THE people of Ceredigion will be among the first to see the new S4C family film Y Syrcas on the big screen, ahead of its TV debut on Boxing Day.

Y Syrcas (The Circus) was filmed in the Tregaron, Pontrhydfendigaid and Llangeitho area. It is inspired by a local story that in 1848 a travelling circus visited the area. During their visit one of the elephants died and it's believed that the body is buried behind the Talbot Arms.

The first public screening will be held on December 14 at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre and it will be shown there for a limited time. Y Syrcas will make its TV debut as one of the highlights of the S4C Christmas schedule on Boxing Day, 7pm (English subtitles available).

The film stars Aneirin Hughes as the strict local minister Tomos Ifans, and Saran Morgan plays the role of his daughter Sara, who is bewitched by the circus and forms a bond with the elephant, Africa. They are part of a multicultural cast and the film features several languages – Welsh, English, French, Irish, and the African dialect Yoruba.

Gwawr Martha Lloyd, S4C Drama Commissioner said: "Y Syrcas is a colourful and heart-warming film which will fill the screens with the excitement and adventure of the travelling circus. There is much thanks to the resident of Tregaron, Pontrhydfendigaid, Llangeitho and the surrounding area for their co-operation during the filming period, and it's a pleasure to be able to offer the local residents a chance to see the film first, ahead of its debut on S4C on Boxing Day."

Y Syrcas is a fFATTI fFILM production for S4C in association with Aimimage and will be sold internationally.

The film will also be shown in the Reel Cinema, Port Talbot and at the Penarth Pier Pavilion before Christmas, and also at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff in January.