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April heralds a busy month for as it presents two exciting events, plus they've just had word of an award nomination for one of their previous children's theatre productions.

The latest production from the company is a new play by Welsh playwright Ian Rowlands called Desire Lines, a lyrical portrayal of the seven ages of man told through the journey of one man around Wales. Yet it's also a metaphor for the country, as the playwright explains:

"Without the Assembly and the route towards the recent referendum, this play would not have been written. It's a play about a nation journeying away from its old ways of seeing towards a new vision of itself."

The cast of Desire Lines. Photo: Kirsten McTernan

Desire Lines will run at Cardiff's from Friday 8 April to Saturday 23 April, since Sherman Cymru's theatre is currently closed to the public while it .

Running at the same time as the play is Egin: Springboard, their third bilingual festival of new writing in Wales. Taking place over a five day period, the programme of events will highlight the work of both emerging and established writers and artists.

With raw productions of new plays and also rehearsed readings, this is a chance to see raw, emotive theatre at a fraction of the cost - more thrills but with fewer frills, so to speak. As Amy Hodge, associate director of Sherman Cymru, puts it:

"We want to get as much great new work as we can out there and in front of an audience in a way that isn't possible with all the demands of a full-scale production, but still with a professional cast and a Sherman Cymru commitment to quality.

"Put bluntly, it's no frills theatre - the writing itself will be the main event with things like set and lighting design really stripped back."

Egin: Springboard will run from Sunday 17 to Thursday 21 April, also at Chapter.

Plus, one of Sherman Cymru's previous productions has just been nominated for an award.

Katy Owen as Will in Plum (and me, Will!). Photo: Farrows Creative

Plum (and me, Will!), the company's Christmas show for under sevens in 2009 written by Louise Osborn, has been nominated for the Theatre Centre Brian Way Award 2011, which celebrates the best of new plays for children and young people.

For more on Sherman Cymru and their productions, .