Key Points
- Recognition: A theatre group called Theatr na nÓg was awarded the STEM Educational Programme of the Year (Not-for-profit) award at the Wales STEM Awards 2026.
- Winning Show: This victory was earned by their bilingual musical performance entitled Dal y Gwynt / Eye of the Storm.
- Location: The ceremony where this recognition was announced was held at Techniquest, which is in Cardiff Bay.
- The Creative Team: This musical was written by Artistic Director Geinor Styles, whose songs were composed by Amy Wadge while the Welsh version was translated by Gwawr Loader.
- Plot & Themes: The plot revolves around Emmie, a teenage carer living in the valleys of South Wales, who wants to create an artificial tornado to produce energy through renewables.
- Audience Reach: The musical was performed by eight actor-musicians in both Welsh and English languages in more than 3,000 pupils across 65 schools in South Wales.
- Educator Comments: Chris Bennett from Garth Primary stated that it generated interest in the classroom, whereas Amy Smith from Blaenymaes Primary focused on the importance of it in solving the issue of women being represented in science.
- Strategic Partnerships: It continued with its established strategic partnerships with Swansea Museum, National Waterfront Museum, and Technocamps.
- Funding: Funding for this project came from Arts Council of Wales (Go and See Fund), The Hodge Foundation, Colwinston Charitable Trust, Simon Gibson Charitable Trust, and The Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity.
- Organizer’s Comment: Liz Brookes, who is the co-founder of Wales STEM Awards, highly appreciated the high quality of submissions and congratulated all the winners and finalists.
Cardiff Bay (Cardiff Daily) October 5, 2026 – Welsh theatre company Theatr na nÓg has clinched the prestigious STEM Educational Programme of the Year title at the Wales STEM Awards 2026, held at Techniquest, for their innovative bilingual musical blending performing arts with science and engineering education.
What is Theatr na nÓg and how did they win the Wales STEM Award 2026?
As reported by Rhys Gregory of Cardiff Daily, the Welsh theatre company Theatr na nÓg has won the STEM Educational Programme of the Year (Not-for-profit) category at the Wales STEM Awards 2026. The awards ceremony was hosted at Techniquest in Cardiff Bay, celebrating pioneering organisations and individuals operating across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors throughout Wales.
The company’s award-winning production is the bilingual musical Dal y Gwynt / Eye of the Storm. Written by Artistic Director Geinor Styles, the production features original songs composed by Amy Wadge alongside a Welsh translation executed by Gwawr Loader. The narrative follows a fictional protagonist named Emmie, who is a young carer living in the South Wales Valleys with grand ambitions of inventing an artificial tornado designed to produce renewable energy.
The production was brought to life by a dedicated cast of eight actor-musicians who delivered performances in both Welsh and English. According to official records from the initiative, the tour reached an audience of more than 3,000 pupils spanning 65 schools across South Wales.
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What was the educational impact of Eye of the Storm on South Wales schools?
Reflecting on the classroom integration of the theatrical project, educators offered high praise for its ability to merge creative arts with technical subjects. As reported by Rhys Gregory of Cardiff Daily, Chris Bennett, a teacher at Garth Primary, stated that the show
“sparked curiosity and creativity in our classrooms, encouraging pupils to explore science, technology, engineering and maths with confidence and enthusiasm.”
Further endorsement came from Amy Smith of Blaenymaes Primary. As reported by Rhys Gregory of Cardiff Daily, Smith stated that the musical
“challenged stereotypes within science, highlighting the importance of female representation.”
Organisers noted that the initiative built upon long-standing educational partnerships with several prominent cultural and scientific institutions, including Swansea Museum, the National Waterfront Museum, and Technocamps.
What did the creative team and award organisers say about the achievement?
Discussing the core mission behind the four-decade-old theatre company, Geinor Styles elaborated on the cultural and educational significance of the project. As reported by Rhys Gregory of Cardiff Daily, Geinor Styles, Artistic Director of Theatr na nÓg, stated:
“The company has worked for 40 years in some of the most socially deprived communities in Wales, using theatre to raise aspirations and open minds to what is possible.”
Styles further explained:
“Eye of the Storm / Dal y Gwynt is that mission in its fullest form – a real scientist’s invention, a real emotional truth about young carers, and the ability of a young girl from the Valleys to show that, whatever your background, you can achieve and contribute to changing the world for the better, whether through art or science. As a theatre company, we are very proud to have won this award because it recognises originality, impact and ambition.”
The development and execution of the programme were made possible through backing from public and philanthropic bodies. The company receives regular support from the Arts Council of Wales, specifically through its Go and See Fund. Additional funding was provided by major philanthropic organisations, including The Hodge Foundation, Colwinston Charitable Trust, Simon Gibson Charitable Trust, and The Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity.
Commenting on the broader calibre of the competition, Liz Brookes, co-founder of the Wales STEM Awards, stated:
“Congratulations to all of our winners, highly commended finalists and everyone who was shortlisted this year. The standard of entries was exceptional and they should all be incredibly proud of what they are achieving.”
Background of the particular development
The intersection of arts and STEM education in Wales has gained significant policy momentum over recent decades, driven by a regional push to bridge the skills gap in engineering, technology, and applied sciences. Theatr na nÓg, established four decades ago, has specialised in producing socially conscious theatre designed to engage communities facing socioeconomic challenges across South Wales.
Traditional science outreach has often relied on formal classroom instruction or laboratory demonstrations, which can occasionally struggle to engage demographics underrepresented in technical fields, such as young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or rural valleys communities. By embedding technical concepts—such as renewable energy generation and fluid dynamics via an artificial tornado—into a narrative focused on a young female carer, the company created a multidisciplinary pedagogical tool.
The Wales STEM Awards were founded to highlight organisations, educational initiatives, and corporate entities that foster scientific literacy and workforce pipelines in Wales. The recognition of a not-for-profit theatre company in a technical category underscores a broader institutional shift towards STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) frameworks, validating creative storytelling as a legitimate and effective mechanism for driving academic confidence and career aspirations in young learners.
This development is expected to significantly influence educational funding models and curriculum design across schools in South Wales and the wider United Kingdom. By demonstrating that bilingual musical theatre can effectively teach complex concepts like renewable energy and mechanical invention, Theatr na nÓg has set a benchmark for arts-integrated pedagogy.
For young learners, particularly young carers and pupils from socially deprived Valleys communities, high-profile validation of a narrative featuring a protagonist from a similar background helps dismantle self-doubt and broadens perceived career horizons in STEM fields. Educators and policymakers are likely to look closely at this model when designing future outreach programmes, potentially leading to increased cross-sector grants combining arts councils and industrial STEM funders. Consequently, schools can anticipate a rise in innovative, culturally relevant engagement tools that make technical subjects more accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for the next generation of scientists and engineers.
