Bridgend Youth Theatre, Dance and Orchestra are busily working towards their next production - a world premier large scale multi-media performance of ’Mary Twice’ to be performed at The Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th 2008 at 7.30pm.

Specially commissioned by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Arts & Culture Service in partnership with Arts Council of Wales, this world premier is an adventure story based on the ancient traditions of Mari Lwyd from the Welsh Mabinogion. Mari is 11 years old, and like lots of 11 year olds she finds her parents’ endless efforts to get her interested in things are just embarrassing! Her life is, quite simply, boring!

Until, that is, she discovers Otherworld and Grey Mary. As their lives become interwoven, both girls find themselves living a twilight existence between our world and the mystical, magical environment of the Otherworld.

Written by renowned playwright Gary Owen, (winner of the Arts Council England 2003 Meyer-Whitworth Award for new writing for the theatre), “Mari Lwyd” will feature he combined talents of Bridgend County Borough Council’s Arts and Culture Service’s Bridgend Youth Theatre, Bridgend Youth Dance and members of Bridgend Youth Orchestra.

“Mary Twice” will also coincide with the completion of a two- year Creative Industries Training programme (also in partnership with Arts Council of Wales). Over 100 hundred trainees have been working on productions with professional companies and practitioners where their input in all areas of theatre production and performance including design and stage management has played a major part since the start of the project.