Anya Baner
10.12.25

Anya to fly the nest

Artist in Residence looks back before moving forward

After six months with us as our Artist in Residence, we say farewell to Anya Sherlock this week.

Throughout her placement she brought energy, curiosity, and a thoughtful artistic voice that enriched every project she touched. From supporting rehearsals and workshops to offering fresh perspectives in our creative meetings, her contribution has been valued across the organisation.

As she reflects on her time here, Anya has written a poem capturing her experience and we are pleased to share it below.

If someone had told me at the beginning of the year that in only a few short months I’d start the job of my dreams
I never would have believed you.

Ma bywyd byth di bod yn hawdd
Ond ma Frân Wen wedi newid hynna

Not that this job has been easy, cause it hasn't
Waking up at six in the morning, leaving the house at seven and getting to Nyth at nine

Gweithio efo pobol sy’n gwthio fi i neud y gorau posib
Gweithio mewn gofod sy’n gwthio fi i neud mwy

I’ve pushed myself harder in these last 6 months than I ever have before
I’ve grown so much as a writer but also as a human

Gweithio efo bob math o bobl
Newid sut dwi’n gweithio i gael pob tamad o greadigrwydd allan o’r grŵp

It has been chaotic and joyous
It has been awesome and hard

Ond pan dwi’n anghofio amdan yr anhrefn
yr unig beth sy'n dod i'r meddwl yw cariad,
cariad at y cwmni hwn, y bobl hyn a'r gofod hwn

I have loved these past six months like no other time in my life
I have absorbed all the love, taken in every ounce of kindness and care
And I will take it all with me.

Pryd dwi’n edrych yn ôl ar y chwech mis diwethaf
Mae yna gymaint sydd wedi digwydd

Like trying to convince Hannah that she can be Non Parry but on the condition that it’s Non Parry the elf in the christmas show

Neu gael sesiynau trafod syniadau gydag Elis
Ac yn gael chats efo Elgs a Geth

Getting Lew to fix my laptop every five minutes even though I’m the 19 year old who should understand technology more than her millennial co-worker

Cael sgyrsiau gwirion gyda Soph, Nia a Carl yn y swyddfa,
Chwerthin pob eiliad o’r diwrnod.

The 3 days of the week I spend here, are always the best days
Even when I’m exhausted or running low on creative energy

Jyst yn troi fyny yn y bore, ac erbyn diwedd y ddiwrnod, dwi dal yn knackered ond bob tro, dwi’n teimlo'n hapusach.

It's not a secret that I've struggled, I’ll share my story with anyone who will listen
And I’m proud of myself for being able to do so

Ond mae Frân Wen wedi rhoi ffordd newydd i mi rannu fy stori
Ffordd dwi'n rheoli. Dwi efo y pŵer, neb arall

I can use this power, this gift I have to enter the wonderful world of creativity
In this world I am protected, I am safe

Dwi’n defnyddio fy nghreadigrwydd i ddweud be dwi isho ddweud a does neb ar y byd ma yn mynd i stopio fi!

I had only ever explored poetry before this residency, but now I can say that I've written a real script, for a real performance

Dwi ddim isho gadael ond ma amser fi ar ben, dwi isho crio i bod yn onest,
Ond y sgiliau dwi wedi dysgu yn mynd i aros efo fi am y gweddill fy mywyd

The conversations I’ve had, I will never forget, the actors, writers and performers I've met, I will be grateful to them forever and I will do everything I can to keep going as a writer.

Dwi o hyd yn mynd i weithio at rhywbeth mwy, pethau mwy, pethau sy’n cyffroi fi ac yn herio fi i weithio yn galetech.