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

Llanelli Musical Players are performing at Theatr Elli tonight (Thursday), Friday and Saturday in The Little Shop of Horrors. Last year was the 25th Anniversary of the film. Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy horror rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)", "Somewhere That's Green", and "Suddenly, Seymour". Should be fun and well worth a visit to Theatr Elli. To book tickets, see - http://theatrelli.ticketsolve.com/shows/126524054/events

Final curtain for theatre fans | This is South Wales Llanelli's Phoenix Theatre Group faces its final curtain in the town's soon-to-be-replaced Theatre Elli from today. It will be a case of one old classic taking on another old classic, with the group presenting The Cherry Orchard.

Côr Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Choir) are geared-up for one of their busiest weeks of the year. On St David’s Day, Thursday, March 1, the choristers will be heading up the M4 for their very own ‘big match’ near Twickenham. The choir will be performing at Duke Street Baptist Church, Richmond, in aid of the Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond’s chosen charity, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Leanne Corneille, Mayor’s support officer in Richmond, said there was a huge amount of interest in the concert. “Tickets have been selling like hot-cakes,” she said. “Having the choir perform here in Richmond on St David’s Day makes the event extra special and we will have plenty of ‘London Welsh’ exiles in the audience.” Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director D Eifion Thomas said the choristers were looking forward to the London trip. “Like the Wales rugby team getting revved-up for a big match at Twickenham, the choristers revel in the occasion of taking to the stage for a special event on S...

See concert review below -

Côr Meibion Llanelli Christmas Concert at Theatr Elli, Llanelli. Compere: Chris Needs. Soloist: Joy Cornock . Côr Meibion Llanelli created their very own musical Christmas cracker for their annual Christmas Concert at Theatr Elli, Llanelli. It had spark and a whole host of goodies to entertain a full house at Theatr Elli. Pulling the strings as MC was BBC Radio presenter Chris Needs, who brought his own brand of festive fun to the proceedings. Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director D Eifion Thomas put together a varied programme, with the accent firmly on the Christmas theme and plenty of audience participation. As well as the traditional Carols, the audience happily supplied ‘backing’ to White Christmas and the spiritual A-Rockin’ All Night. Soprano Joy Cornock added more sparkle to the evening with solo spots featuring Panis Angelicus, Noel, Little Road to Bethlehem and Ser y Nadolig. Her feature moment, though, came when she teamed up with the choir for a stunning rendition of Verdi’...

Chorister Ken Collins was one of the stars of the Cor Meibion Llanelli Christmas Concert staged at Theatr Elli, Llanelli, on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

Byron Thomas is the soloist on A-Rockin' All Night at the Cor Meibion Llanelli Christmas Concert at Theatr Elli, Llanelli.

Splendid concert last night - Cor Meibion Llanelli, with Chris Needs as MC, Joy Cornock, soprano, at Theatr Elli, Llanelli.

It promises to be just what you need to get into the Christmas spirit.  Cor Meibion Llanelli’s annual Christmas Concert is being staged at Theatr Elli, Llanelli, on Saturday, December 17. The show is being compered by the radio star who runs the biggest ‘Garden’ in Wales, Chris Needs, pictured above. It will also feature soprano soloist Joy Cornock, pictured below. “We can promises a feast of Christmas music – and one or two surprises along the way,” said Cor Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas. “For example, we have a big surprise for one of our special guests as we have been rehearsing their favourite song. “The Christmas Concert is always one of the highlights of the year for Cor Meibion Llanelli and there will be solos from a number of choir members, plenty of festive favourites and the audience gets a chance to get involved with some carol singing.” Soprano Joy Cornock is a regular soloist in recitals and concerts around the UK, Spain, Germany and Ireland. ...

1911 Llanelli Railway Strike Gala Concert staged at Theatr Elli, Llanelli, and featuring Côr Meibion Llanelli, Côr Curiad, Cantata, the 2011 Community Musical Theatre Project, Jazz Heritage Wales, Lynwen Haf Roberts, Joseph Church, the SA15 Theatre Company and Monro Walters. Songs of protest, songs of war, songs of struggle, songs of strife. Songs of battle, songs of healing, different tunes in the key of life. As musical programmes go, it was pretty eclectic, but the end result was that it worked. The logistic challenges alone were a stern test – moving 200 performers on and off the Theatr Elli stage in a musical memorial to the Centenary of the 1911 Llanelli Railway Strike. Cerith Owens, of Loud Applause Productions, and Carwyn Matera-Rogers, of Theatrau Sir Gar, deserve credit for attempting such an ambitious exercise. In addition to focussing on the event of 1911, the concert also highlighted other common worldwide themes of protest, strike, struggle and conflict, all held together...

AnthemCorMeibion.wmv - YouTube Apologies for the poor quality. Recorded on a simple Sony Cybershot camera. Concert at Theatr Elli, Llanelli, October 7, 2011 - 1911 Railway Strike Gala Concert.

Pictures from last night's 1911 Railway Strike Gala Concert staged at Theatr Elli, Llanelli.

