Tour manager here, real time – I am very comfortably seated within four glass walls, slate flooring and an undulating wood panelled ceiling, with a central trunk that delves down to a circular conference room below me – the Welsh Assembly Senedd – where matters of the welsh people are debated and decided between government and committees.
The architecture of the building has been designed to represent the openness of the dealings of the Assembly to the public, to the people it serves. And the Welsh language is definitely alive – I hear it and see it all around me.
Through the glass wall in front of me I can see the Welsh National Opera House, another breathtaking piece of modern architecture, curved and slanted in layers of welsh slate and reflective iron plates. The front of the Opera House is engraved in enormous wording that catches your eye, and imagination, on your approach to Cardiff Bay – a brilliant example of the power of word art.
To my left is the beautiful bay, the sun rises over partly frozen, still water and light bounces off dustings of ice and snow on the promenade. Watching over this is the Pierhead, a Grade One listed late Victorian building, complete with clock tower and arched windows, once the centre of commerce in Cardiff Bay, now used as an exhibition, events and visitor centre.
“for the people of Wales; a space to express opinions and give voice to issues that matter to you as individuals, communities or organisations.”
My visit here today was to finalise our booking to perform in this amazing space, due to happen on 31 March 2011. The ethos of the Pierhead is compelling, I’m really excited at the prospect of taking part in such a wonderful piece of social heritage. I have to make sure that the local poet programmed is someone that can really speak to the people of Cardiff, to live up to the expectation of this rich location.
The Welsh Assembly is now flowing with regular waves of school trips and visitors, and staff are putting up the Christmas tree lights on an 18 foot tree.
In front of me the BBC are recording an interview of Jenny Randerson (Lib Dem Assembly Member for Cardiff) and Helen Mary Jones (Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru). The Welsh Assembly passed a new law yesterday, making this the first day since England’s rule that Welsh is the official language of Wales. A big day for linguists, and for Wales. As you can imagine the former politician is celebrating this as a wonderful day, the latter that it’s good but the detail has not gone far enough.
For a few more minutes I decide to listen in, enjoy my bara brith and welsh cake, think on the power of language and watch patterns of sunlight on the bay. The film crew departs rapidly, the last of the crew, a very kindly BBC engineer gives me a mince pie… I’m full of cake but I can’t let it go to waste.
The Spoken Word All Stars, with special guest poet Peter Finch(!) will be appearing at the Pierhead on Thursday 31 March. Doors 5.30pm, performance 6pm. Tickets are free via guestlist, please RSVP.
http://www.skyarts.co.uk/
Sounds great. What time is the Cardiff event? I am performing elsewhere in the city, but would love to be able to do both.
We’re opening the doors at 5.30pm and the show starts at 6pm. It’s an early one due to the venue closing at 8pm(!) so we should be closing the show at 7.30pm.
Let me know if I should put your name on the guest list.
Hope to see you there!