Gwaith/Cartref

Gwaith/Cartref
Genre	Drama
Directed by	Daf Palfrey
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	Welsh
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	10
Production
Producer	Sophie Fante
Editors	Mike Hopkins Rhys Ap Rhobert
Production company	Fiction Factory
Original release
Network	S4C S4C Clirlun
Release	18 September 2011 – Present

Gwaith/Cartref (Engish: Home/Work, literal translation Work/Home) is a Welsh language television series that premiered on S4C on 18 September, 2011. Gwaith Cartref is the third new drama series to appear on S4C for 2011, next to Alys and Porthpenwaig. It follows the professional and personal lives of a group of teachers working at a Welsh language comprehensive school, dealing with a number of issues during and after the school day.

The show is a production of Fiction Factory.

Characters

• Dan James - Geography teacher (played by Huw Rhys): Dan is a natural born teacher. He has an affinity with the pupils and an innate ability to present his subject in an exciting way. He's never boring and has quickly gained the reputation as being the coolest teacher in the school. He is popular, affable, funny, helpful, good at games etc. and he doesn't gossip or play at staff room politics. Dan is a recent addition to the team. Upon qualifying as a teacher he disappeared to Indonesia to work on a seismology project. Two years later he’s returned to Cardiff and very recently started work as a teacher alongside Simon, his best friend from Aberystwyth Uni. Dan seems to have a charmed life, but he keeps to himself the fact that he is alone in the world – his father is dead and his mum might as well be. Dan was 13 when his mum Helen left his dad for another man; Dan severed contact with Helen in order to be loyal to dad, Huw, who suffered from depression. Huw died when Dan was at Uni and since then Dan has been alone, not having ever got seriously involved with any of his numerous girlfriends. His closest tie is his best friend Simon who he met at Uni. The two men are like brothers. At the outset of the series Dan is a few days into his first week at his new job and is enjoying being home in Wales following his adventures in Indonesia. He loves teaching and it’s great to be working with Simon. Life is fine!

• Simon Watkins - Geography teacher (played by Rhys Ap Trefor): Ambitious Simon intends to be a head-teacher by the time he's 45 and he doesn't care who knows it. This drive is born of being the youngest son in a family of professional high achievers and Simon is keenly aware that being a teacher doesn't quite "cut it" in his parents' eyes. The blind ambition is a mask for deep insecurity. Simon doesn't particularly enjoy teaching - he finds it too much like hard work and aims to climb the managerial ladder and get out of the classroom ASAP. This makes him a bad teacher who retains control by bullying and undermining his pupils' as well as short-changing them academically. Nobody knows this, except Simon and secretly this really bothers him, but there's no one he would admit it to. Simon was overjoyed by Dan's return to Wales and was thrilled when he got a job at the same school - especially as Simon was able to "put in a word" and secure him the job. Recently Simon has been very settled having moved in with girlfriend Grug and he sees Dan's return as a chance to relive some of that Uni fun. On a darker note however, he knows that Dan is going to be a popular teacher in the school and subconsciously dreads comparisons being drawn between the two of them.

• Grug Matthews - Science/Maths teacher (played by Rhian Blythe): Grug is the "sensible one" and has been all her well-planned life. Her clear view of the world makes her an extremely capable teacher and a good disciplinarian. Grug is the most professional of our gang and is immensely proud to be a teacher. She's a straight talker who won't take any nonsense. At school Grug might be described as 'buttoned up', but under her severe, maybe slightly dull exterior, is a passionate and sexy woman. She's proud that her life has gone very much according to her game plan but sometimes wonders what would happen if something went "wrong"… Mere mortals can be slightly wary of Grug as she can give the impression of being judgemental - but this isn't the case. She's down to earth and caring when it comes to other people's problems - she only sets extremely-high standards for herself - and her wayward sister Beca. Grug and Simon have been an item for two years; they've bought a house together and take for granted that they'll get married one day. They seem extremely well suited - both are dedicated to their jobs and clearly share similar values. They have settled into very comfy coupledom.

• Beca Matthews - PE teacher (played by Hannah Daniel): Beca is Grug's sister and couldn't be more different. If Grug's life is neatly ordered, then Beca's is a mess, but she's happy with it that way. Beca is newly qualified and still leading the student life of boozy late nights out and ramshackle relationships. She is irreverent, mischievous and a little bit naughty - she does what she wants and doesn't care what people think. Beca enjoys sex but unless the earth has moved she isn't going to get bogged down in a relationship. And that hasn't happened yet! She's extremely attractive and therefore is frequently dumping men who were hoping for more following an initial night of passion. Underneath the chaotic charm, she's a smart cookie who is very aware of her strengths and frequently uses her sexuality to manipulate situations in her favour. In spite of their differences, Beca would love to be closer to her sister Grug. She plays the "naughty little sister" role well and seems to enjoy needling her sister but secretly Beca would prefer them to have a more meaningful relationship. She gets on well with her brother-in-law Simon.

