Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

  Pupils from Stagecoach, the leading West Wales theatre arts school, will be making their Disneyland Paris debuts this summer. A lucky 25 pupils from Stagecoach Carmarthen and Haverfordwest are getting the chance to ‘Dance the dream’ at Disneyland Paris. “It’s a fantastic opportunity. Our pupils have worked really hard to win the opportunity to perform at Disneyland Paris and, as you can imagine, they are all thrilled to bits,” said Liane Evans, principal of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest. “The performance takes place in July, but it has been a long road getting to this point. “We rehearsed and prepared four audition tapes for Disney back in November. “We auditioned to be part of the famous parade that travels through the park with all the Disney characters. “And we also submitted an audition for a stage performance in the Disneyland Paris theme park. “We are over the moon to have received news this week that we have successfully passed the audition p...

Stagecoach, the leading West Wales theatre arts school, has exactly what you’ve been looking for when it stages its annual musical at the end of March. Disney’s High School Musical gives the Stagecoach youngsters plenty to shout and sing about when it runs at Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre between March 25 and 29. “It’s a wonderful show and our pupils are very excited about it,” said Liane Evans, principal of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest. “The children are taking their cue from one of the show’s hit songs, We’re All In This Together. “High School Musical will see pupils from Stagecoach Carmarthen and Stagecoach Haverfordwest team-up for what should be a dazzling five days at The Lyric. “More than 200 Stagecoach pupils will be taking part in the show and they come from all over West Wales, including as far afield at Tenby, Fishguard and Aberaeron.” Liane added: “It’s a show many are familiar with and we are delighted to be performing Disney’s High School Musical...

The principal of a leading West Wales theatre arts school has welcome a new study which shows how children benefit from learning ‘outside’ of the classroom. The importance of developing life skills is one of the key topics highlighted in the new study. Liane Davies, principal of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven, said the study put the spotlight on how children could improve their performance in school through the performing arts. She said: “Learning isn’t confined to the classroom. Developing life skills, building confidence and having fun should all be part of every child’s education and development.” The survey of 1500 parents whose children attend Stagecoach Theatre Arts, found an overwhelming majority had seen improvements in their child’s confidence, social skills and general happiness and well-being. Results included - A huge 93.7% of parents reported that their child was more confident at school.  85% of parents had seen an improveme...

Members of the ‘Performance Troupe’ from Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen are heading to the bright lights of London’s West End. The Carmarthen pupils have secured a place in a national Stagecoach extravaganza to be held in June at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the heart of the UK’s ‘Theatre-land’. Fellow pupils from Stagecoach Theatre Arts Haverfordwest have also secured a place at the extravaganza. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the pupils,” said Stagecoach school Principal Liane Davies. “Live shows give the youngsters a real chance to dazzle and show off their talents – and what better place for a live show than London’s West End? “Her Majesty’s Theatre is one of the premiere venues in the West End and has been home to the record-breaking Phantom of the Opera. “You can imagine what sort of a buzz the youngsters will get from working at such a prestigious venue.” The ‘set’ being prepared by the Carmarthen troupe includes a medley from the hit musical Wicked. The West End appe...

Christmas has come early for pupils at the Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools in Carmarthen and Haverfordwest. Some have just finished watching themselves taking part in the hit Sky1 TV series Stella. Some have been working on filming for the Christmas special for the popular comic tale of Valleys life. “It’s been a wonderful time for many of our students, being able to see themselves on national TV alongside such wonderful people such as Ruth Jones,” said Stagecoach school Principal Liane Davies. “And the fun just keeps on coming for the pupils as some of them are busy working on the Christmas special. “It seems very strange for them to be working on a Christmas show before we get to Easter, but such is the magic of television.” Liane added: “We are very lucky with our Stagecoach schools in that we have access to the national Stagecoach Agency, which is able to secure work and opportunities for our talented youngsters.” One pupil to benefit from working on the Stella show is Ffion G...

Pupils at Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest are getting ready to stage the dazzling Wizard of Oz at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen. The youngsters will be performing the stage show based on the classic film from Tuesday, March 25, to Saturday, March 29. “We’ve got a big cast, colourful costumes and scenery and the best song and dance numbers,” said Stagecoach school Principal Liane Davies. “There’ll be a chance for all the pupils to shine at different stages of the week as some players will be rotated in different parts to give everyone a chance to take centre stage. “For example, we have six ‘Dorothys’ lined-up to play the lead role in the show, which features nightly performances and a matinee on the Saturday. “There’s a real buzz in the air at Stagecoach as we’ve just come back from taking the pupils to see the marvellous ‘Wicked’ at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. “Wicked is something of a follow-up to the Wizard of Oz, so it was a great opportunity...

