29 April 2025Students' Cardiff Adventure at the Wales Millennium CentreFrom the moment they arrived the students embarked on an unforgettable weekend of creativity, performance, and discovery at the iconic Wales Millennium Centre. On Friday 25th April after checking in at the Urdd accommodation, the group headed to the Millennium Centre for an exciting behind-the-scenes tour. They explored the architecture and rich history of this world-renowned venue before diving straight into rehearsals for their upcoming performance. The evening continued with a group dinner, creating a chance to bond and relax before meeting again to attend a stunning performance of Swan Lake, an inspiring and magical start to their weekend. Saturday kicked off with a hearty breakfast at the Urdd before returning to the Centre for a technical rehearsal. As other young participants arrived, the morning flowed into a lively social session with snacks, setting a welcoming tone for the day. In the afternoon, students participated in a Theatre and Wellbeing workshop led by facilitators from Mountview, focusing on creativity, confidence, and self-care. Meanwhile, a Career Carousel offered a unique opportunity to explore different creative industry roles through fast-paced, skill-sharing workshops. After some well-deserved chill-out time, featuring VR headsets, DJ equipment, and games, everyone gathered for dinner, before the evening celebrations truly began. The night’s programme was packed: starting with an inspiring introduction, speeches, and a celebration video, followed by a curtain raiser performance titled How Do We Know What We Know? by HAP students. Students then enjoyed a high-energy DJ set from DJ Larynx, before watching the acclaimed production Key Change. The night closed with a Directors' Q&A and a silent disco in the Millennium Centre's grand foyer, the perfect end to an electrifying day. Sunday began with breakfast in the Centre's Cabaret Space, setting the scene for a day of reflection and creativity. Valleys Kids led a lively warm-up and evaluation session, helping students process the weekend’s experiences. They then took part in Creative response workshops, crafting their own artistic reactions to the weekend’s themes. An exciting highlight was that students from Harris Academy Peckham had the opportunity to record interviews with each other about their experiences in Wales. These recordings were later broadcast on the Millennium Centre’s own award-winning radio station, Radio Platform, giving the students a real taste of media production and public storytelling. After lunch, goodbyes, leaving Cardiff filled with inspiration, new skills, and unforgettable memories.
