Earlier this year, Frân Wen and Theatr y Sherman came together to stage Dynolwaith by Leo Drayton.

Alongside the production, we offered a Creative Engagement Trainee placement, giving young artist Arawn Bryn the chance to gain hands-on experience in connecting with audiences and communities through creativity.

In the reflection below, Arawn shares his personal and professional journey during the three-week placement. From leading workshops and creating new work, to discovering the power of collaboration, belonging, and representation in theatre.

Over the past three weeks, I’ve been working as a Engagement Trainee on Dynolwaith.

The show tells the story of a trans man coming out in 2015 and his journey of transition. This story is deeply personal to me as a trans man, and it also holds significance for the wider trans community - especially in these uncertain times. It was a privilege to help document and share this story, and the audience’s response to the production has truly lifted my hope for the future.

WONDERFULLY WRONG

Starting work at Nyth was a revelation. Before coming here, I was convinced that no workplace could ever feel truly comfortable for me, but the team at Frân Wen proved me wonderfully wrong. Collaboration is at the heart of everything they do. Everyone’s ideas and opinions are valued, and Nyth is a brilliant space for people to explore and develop their personal skills. There is always someone on hand to offer support, guidance, or reassurance, no matter what you need.

FIRST TIME

During my time with Frân Wen, I had the chance to try many things for the first time:

• Working as an artist with children and young people

• Collecting and documenting audience feedback

• Observing and supporting creative workshops such as badge-making with GISDA and zine-making with TINN (Trans, Intersex, and Non-Binary Network)

• Planning workshops, leading parts of sessions myself

• Speaking on a post-show panel at Pontio.

I also had the opportunity to use my creative skills in a new way, creating an animation that presented audience responses to the question, “How do we share the weight?”, the central question behind the exhibition that toured with the show.

This experience has significantly boosted my confidence. I started feeling out of my depth, but the staff were so supportive that I soon felt comfortable enough to put myself out there, take risks, and do things I initially thought would be difficult - and enjoy them.

EVOLVING PROCESS

As part of my role, I gained a valuable insight into the theatre-making process. Before rehearsals began, I read an early draft of the script, attended the first read-through, and observed how the script evolved. This gave me a real understanding of how a creative team collaborates to develop a production. I also contributed to the audience support pack, ensuring the show’s content could be safely and meaningfully accessed by all audiences.

In addition to Dynolwaith, I took part in other Frân Wen projects such as attending Cwmni Ifanc sessions at Nyth and participating in workshops in Bethesda as part of the Fa'ma project.

These three weeks have been incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally. I’ve loved creating the animation, connecting with audiences, and engaging with the wider community. I’ve found a group of people who are welcoming, energetic, and passionate about their work, a team dedicated to making art and theatre accessible to everyone.

I hope to have the opportunity to work with this wonderful company again.