• Wyn Rowlands - Welsh & Media Studies (played by Richard Elis): It's a running gag amongst Wyn's friends that he's always filling in job application forms, but after countless interviews and rejections, he's still trapped in the classroom. He hates his job and he can't escape. Wyn was always going to be a film director - until he left Uni and suddenly it seemed too hard and uncertain a slog. He turned to teaching "temporarily" and has been there ever since, resenting it and hating himself for being what he considers a failure. Despite what he tells himself, it's not teaching which has done this to Wyn, it's been the story of his life. Sardonic and cynical, Wyn's glass has always been half-empty. He's witty and sarcastic in the staff room and the life and soul of the party when he can be bothered. Humour is his trump card, his weapon and his main tool for attracting the opposite sex. He doesn't get too close to people - mainly because he despises most of them and gets bored easily, but mostly because he can't handle rejection - he likes to be the one in control. He's never had a long-term relationship, as he gets out of situations before they become emotionally demanding. He loves his subject and when he's teaching film he's inspirational to his students and feels fulfilled in his work. At these moments he's happy with his life but as he gets older he can't ignore the nagging feeling that there should be more to his life than watching films and making clever critiques - he needs to get out there and get a proper relationship.

• Nerys Edwards - Drama/ Media Studies (played by Catrin Fychan): When Nerys enrolled at drama school she wanted to be an actress but hopes of this were quashed when she fell pregnant with her daughter Seren. Nerys knew she could never rely on then-boyfriend Marc (also an actor) and so trained as a teacher - the perfect job for a single mum. This altruistic and practical choice sums up Nerys - she is thoughtful, sensible and caring. Nerys has raised her daughter alone and loves being a mum - and she loves her job too. She's hardworking and conscientious, and tougher than people think. Nerys has been very busy for the last 10 years and because of this she hasn't always found the energy to stand up for herself - especially with Marc, her ex, who takes both Nerys and Seren for granted, often letting them down at the last minute. She's no pushover however and when something really matters to her, she'll fight for it. Nerys hasn't had a serious relationship since breaking up with Marc and she longs to find a soulmate. However, given her full and demanding life, she's been quite lazy about finding one, taking the view that the right person will come along one day. On the other hand, Seren is now into double figures, Nerys can see the beginning of the end of her childhood, and realises she needs to get a move on if her daughter isn't going to start dating before she does!

• Aneurin Rees - Student maths teacher (played by Arwyn Jones): Aneurin should never have gone into teaching and if it hadn't been for the implosion in banking in 2008 he never would. Aneurin went for teacher training after losing his job in finance. The redundancy bruised Aneurin's fragile ego and in a knee jerk reaction he chose a career that was safer and a lot less cutthroat. Apparently! Aneurin is struggling with the realities of the classroom, as he was with the realities of the banking world. At least in his old job his mathematical skills were useful even if he found being a "stats man" unsatisfying. His redundancy meant that he could come out of his shell and do a more meaningful job but he's finding it way too challenging - it never occurs to him that his lack of "people skills" is the reason that he was never given a managerial role at the bank. He's too single minded and inflexible to be a good teacher - he expects the kids to behave the way he wants them to and can't alter his plans to suit the moods or abilities of any particular class. The result is mayhem. A maths genius at school, he was expected to do very well until it was detected he couldn't read people or situations at all well - he's maybe a tad autistic. So far has been sheltered from that - but no-one can shelter him from a disruptive class of 15 year-olds who can smell fear at a hundred paces. But Aneurin won't give up. And he won't ask for help. Isolated and lonely, Aneurin is a ticking time bomb.: At school Grug is Aneurin’s mentor and he rents a room at Emyr’s house. Accidentally kills Emyr at the end of episode 5, he hides the body and says that Emyr has a migraine when the staff notice his absence in school the following day, Sara finds Emyr's body, and Simon alerts the police, he is arrested at the end of episode 6. He also claims that Beca sexually assaulted him.

• Emyr Tomos - Welsh teacher (played by Lee Haven Jones): Having had a wild youth, Emyr has grown up to be an emotionally intelligent man who's an extremely good and dedicated teacher. He supports the people in his life to the hilt, but is not afraid to be blunt with the truth when necessary. Emyr's age and altruism mark him out as 'dad' in the group's eyes, and while Emyr fulfils this role with aplomb he can still be a naughty boy sometimes. He is Head of Welsh at Ysgol Bro Taf - a role he takes very seriously and this is the cause of his major conflict in the series - with Welsh teacher Wyn, who despises his job and Emyr feels is a malign influence in the school. He dies at the end of episode 5.

