BBC commissions two documentaries based on research at Bangor University
Details from Llandudno SyngagogueResearch at Bangor University into Jewish life in Wales will be broadcast by the BBC in August. Two radio documentaries to be broadcast in Welsh and English combine the research work of three academics in the University’s College of Arts Education & Humanities. They can be heard at 13.15 on 11 August on Radio Cymru (Terfysg Tredegar) and on Sunday 14 at 17.30 on Radio Wales (The Tredegar Riots http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013bzm0 ).
Dr. Nathan Abrams has been researching Jewish life in Wales since 2006 and has already organised an exhibition on Jewish life which has toured Wales. This was done following his winning a £19,000 Beacons grant. (In total Dr Abrams has already secured £85k towards this area of research.)
The exhibition drew the attention of Anglesey media production company Cread, and Steve Edwards, the MD said: ‘I’ve lived in Wales all my life and never considered such a fascinating chapter of our history before I saw that exhibition. I though it had potential for a wider audience, and the BBC has agreed.”
Dr. Nathan Abrams, a senior lecturer in Film Studies, is advising as a historical consultant/expert and is assisted by Cai Parry-Jones, an AHRC-funded PhD student, exploring ‘The Jewish Diaspora in Wales’.
Dr. Nathan Abrams said: ‘I am delighted to be involved in these programmes. I have been interested in the topic of Jews in Wales following my arrival in Bangor in 2006. Since then there has been a series of events such as seminars, lecturers, exhibitions and this is the latest output which will hopefully reach a very wide audience.’
The documentaries, entitled Tredegar Riots and Terfysg Tredegar, to be broadcast in Welsh and English respectively will explore the history of Jewish life in Wales from the medieval period to the present.
Advice on production and scripting will be provided by Dr. Llion Iwan, a lecturer in journalism, whilst the music for both documentaries has been scored by Dr Owain Llwyd of the School of Music. His composition was performed by the Symphony Orchestra of Skopje in Macdeonia.
Publication date: 10 August 2011