Winnie the Pooh show uses Welsh

Four of the performances will contain a Welsh element

Disney is to use the Welsh language in a live show for the first time when Winnie the Pooh takes to the stage at the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC).

S4C children's presenter Martyn Geraint will appear in four performances of Disney Live! at the Cardiff Bay venue.

He will teach the show's narrator some Welsh words before the action starts.

Show producer Feld entertainment decided to use Welsh in the performance because 40% of children between three and 14 in Wales now speak the language.

Gary Kane, of Feld Entertainment, said: "As soon as we realised how important the Welsh language is in Wales we started to look for ways to embrace the language in any way we could.

"In countries such as Spain and Holland, the show is translated into the local language, and whilst that is something we may consider in the future, for our inaugural tour of Disney Live! we thought it would be very appropriate to incorporate a Welsh language element in to the show."

The significance of Disney Live's undertaking to include the Welsh language in its shows is not to be underestimated WMC chief executive Judith Isherwood

Mr Kane said Martyn Geraint was an ideal choice as a well-known children's television presenter and a proponent of learning Welsh from an early age.

Geraint said: "I'm so excited about working on this project, there is no bigger brand of children's entertainment and it's marvellous that such a big company is embracing our native language in their new show."

Although a Welsh element has been included, the script has been designed so members of the audience who cannot speak the language will be able to follow the action.

Bilingual culture

Wales Millennium Centre Chief Executive Judith Isherwood said the significance of Disney Live's undertaking to include the Welsh language in its shows at the centre was not to be underestimated.

"The Welsh language is once again flourishing in Wales - particularly amongst young people, and so it is only right that we strive to deliver certain cultural products bilingually to support and aid this growth.

"Reflecting and presenting local, national and international culture is at the core of WMC's values and aspirations, and this is one of many ways that we will be supporting and promoting the bilingual culture of Wales over the coming years."

The show is being staged at WMC in Cardiff Bay between 15 and 20 March, with perfomances including Welsh taking place on 17 and 18, with two on 19 March.