Press Releases

Quarryhouse Quarrels

Museum gets ‘dramatic’ to reveal history of houses

The National Slate Museum Llanberis will be putting on performances of a specially commissioned drama this week to help bring its quarrymen’s houses to life.

The dramatic performances centre around a husband and wife in two of the houses and bring to life their worries and fears about their personal and economic situation. Julie Williams, Marketing Officer at the site explained:

“The performances take place in two of our houses – the 1901 house which is set in Bethesda at the time of the Great Strike and our 1969 house which reflects Llanberis when Dinorwig Slate Quarry closed. Although the subject matter is set in bygone years the themes resonate strongly with today’s economic climate with financial worries facing both our couples and indeed the community as a whole and we hope that by dramatising events like this it will put it all into context for our visitors and help to bring stories to life.”

The performances will again be performed by new, young drama company SHIMLI and follows on the success of last year’s drama at the museum all about the closure of Dinorwig Quarry. The actors taking part are Mared Elliw Huws and Trystan Roberts with Siwan Llynor directing.

“These performances are looking to bring the history of the houses to life and to do that we’re actually inside the houses this time and they are quite small.’ said Siwan. “ But it’s so nice to be able to create a drama in real locations like these houses – very different to a big stage performance as the actors are a lot closer to their audience but this also helps to break down barriers. It has been quite challenging - especially as the audience the museum have is so wide ranging but hopefully people will enjoy it and it will add a little bit to their understanding of the history of the houses.’

The drama can be seen at the museum site on August 24,25 and 26 30 and 31 at 12pm ( Welsh language performances 1.30pm and 3pm (English language performances)

Admission to the museum and ALL events are FREE.

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For further information please contact Julie Williams on 01286 873707 

Entry to all Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales sites is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government. Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is the new name for the National Museums & Galleries of Wales, which operates seven museums across Wales - National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.