A production to be proud of - BBC’s Roath Lock Studios celebrates 5th birthday

• Iconic BBC Roath Lock Studios celebrates fifth birthday this month
• Studios are home to Doctor Who, Casualty and Pobol y Cwm
• Over 850 hours of TV produced at Roath Lock broadcast since the centre opened its doors
• Over 50 apprentices have trained or are currently training at the centre to date

Built in just over a year, Roath Lock was officially opened in March 2012 by the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones.

Since then, Wales has become one of the biggest producers of drama for the BBC with Roath Lock hosting productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Upstairs Downstairs, Wizards v Aliens, Class and while the BBC’s creative team based at the studio has produced memorable programmes such as War and Peace, The Game, Under Milk Wood and The Green Hollow drama from independent companies like A Poet in New York, Sherlock, Merlin and Atlantis have also been executive produced for the BBC from Roath Lock.

Since opening, Roath Lock productions have been repeatedly held up as industry examples, collecting 39 major industry awards and counting.

The 175,000 square foot facility - equal to the size of three football pitches - is also the home to some of the BBC’s best-known and well-loved shows; Doctor Who, Casualty and the BBC’s longest-running TV soap opera Pobol y Cwm, produced by the BBC for S4C. These three productions along with the other resident programmes filmed at Roath Lock have produced over 850 hours of world class programming for the BBC over the past five years.

And some of Britain’s most famous actors have graced the studios since 2012. The likes of Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Claire Foy (Upstairs Downstairs), Keeley Hawes (Upstairs Downstairs), John Hurt (Doctor Who), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who) and Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who) have all worked their magic in Roath Lock, not to mention some of the UK’s finest writing talents; Steven Moffat (Doctor Who) and Russell T Davies (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

Since opening its doors, Roath Lock – which has nine studios, three external filming lots, post-production facilities and office space - has not just had an impact on TV screens. Since 2012, it has initiated 52 apprentices at the site – in roles such as production, costume, editing, post production and rigging –with 75% now working in the creative industries.

Ben Davenport, 21 is one of those apprentices. Originally from Rhosllanerchrugog near Wrexham, Ben was studying at his local college when his teacher shared an email about BBC apprenticeships. He jumped at the chance and within five days of receiving confirmation that his application had been successful, he’d packed his bags and moved to Cardiff.

Ben says: “I was a script and production apprentice with Pobol y Cwm and the experience of working with the Production and Script Coordinators was fantastic. It really gave me an insight into working in television as well as a foot in the door. I didn’t want to follow my friends to University. I wanted to work and this scheme gave me that opportunity. I’d strongly encourage other young people who want to work in the creative industries to do the same.”

In July 2016, shortly before his apprenticeship came to an end, Ben successfully applied for a job as a runner on Pobol y Cwm. “I know it sounds like a cliché, but I genuinely love coming to work. The people I work with are great; professional and they’re happy to let me learn from them. That’s got to be a good thing.”

Reflecting on the past five years, Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of BBC Cymru Wales says: "The teams at Roath Lock have been inspirational. They have storytelling in their souls - and they have made their mark locally and globally.

“Roath Lock is also playing such an important role developing a new generation of creative talents for the future. The BBC's award-winning apprenticeship scheme at Roath Lock is helping to develop the craft and production skills that will be essential to secure the long-term future of the sector in Wales.

"Over five years, Roath Lock has established itself as one of the most exciting production centres anywhere in the UK. But this is no time to be resting on our laurels. Roath Lock was only created because we dared to think big. That spirit of bold creativity and invention is essential if we're to continue to build on the centre's many successes over the coming years."

Mark Linsey, Director, BBC Studios says: “Roath Lock has been a success story for the BBC and BBC Studios. We make some of our most important drama from here, including the multi-award-winning Doctor Who and Casualty. We are always impressed by the facilities, which have helped rejuvenate the market, which is good for BBC Studios and the wider industry.”

Oliver Kent, the BBC’s Head of Continuing Drama is a former Series Producer for Casualty. He said: “The move to Roath Lock has been transformational for Casualty. The production space means we can film the 360 degree angles we always dreamt of which gives the audience a whole new experience. There’s also a really great collaborative spirit here; we share resources and that benefits us all, but most of all our loyal audience who tune in every Saturday evening.”