Students from Stagecoach Theatre Arts in Carmarthen are getting ready for a special appearance at the Grand Theatre in Swansea. A total of 25 young performers from the school will be treading the boards at the Grand, getting experience of the ‘stardust’ at one of our top provincial theatres. “It’s a great opportunity for our pupils,” said Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest principal Liane Davies. “Live shows give the youngsters a real chance to dazzle and show off their talents. They are all very excited at the prospect of appearing at the Grand.” Sunday, November 17 is the big day for the students as they join representative groups from 15 other Stagecoach schools, including a 50-strong Welsh choir, for what promises to be an exciting programme of song, dance and musical theatre. The piece they’ll be performing is based on the award-winning musical 13. Liane said: “Carmarthen’s 25-strong performance troupe has been newly set up this term, so this will be the tro...

Pupils at Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest are getting ready to stage Hairspray the Musical this month. ‘Good morning Baltimore’, ‘The Nicest Kids in Town’ and ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ will be ringing out at venues in Carmarthen and Haverfordwest. “It’s an ambitious show,” said Stagecoach theatre arts school Principal Liane Davies. “But the Stagecoach Main School pupils are up for the challenge. “It’s also a very topical show as Hairspray is currently on a very successful UK tour. Our shows will give you the chance to see the musical on your doorstep. “Tickets are selling fast for the shows, so the advice is to book early. Students will be performing in full costume, alongside a live orchestra and the shows are not to be missed.” The performances will take place on July 10 and 11 at Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest, and July 18, 19 and 20 at Queen Elizabeth High School, Carmarthen. Liane added: “Rehearsals have been going great and the Stagecoach pup...

Pupils of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest are still on a high after a real Cats’ whiskers event in Birmingham West Wales pupils from Stagecoach took part in a special performance of the musical Cats at the 12,000-seat National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. The world-famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical was performed as part of the 25th anniversary of Stagecoach Theatre Arts in the UK. One of the star pupils at Carmarthen’s Stagecoach theatre arts group landed a key role in the musical. Gwenno Jones (pictured above), 16, from Nantgaredig, is a pupil at Stagecoach based at the Queen Elizabeth High School, Johnstown, Carmarthen. The Bro Myrddin school pupil was joined on stage by other pupils from Stagecoach who had rehearsed especially for the gala show. The evening was opened by Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli from Britain’s Got Talent. “It was a thrilling occasion for all the pupils,” said Stagecoach Carmarthen and Haverfordwest principal Liane Davies. “A...

The hugely popular Stagecoach Theatre Arts group is arriving in Haverfordwest this month. Stagecoach Carmarthen and Haverfordwest is part of the longest-running and most successful children’s performing arts schools network in the world. Demand for places at the existing Carmarthen school has been so high that the group is now launching into Haverfordwest. Principal Liane Davies said: “Stagecoach is more than just a stage school, theatre school or drama school. We are proud to offer a full and rounded education, teaching life skills to build confidence and stretch imaginations through singing, acting and dance classes. “The success of our Carmarthen school has been pulling in students from Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire. It really is a case of responding to demand and we are delighted to be in a position this month to launch the group in Haverfordwest.” On Thursday, April 18, from 4.30pm - 6.30pm there will be the chance for potential parents and students to come and ‘meet the t...

A ground-breaking theatre performance group will be opening its doors in Llanelli on Tuesday, March 12. Called ‘InterAct’, the group will give disadvantaged youngsters and children with learning difficulties the chance to enjoy drama, dance and singing workshops. “It really is an innovative venture designed to help children into theatre-based activities,” said Liane Davies (pictured above), one of the co-founders of the Llanelli venture. “InterAct is gradually developing in other parts of the UK, but this will be the very first InterAct group in Wales, right here in Llanelli. “And it’s going to be based at the brand new state-of-the-art Y Ffwrnes theatre in Llanelli.” The foundation stones for InterAct have been laid by the Stagecoach Charitable Trust, a wing of the hugely-successful Stagecoach theatre arts group. Liane runs Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest and will be the managing teacher of InterAct Llanelli after establishing the group with a colleague fr...

Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest are staging an unique opportunity to sing, dance and act with Kylie Minogue and Justin Timberlake’s choreographer The summer workshop day is a ‘one-off’ opportunity to learn from Tim Noble, a former mentor and choreographer on the Pop Idol and X-Factor TV series. “There’s something of a ‘Wow factor; about this workshop as Tim Noble has a brilliant reputation working with superstars like Kylie Minogue and Justin Timberlake,” said Liane Davies, principal of the Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools in Carmarthen and Haverfordwest. “It’s a very special workshop and will be the highlight of the summer holidays for many of our pupils. It promises to be the experience of a lifetime for many.” Young performers aged between seven and 16 are invited to join the Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest West Wales workshop on Tuesday, August 13. With no previous experience necessary, children and teenagers of all abilities will get t...