‘Always looking for a new challenge!’
That, in her own words, is who Elliw Dafydd is.
From sourcing the “Horn of Plenty” at the National Eisteddfod at Tregaron, to “flying” like an angel in the Nativity of “Sioe’r Cardis” this year, and from an adventure as a Young Farmer to Africa and South America to creating an innovative milk enterprise in mid Ceredigion, the farmer’s daughter from Silian, near Lampeter understands the word “challenge” better than many.
And at the start of this new year, she’s taken on another new challenge – the Development Director of the local production company, Wes Glei.
Before Christmas the challenge of presenting a one-actor show faced Elliw as she toured Wales head-on with her thrilling portrayal of Annie Cwrtmawr (In Character). She now faces the challenge of releasing and sharing the wealth of stories and legends of the western counties through film and television. Says Elliw: ‘In our legends, in our history, there is so much potential! The challenge for me is to connect this great treasure – the reservoir of imagination of our past – with the turbo-energy of the imagination of our young people’.
Trained at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, in addition to her acting work Elliw is also an experienced comedian – most recently one of the girls of Hi-Hi-Hi, the crew that creates great excitement and laughter across the pubs of the west. ‘From Culhwch and Olwen, creating laughter is part of the DNA of the countryside of these counties’ says Elliw. ‘Having a pub – society – full of people to laugh is a very exciting experience’ she said.
‘Exciting’ is also the word that Euros Lewis, Wes Glei’s Creative Leader, uses for Elliw’s appointment. ‘Unfortunately, a huge gap has opened between the world of the media and the countryside; between the lack of honesty and creativity of the one and the courage, initiative and imagination of the other. Elliw’s energy and creative experience comes from the center of this exciting hubbub. I’m really looking forward to working with her over the next year’ he said.
With Wes Glei now an independent enterprise, Elliw was appointed with the financial support of the Maritime Enterprise Communities fund (Welsh Government / Ceredigion County Council). True to the company’s roots, the aim is to use the inherent co-creativity of the west as a way to create good and exciting employment for our young people. Elliw says, ‘this new challenge is a big one: stimulating our collective imagination and strengthening the environment that supports our way of life. Nothing less!’