Casualty - a cornerstone of BBC One’s Saturday evening schedule - has recently celebrated its 30th birthday. It also topped the Best Drama category at this year’s National Television Awards.

NTW

Cynhyrchiad o safon - Stiwdios y BBC ym Mhorth y Rhath yn dathlu pen-blwydd yn 5 oed

Mae stiwdio eiconig Porth y Rhath ym Mae Caerdydd yn dathlu ei phumed pen-blwydd y mis yma.

• Bydd stiwdios eiconig y BBC ym Mhorth y Rhath yn dathlu eu pumed pen-blwydd mis yma
• Mae’r stiwdios yn gartref i Doctor Who, Casualty a Pobol y Cwm
• Ers i'r ganolfan agor ei drysau, darlledwyd dros 850 o oriau o deledu a gynhyrchwyd ym Mhorth y Rhath
• Mae dros 50 o brentisiaid wedi eu hyfforddi neu’n cael eu hyfforddi ar hyn o bryd yn y ganolfan

Adeiladwyd Porth y Rhath mewn ychydig dros flwyddyn, a chafodd ei agor yn swyddogol ym Mawrth 2012 gan Brif Weinidog Cymru, Carwyn Jones.

Ers hynny, mae Cymru wedi dod yn un o brif gynhyrchwyr drama ar gyfer y BBC, ac mae Porth y Rhath wedi cynnal cynyrchiadau megis A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Upstairs Downstairs, Wizards v Aliens, Class a, thra bo tîm creadigol y BBC, sydd wedi eu lleoli yn y stiwdio wedi cynhyrchu rhaglenni cofiadwy megis War and Peace, The Game, Under Milk Wood a The Green Hollow mae dramau gan gwmniau annibynnol megis A Poet in New York, Shrlock, Merlin ac Atlantis wedi eu cynhyrchu’n weithredol i’r BBC o Borth y Rhath.

Ers agor, mae cynhyrchiadau Porth y Rhath wedi cael eu clodfori yn esiampl o’r diwydiant, gan gasglu 39 o brif wobrau’r diwydiant hyd yma.

Mae’r cyfleuster yn 175,000 metr sgwâr – sef yr un faint â thri chae pêl-droed – hefyd yn gartref i rai o raglenni mwyaf adnabyddus a phoblogaidd y BBC; Doctor Who, Casualty a Pobol y Cwm, sef opera sebon hynaf y BBC a gynhyrchir gan y BBC ar gyfer S4C. Mae’r cynyrchiadau hyn, ynghyd â'r rhaglenni eraill sy’n cael eu ffilmio ym Mhorth y Rhath, wedi creu dros 850 o oriau o raglenni ar gyfer y BBC dros y pum mlynedd ddiwethaf.

Ac mae rhai o actorion enwocaf Prydain wedi troedio trwy’r stiwdios ers 2012. Mae actorion fel Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Claire Foy (Upstairs Downstairs), Keeley Hawes (Upstairs Downstairs), John Hurt (Doctor Who), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who) a Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who) i gyd wedi rhagori ym Mhorth y Rhath, heb sôn am rai o awduron mwya’ talentog Prydain; Steven Moffat (Doctor Who) a Russell T Davies (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

Ers agor y drysau, nid ar ein sgrin deledu yn unig y mae Porth y Rhath - sydd â naw stiwdio, tri safle ffilmio allanol, cyfleusterau ôl-gynhyrchu a swyddfeydd - wedi cael dylanwad. Ers 2012, mae 52 o brentisiaid wedi neu wrthi’n hyfforddi ar y safle - mewn meysydd megis cynhyrchu, gwisgoedd, golygu, ôl-gynhyrchu a rigio - ac mae 75% ohonynt yn gweithio yn y diwydiannau creadigol erbyn hyn.

Mae Ben Davenport, 21 oed, yn un o’r prentisiaid hynny. Daw Ben o Rosllannerchrugog ger Wrecsam yn wreiddiol, ac roedd yn astudio yn ei goleg lleol pan rannodd ei athro neges e-bost am brentisiaethau gyda’r BBC. Bachodd ar y cyfle a chyn pen pum niwrnod ar ôl cael cadarnhad fod ei gais yn llwyddiannus, roedd wedi pacio a symud i Gaerdydd.

