10 Year Anniversary!

The 15th of August 2015 marked our tenth anniversary of the launch of UCAN Productions.

To celebrate, we premiered ‘Palais de Dance’, a specially commissioned play, written in verse and set just after the end of the Second World War.  We looked back, looked forwarded and shared memories given to us by people who were there.

Our production brought together a cast of nineteen, a UCAN record, seventeen of whom where either blind or partially sighted, among the cast where three actors from our American partners  Cre Outreach and Theatre by the Blind from Los Angeles. UCAN was thrilled to have them join the cast

Written by Rod Arthur and Directed by Bernie Latham, ‘Palais de Dance’ weaved together music, movement, dance, drama and songs of the time to tell a big story. The verbatim  stories used in ‘Palais de Dance’ were collected and recorded by the young people of UCAN from members of Cardiff Institute for the Blind. A massive thank you and congratulations to everyone involved.

Here’s to the next ten years!

Photographs © of Luke Webster & Tabitha Deas

UCAN Festival 2015!

On July 28th we continued our 10th year celebrations with a fantastic UCAN Perform festival at the Wales Millennium Centre. Young people came from all over Wales to enjoy a day of drama, music, dance and circus skills and a good time was had by all.

Book your tickets now!

The Sherman Cymru Theatre Box Office 029 2064 6900

We are delighted to announce that to mark UCAN Productions’ 10th Anniversary, we will be performing the world premier of ‘Palais de Dance’ at The Sherman Cymru Theatre, Senghennydd Road, Cardiff, CF24 4YE, on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of August 2015.

This cross-generational drama is a celebration and commemoration of the end of World War II. It was seventy years ago, this year, that the conflict ended and our show, set in a dance hall, tells tales, real and imaginary, of how people were affected by the war. It is also a loud thank you, to the generation that saw us through that terrible time. However, ‘Palais de Dance’ is not all doom and gloom, far from it. We encourage the audience to come dressed in the fashions of the time and to dance at appropriate moments. But fear not! If you want to just sit, watch and listen, then sit, watch and listen. There’ll be plenty of music, lots of dance and loads of memories.

Tickets are free of charge from The Sherman Cymru Theatre box office on 029 2064 6900

It’s all UCAN GO!!

We are very proud to announce that our research insights and project report for our UCAN Go App are now available to read and download on the Digital R and D Fund for the arts website. 

The UCAN GO mobile app is an intuitive, reliable and simple to use tool that allows your visitors to easily find their way around inside a building. Aimed at your visually impaired patrons, but also useable by anyone, the UCAN GO app instantly and dramatically improves a buildings accessibility.

 http://artsdigitalrnd.org.uk/projects/ucan-productions-2/

Celebrations at Cardiff School of Optometry and Visions Sciences.

July 16th was Graduation Day for the Students of the Cardiff School of Optometry.  Always a great day but one of mixed emotions as those who have lived and studied in Cardiff over the past 3 years move on to new beginnings.  UCAN Productions was delighted to be asked to participate in this years celebrations where our long time member Eleanor Wait sang beautifully.  We wish all the students the very best of luck for the future and hope you come back to visit us soon.