National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Place to Play
A taste of freedom: children in the Splott, Butetown and Grangetown areas of Cardiff get a chance to play, explore and invent in the city’s experimental adventure playgrounds.
From the collection of:
Overview
Learning for life through play free of adult strictures – that was the motivation for the Adventure Playground movement and what inspired the experimental Adventure Play Schemes run during the summer holidays by Voluntary Community Service, Cardiff, in economically depressed areas of the city - Splott, Butetown and Grangetown. Filmed by Cardiff Cine Society, children and play workers construct and play, take part in a theatrical circus and enjoy a street party.
Adventure Playgrounds or “junk playgrounds” were established, mainly in cities, in Britain and across Europe from the late 1930s/40s onwards. After World War II many children played on derelict land or on bomb sites but as urban areas were re-built and developed advocates of child-centred play felt there was a need for dedicated spaces where youngsters could make and break things, explore, invent and create at leisure, free of adult control.
Related
Cardiff - the capital of Wales Cardiff - the capital of Wales
Amateur film 1935 37 mins Silent Location: Cathays
The Holley brothers, pharmacists George and Maurice, record the city when horse-drawn vehicles were still traversing its streets and policemen helped people to cross the road.
What Comes Next? What Comes Next?
Amateur film 1945 16 mins Silent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
Professor Stediford, uncrowned “King of the Kids” performs a Punch and Judy show for a crowd of enraptured Cardiff children.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Luke Bean of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Samantha Arnold of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.
Horace Ové on Pressure Horace Ové on Pressure
Inside Film 2005 36 mins
The acclaimed director discusses his landmark film in this interview from 2005.
Baltimore - Exclusive Q&A Baltimore - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 28 mins
Directors Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor dig deep into their thrilling biopic Baltimore, in discussion with Nadia M Oliva.
Pressure star Herbert Norville on Horace Ové's masterpiece, the first full-length Black British film Pressure star Herbert Norville on Horace Ové's masterpiece, the first full-length Black British film
Inside Film 2023 17 mins
Actor Herbert Norville discusses working with the pioneering filmmaker on his groundbreaking 1975 drama, Pressure.
Horace Ové: Reflecting the People – A Career Retrospective Horace Ové: Reflecting the People – A Career Retrospective
Inside Film 2023 77 mins
An impassioned discussion on the life, work and legacy of the eminent filmmaker Horace Ové, chaired by Samira Ahmed.