A group of young people from Carmarthenshire have spent the summer indulging in arts and culture. Carmarthenshire County Council has hosted a Summer Arts College to provide an exciting insight in to visual and performing art for young people who would not usually engage in such activities. It has been hailed a big success, with all participants gaining a Bronze Arts Award. The youngsters, aged between 14 and 18, have had the chance to participate in various art forms, including photography, performing arts, sand sculpture and circus skills. They have also worked with Mess Up The Mess – a youth theatre company based in Ammanford – to learn about music, and have enjoyed a play at Swansea Grand Theatre. Throughout the programme, they have worked at community education venues, including Pembrey and Felinfoel, and they received their awards at a special celebration event with family and friends at Llanelli’s Theatre Elli. Louise Chilvers, education officer, said: “It was wonderful to see th...

A special concert is being held later this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Llanelli Railway Riots. The 1911 Llanelli Railway Strike Gala Concert is being co-promoted by Theatrau Sir Gar and Loud Applause Productions Ltd The concert theme is 'Social unrest and protests against injustice have long inspired the creation of some of our best known songs and anthems.' Performing in concert will be Cantata, Cor Curiad, Cor Meibion Llanelli, Lynwen Haf Roberts, Joseph Church (violin), SA15 Stage School and the Jazz Heritage Wales. The concert is on Friday, October 7 (7.30pm) at Theatr Elli, Llanelli. Tickets £12 and £10, concessions £10 and £8, available from Theatr Elli box office 0845 2263510.

Lleisiau Hardd will be performing this Saturday at Theatr Elli, Llanelli. Tickets are priced £7 each and it will be a fabulous evening with music for everyone. The choir was fromed in 2005 and is made up of choristers from 6-11 in Cor Bach to 30 something in the senior choir. This makes the choir unique in Wales. The choir will be singing everything from Hafan Gobaith to One day More and Chasing Cars to Sister Act.

Review: Cor Meibion Llanelli St David’s Day concert at Theatr Elli, Llanelli. Featuring soprano Llio Evans and tenor Trystan Llŷr Griffiths. It was a close run thing, but even Cor Meibion Llanelli members will have to admit that the soloists stole the show at the choir’s annual St David’s Day concert. As you’d expect, Cor Meibion Llanelli pulled out all the stops with a repertoire which pitched contemporary songs alongside traditional Welsh classics and balanced spirituals alongside classic Verdi. But the standing ovations went to two young Welsh soloists who can be marked down as stars of the future – soprano Llio Evans and tenor Trystan Llŷr Griffiths. Both are past winners of the National Eisteddfod Blue Riband for singers under 25, the Osborne Roberts Memorial Award. And they showed their winning ways by claiming the hearts of an appreciative Theatr Elli audience. Their joint encore of the Brindisi duet from Verdi’s La Traviata was simply stunning. Earlier Anglesey-born Llio had wo...

Back from business meeting in London in time for splendid Cor Meibion Llanelli concert at Theatr Elli, Llanelli, last night. Two excellent soloists - Llio Evans and Trystan Griffiths.

The guest tenor at Cor Meibion Llanelli's St David's Day concert is Trystan Llŷr Griffiths. Trystan received his primary education in Beca School, Efailwen, where he was first given the opportunity to perform; singing and acting both individually and alongside his fellow pupils. He then attended Preseli Secondary School, Crymych, where he represented his school on the Eisteddfod stage and the sports field, and he is still a keen rugby player. In the Sixth Form he studied Music, Geography, and Design Technology for his A-levels. Trystan has been competing from an early age, and has managed to claim the first prize on many occasions at various prestigious events such as the ‘Urdd National Eisteddfod’, the ‘National Eisteddfod of Wales’, and the ‘National Cerdd Dant Festival’. He is a member of Aelwyd Crymych, which is a local branch of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the National Youth Organisation of Wales), and has experienced the cultures of Patagonia, Estonia, Finland, and Russia during ...

The guest soprano at Cor Meibion Llanelli's St David's Day concert on Tuesday, March 1 will be Llio Evans. Originally from Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, Llio is Studying her MMus at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying the voice with both vocal tutor Suzanne Murphy and coach Jeff Howard. During her time at RWCMD she has performed as a soloist with the Historical department and String Department and in 2008 she was chosen to represent both the College and the National Assembly as a soloist in China, performing in the ‘Discover Wales’ exhibition and in many receptions in Chongqing and Beijing. At the College, she has received the Monmouth Choral Society Award, and both E.A. Redman Lieder Interpretation Prize and the Margaret Tann Award for most promising singer for two years running. Llio has also been successful outside College, having won the over 21 years solo at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, the Operatic Solo and the Blue Ribband under 25 (Osbourne Robert...

Cor Meibion Llanelli’s annual St David’s Day concert (on Tuesday, March 1) will feature a special ‘premiere’. The concert, at Theatr Elli (7pm), will showcase the first public performance of a song composed by Cor Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas to commemorate the Llanelli Railway Riot of 1911. “This year is, of course, the centenary of the railway riot, an event which still echoes down the years in Llanelli and has been the subject of a great deal of historical detective work. “I have tried to capture the event in song and written Fe Ganwn Gan as a memorial tribute. This will be its first public performance and I hope the people of Llanelli will be well pleased with the result.” Mr Thomas said the concert would feature a mix of traditional and new material by the choir. The concert will also feature two young Welsh soloists. Soprano Llio Evans is from Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, and is studying her MMus at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Llio has been successf...