Youngsters enjoy smash hit energy musical

We have funded the award-winning musical Eye of the Storm, created by Welsh theatre company Theatr na nÓg.

Year 5 and 6 pupils from Ysgol Bro Teyrnon, Brynglas, Newport who took part in the workshops are pictured eagerly waiting to see a performance of Eye of the Storm at the Riverfront Theatre with WPD’s Education Liaison Officer, Ruth Adams (back row centre) and Theatr na nÓg’s Director and Writer of Eye of the Storm, Geinor Styles (back row right).

Earlier this autumn, the production opened to great acclaim in Scotland scooping five star reviews before touring other parts of the UK.

The narrative focuses on a mother and daughter living on the breadline from a mobile home in Aberdare. A carer for her mother, Emmie finds herself drawn into her passion for physics and extreme weather as a tool to escape her situation, inventing a breakthrough system for extracting renewable energy from artificial tornadoes along the way.

Funding has covered the cost of educational resources used at a series of workshops that accompany the production run by Theatr na nÓg to local primary school pupils in Newport and Swansea.

Aimed at audiences aged 8+ Eye of the Storm offers learning opportunities around the themes of climate change, girls in STEM, extreme weather and electricity, as well as raising awareness of social issues including young carers and mental health.

Karen Welch, WPD Corporate Communications Officer, said: “We are delighted to be able to support this production, which highlights some very important messages for our times. We also hope it will encourage more pupils and in particular girls to think about a career in engineering, this production is a great advocate for promoting STEM subjects”.

Following a week of performances in Edinburgh, Swansea, Newport, Portsmouth and Birmingham, Eye of the Storm will be touring Bangor and Aberystwyth.

For more information visit www.eyeofthestormmusical.co.uk.