Valleys Kids

2009 - 2012  Wales Cultural Olympiad The Power of the Flame Kindling Talent

Over the next 4 years in the build up to London 2012, and as part of Wales's Cultural Olympiad initiative, we are planning an ambitious cross cultural community celebration with the aim of linking communities of Rhondda in South Wales and Cape Town in South Africa.

The project is inspired by the iconic film Zulu (featuring Welsh stars: Stanley Baker Ivor Emmanuel) which was made in 1964, at a moment when history was being made in South Africa, as Nelson Mandela was sent to Robbin Island at the beginning of his 27 year long incarceration.

In the Rhondda the project will be spearheaded by community development charity Valleys Kids. Valleys Kids have commissioned Welsh writer, Laurence Allan to write and be overall Artistic

Co-ordinator.

In South Africa it will be spearheaded by Victor & Linda Ntoni from the Music Lab in Johannesburg and by percussion group Amampondo in Cape Town.

The aim is to engage with professional artists Welsh and South Africa (actors, musicians, singers, dancers, drummers, photographers, film-makers, set designers, costume makers) and inspire intergenerational participation across all art forms, in each community. Particularly aiming to reach hard to reach and disadvantaged individuals.

This ambitious large scale extravaganza, will focus on the story of a young Welsh extra and a young Zulu, who meet and become friends during the making of Zulu. Their trajectory over the next 40 years will form 2 separate stories told from the South African and Welsh perspectives. Each performance will be produced separately in Wales and South Africa, with a long term aim of bringing the two strands together to form one cohesive (and massive) performance which in 2012 will be performed in both South Africa & Wales. It is intended that showcase performances will be generated along the route raising public awareness and profile of the Project.

In South Africa the World Cup in 2010 would seem to be an ideal target for showcasing progress.

15th February - 20th February in Johannesburg

21st February - 2nd March in Cape Town

We welcome suggestions for contacts in South Africa who could have an input in any of the above areas. Please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The research process will begin in Wales from March 09 so all of the above applies for the Rhondda focused part of the production.

Larry, the writer will be keen to hear from anyone who can help.