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
Video Player is loading.
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
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.
Watch for free
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
Watch for free
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
Watch for free
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Watch for free
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
Watch for free
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.