When so many arts groups and smaller theatres are struggling, it's always pleasing to hear about the ones that are thriving, despite the tough financial climate.
This year marks Cardiff-based Theatr Iolo's 25th birthday, and for a company that has always held true to its mission to put the child at the heart of all it does, these are exciting times indeed.
This autumn, Theatr Iolo will be touring Wales and England with Grimm Tales. The production is based on the often chilling children's fairy tales written by brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, first published in 1812.
The Grimm brothers collected their folk tales from friends and old books, and many date back thousands of years.
This play is based on an adaptation by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and dramatised by Tim Supple.
I caught up with artistic director Kevin Lewis in a break from rehearsals for the company's latest production.
Theatr Iolo's artistic diector, Kevin Lewis. Image: Kirsten McTernan
Kevin, who has been part of Theatr Iolo for 21 out of its 25 years, said that although Grimm's Fairy Tales are notorious for their often sinister and dark characters, they have been watered down and Disneyfied far too much, something this version does not do.
"What we'll be aiming to do with Grimm Tales is bring back a little of that depth that makes the stories so interesting. In my experience, children love that contrast between light and dark, good and bad, and they can often handle more than we as adults give them credit for.
"Basically the show will be full of well-known fairy tales as well as some not so well-known ones, all told with wit, fun and a bit of good old-fashioned scariness!
"What I like about the stories is that often the child characters overcome great difficulties and fears, often defeating grown-ups, so the children come out of it really well and I think that has a really important psychological impact for them."
Among the tales recounted in the play are Hansel and Gretel and Aschenputtel, the original version of Cinderella, although not quite in the fluffy way Disney tells it.
The cast of Grimm Tales in rehearsal. Image: Kirsten McTernan
The cast of four will shift guises throughout, also playing live music.
But the production is just the starting block for a really exciting year ahead for Theatr Iolo.
It has just taken up residence at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff and will be opening the tour of Grimm Tales there from 15-16 October.
And, thanks to funding from Arts Council Wales, the company will be extending its touring and launching a new education strategy which will build on the work it is already doing in schools.
Kevin says: "We are now being asked to work more closely with venues and bring schools to us, as well as visiting them, something we have always done.
"That really gives us an opportunity to give children a taste for the theatre for life, as we can light and set our performances and create much more atmosphere for them."
The cast of Grimm Tales in rehearsal. Image: Kirsten McTernan
After the tour of Grimm Tales, the theatre is teaming up with Hullabaloo Theatre in Darlington for a production about a young child afraid of the dark, who befriends the moon in his journey to overcome his fears.
It is then working on a production aimed at a slightly older age group and centred on two children fighting to defeat the evil supernatural forces threatening their town.
Kevin says the group is waiting to hear back about funding for a piece for teenagers which it hopes will feature in the Dylan Thomas Festival.
Looking back on the theatre's history, he says the high points are so numerous that it is hard to pick out a favourite. But among his fondest memories are translating and staging a Danish play called Flock, about young people and homelessness, and visiting festivals to perform in South Korea and Russia.
"For me, I guess the biggest highlight is that every day when we perform to a new audience, we see the children's faces light up and the excitement we can give teenagers and that's really the most valuable thing."
After opening in Chapter Arts Centre, Grimm Tales will tour across Wales and England until Saturday 1 December. For full details of tickets and tour dates visit theatriolo.com and the Grimm Tales Facebook page.