Dywedodd Ben: “Roeddwn yn brentis sgriptiau a chynhyrchu gyda Pobol y Cwm, a phrofiad gwych oedd gweithio gyda’r Cydlynwyr Cynhyrchu a Sgriptiau. Cefais gyfle gwirioneddol i weithio ym myd teledu, yn ogystal â chael troed yn y drws. Doeddwn i ddim eisiau dilyn fy ffrindiau i'r Brifysgol. Roeddwn i eisiau gweithio, a chefais y cyfle hwnnw drwy’r cynllun. Byddwn i’n annog pobl ifanc eraill sydd eisiau gweithio yn y diwydiannau creadigol i wneud yr un peth.”

Yng Ngorffennaf 2016, toc cyn i’w brentisiaeth ddod i ben, gwnaeth Ben gais llwyddiannus am swydd fel rhedwr ar Pobol y Cwm. “Dwi’n gwybod fod hyn yn swnio’n ystrydebol, ond dwi wir wrth fy modd yn dod i’r gwaith. Mae fy nghydweithwyr yn wych; maent yn broffesiynol ac yn hapus i adael imi ddysgu ganddynt. Peth da ydi hynny yn bendant.”

Wrth feddwl am y pum mlynedd ddiwethaf, dywedodd Rhodri Talfan Davies, Cyfarwyddwr BBC Cymru Wales: “Mae timau Porth y Rhath wedi bod yn gwbl ysbrydoledig. Mae adrodd stori yn rhan o’u heneidiau – ac maent wedi gwneud eu marc yn lleol ac yn fyd-eang,

“Mae gan Borth y Rhath ran allweddol yn datblygu cenhedlaeth newydd o dalent creadigol i’r dyfodol. Mae rhaglen prentisiaeth y BBC ym Mhorth y Rhath, sydd wedi ennill gwobrau, yn rhoi cyfle i ddatblygu sgiliau a’r grefft o gynhyrchu sy’n gwbl angenrheidiol i sicrhau dyfodol hir-dymor y sector yng Nghymru.

“Dros bum mlynedd, mae Porth y Rhath wedi ei sefydlu fel un o’r canolfannau cynhyrchu mwyaf cyffroes unrhywle yn y DU. Ond nid dyma’r amser i aros yn segur. Fe grëwyd Porth y Rhath am i ni feddwl yn uchelgeisiol. Mae’r ysbryd o greadigrwydd beiddgar a dyfeisgarwch yn hanfodol wrth i ni barhau i adeiladu ar lwyddiannau niferus y ganolfan dros y blynyddoedd i ddod.”

Dywedodd Mark Linsey, Cyfarwyddwr, BBC Studios: "Mae Porth y Rhath wedi bod yn stori o lwyddiant i'r BBC a BBC Studios. Rydym yn creu rhai o’n dramâu pwysicaf yma, gan gynnwys Casualty a Doctor Who, sydd wedi ennill gwobrau lu. Mae’r cyfleusterau yn gwneud argraff arnom bob amser, ac maent wedi cyfrannu at adfywio’r farchnad, sy’n beth da i BBC Studios a’r diwydiant yn ehangach.”

Mae Oliver Kent, Pennaeth Dramâu Parhaus yn un o gyn-gynhyrchwyr cyfres Casualty. Dywedodd: “Mae symud i Borth y Rhath wedi gweddnewid Casualty. Mae’r gofod cynhyrchu’n golygu ein bod ni’n gallu ffilmio'r onglau 360 gradd yr ydym wedi breuddwydio amdanynt erioed ac mae’n rhoi profiad cwbl newydd i’r gynulleidfa. Mae naws cydweithio yma; rydym yn rhannu adnoddau ac mae hynny o fantais i bob un ohonom, ond yn fwyaf oll i’n cynulleidfa ffyddlon sy’n troi atom bob nos Sadwrn.”

Mae Casualty – sef un o gonglfeini amserlen nos Sadwrn ar BBC One – newydd ddathlu ei phen-blwydd yn dri deg oed. Bu i’r gyfres hefyd ennill gwobr am y Ddrama Orau yn y National Television Awards eleni.

NTW

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