Renegades at Swansea Grand 21^st June

A resounding success not only for TAN and their flagship company Meibion but especially for the cast of 200+ boys and their schools. An audience of almost 600 were treated to a feast of humour and pathos, physical theatre and innovative effects, evocative music and most of all the orchestration of a huge cast. Swansea Grand Theatre was buzzing with expectancy as a packed house waited to see sons, grandsons, nephews, boyfriends and friends strut their stuff, most having their first ever stage experience: for many audience members this was also their first trip to the theatre. Also soaking up this incredible evening of male dance were regular supporters of male dance, and those curious to know what the fuss was all about.

It was all about giving boys from 8-18 the opportunity to engage in dance, to introduce them to an art form they might not otherwise have encountered, and to work together creatively and practically over a number of workshop sessions which culminated in the joyous spectacle that was Renegades.

Directed and choreographed by Douglas Comley, assisted by Kim May, Renegades was produced by Carol Brown, TAN's Artistic Director. Carol devised Resistance, the piece performed by 200 Swansea schoolboys and Meibion: inspired by the recent uprisings in the Arab states, and following presentations to participating schools on the theme of peaceful protest, the result was both emotional and uplifting. TAN is pleased that their commitment to education performance work drawing on young people's own creativity has given the opportunity for so many to engage in this stimulating and memorable project.