.4000) includes areas reported as being the most deprived in the county and among the 10% most deprived in Wales.

LU: Great, and what about Small World Theatre, give us an introduction to what it is you offer.

SV: Small World Theatre is an artist-led organisation that creates environmental puppet theatre, giant puppets, and parades, with core projects supporting community and well-being.

Founded in 1996, the organisation developed from the participatory arts practice of founding creative directors Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett who began collaborating in 1979. With a background in puppetry, their expertise includes  work in  Africa, Asia and the Middle East and in arts and sustainability with schools, communities and universities in Wales and UK wide.

Small World Theatre’s practice has always sought to build safe and strong communities, where people of different backgrounds and lifestyles can live and work together with mutual trust and respect. Arts and well-being are integral to our practice and we have an impressive track record in Wales of using the arts to support diverse groups and communities in educational and community settings.

We create events with excited crowds coming to see our large-scale puppets, lantern parades and touring environmental theatre productions. Our own theatre productions and creative projects have a focus on climate justice and biodiversity. They can be in Welsh or bilingual and typically combine live, shadow, or digital puppetry with animation to explore climate justice themes.

We run an aerial circus school, Syrcas Byd Bach that offers regular classes for all ages and abilities, with masterclasses and performance opportunities throughout the year. Our vibrant youth theatre, Ieunenctid Byd Bach is nurturing a love of theatre in the next generation of performers, artists and technicians. Our Amethyst project offers supportive sessions for young people experiencing mental health challenges using the arts and therapeutic techniques.

Small World Theatre uses its experience to genuinely co-create with associate artists, partner organisations and communities to extend creative potential. Our near-zero carbon venue is a creative hub and a safe space for a myriad of uses, groups and audiences at live events.

LU: A big focus for you is the revival of the Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade, why did it go away, what is you are trying to do and what makes it so important for the people of Cardigan?

SV: Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade began in 2016 supported by Visit Wales funding. In the first year we succeeded in delivering public lantern making sessions with families and community groups, creating giant willow sculptures and a large-scale procession that spanned the length of the town. Subsequent parades built on the first year's successes and in 2019 the event drew 13,500 visitors and spectators to the town.

We closed our business to the public like many other organisations at the start of the covid pandemic, returning to create public events in 2021 that could be managed with people's safety in mind.

Our aim to provide free lantern making workshops and a spectacular event that is open to all. The absence of the annual parade was noticed most by families who are struggling in this difficult economic time. Our public fundraising appeal is a testament to popularity of the parade.

LU: We are proud to work with in fundraising for the Lantern Parade, how important has the support of Localgiving been to your work?

SV: We chose Localgiving because your focus is on community benefit. Localgiving helped us with our first public appeal during the pandemic. The aim was to show our followers and supporters that we were ok and we would return to business. We were delighted with care we received from Localgiving who supported our ideas and gave us helpful tips along the way. Our first appeal raised £2,628 and our current appeal has reached 65% of our target in 10 days.

LU: And we’ve been very proud to help support you. And to finish, aside from a huge increase in donations, what would most help support your aims?

SV: We would most like to raise the profile of the Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade and Small World Theatre's work. We're looking for volunteer ambassadors to help us raise future funds and perhaps support our artists in creative activities. We have ambitious ideas and plans for future events, none of which can be fully realised without the support of our community.

LU: Ardderchog! Thanks for the time today, and good luck with fundraising for the Lantern Parade. 

👉 Support the revival of the Cardigan Giant Lantern Parade by clicking here. 

All photos by Heather Birnie, courtesy of Small World Theatre.