• Sara Harries - Art teacher (played Lauren Phillips): Sara's dream is to quit teaching and earn a living as an artist. Beautiful, creative and intelligent, Sara is also a thoughtful and unassuming character who has an underlying strength and integrity. She also has a wicked side and can laugh at herself - just! At the outset of the series, Sara is completely broke having overstretched herself financially to buy a large property that incorporates a fabulous studio space for her art. She's confident that her paintings will pay for it, but it hasn't happened yet and she's desperate for cash to pay her debts.

• Rhydian Ellis – Headmaster (played by Rhodri Evan): Rhydian is proud, strong and staunchly Welsh. He runs his school with pride, to the detriment sometimes of his staff. He's a man who enjoys the limelight when it suits him. Should something awkward, embarrassing or illegal happen in his school, he's the first to sweep it under the carpet - after all "There's no need to make a fuss, is there ". Rhydian is often a two-dimensional character, funny, traditional, awkward and often inappropriate. He's happily married to Eirlys but quietly loves the brazen flirtations he gets from Beca.

• Mrs. Gwen Lloyd – Head of Geography (played by Rhian Morgan): Mrs. Gwen Lloyd has taught at Ysgol Bro Tâf since the day it opened, over twenty years ago. Back then she was a young, enthusiastic, dynamic teacher, with a lust for life and a passion for her subject, Geography. During the years that have passed however, school-life has changed; the pupils seem to have got rowdier, taller, naughtier and generally less respectful. Over the last few terms, Mrs. Lloyd has begun to feel the weight of her twenty-year career. Always slightly on the edge emotionally, Gwen is on the verge of having a rather public nervous breakdown. Which is probably for the best, for everyone!

• Gemma Haddon – School Secretary (played by Siw Hughes): Gemma is the school secretary first and foremost but would jump at the chance to be more involved in everybody's lives. She's a gossip, a snitch, a nosey parker and a stirrer. A straight-talking sassy, fearless, confident person Gemma has worked at Bro Tâf for nearly 5 years now, and absolutely loves her job. She prides herself on knowing everybody's business, even feeling that she has a duty to the school to interfere in to the lives of the teachers and pupils alike. Gemma is fundamentally a good person, who would do anything for anyone, especially if it meant she could find out a little more about them! She's fun, colourful and tries to be glamorous. She enjoys a night out - although sometimes misses the mark on the fashion front. Gemma is currently single, but is never averse to a little romance.

• Nadine Smith - Bro Tâf Pupil. Year 9 (played by Manon Grocott): Nadine is a quiet, unconfident pupil who is probably slightly neglected at home. She never draws attention to herself if she can help it and hates the idea of being centre of attention. Unbeknownst to Sara, Nadine is a very talented young artist; however, vary rarely does she get the opportunity to enjoy her talent at home. Nadine is a lonely child who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. In her Art she can express herself. In art she finds comfort and it's because of this that she'd drawn towards Sara; someone who speaks her language, who understands the importance of creativity.

• Jack Lewis - Bro Tâf Pupil. Year 7 (played by Sam Davies): Jack is bright, confident, cocky, sparky, energetic and dyslexic. His mother Helen has raised him by herself for the last few years, having lost his Dad when he was quite young. He took his father's death quite badly, clinging to his mother a little a more closely in the subsequent years. Jack has been quietly struggling with his written work in school, managing to hide it behind, excuses and back-chat for the first few weeks. That is until Dan, his new geography teacher picks up on some familiar traits. Finally, help is on hand.

Broadcast

Gwaith/Cartref is broadcast on Welsh-language channel S4C. It began airing on 18 September 2011 in the new Sunday night drama timeslot of 9.00pm, like previous new series' Alys and Porthpenwaig. The first season will run for 10 weeks, finishing on 20 November 2011. It is available with English subtitles. Episodes will be repeated Tuesday nights at 10.00pm. The series is also broadcast on freview-only HD channel S4C Clirlun (clear picture). Episodes can also be followed on S4C online service S4C Clic and are available for up to 35 days before expiration.

Ratings

Episode	Airdates		Total Viewers	Rank
	First run	Repeats
1.1	18 September, 2011	20 September, 2011	52,000	6
1.2	25 September, 2011	27 September, 2011	55,000	7
1.3	2 October, 2011	4 October, 2011	51,000	6
1.4	9 October, 2011	11 October, 2011	57,000	6
1.5	16 October, 2011	18 October, 2011	57,000	6
1.6	23 October, 2011	25 October, 2011	47,000	9
1.7	30 October, 2011	1 November, 2011	50,000	6
1.8	6 November, 2011	8 November, 2011	69,000	7
1.9	13 November, 2011	15 November, 2011
1.10	20 November, 2011	22 November, 2011

External links

• Official site
• Facebook page