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

Hats off to the Curtain Up Theatre Company. They received a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of their Saturday Night At The Movies show at Ffwrnes, Llanelli. The evening featured some of the best loved songs from music and television, under the musical direction of Anne-Marie Marks and with choreography from Debbie Garratt. The inimitable Denys Jenkins BEM (Denny Twp to Llanelli's Panto fans) was the host with the most, with a rich repertoire of 'true stories' for his Ffwrnes fan club. From the opening with the Drifters classic Saturday Night At The Movies, this was an evening where the cast enjoyed just as much as the audience. And it was all in a good cause, with the proceeds from the night going to the Llanelli branch of Mind. It was a night with plenty of highlights - Circle of Life, from the Lion King, Everything I Do, from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, The Lakme Flower Duet, from True Romance, Unchained Melody, from Ghost, and Bring Him Home, from L...

Light, Ladd & Emberton is a collective of three Wales-based dance artists – Deborah Light, Eddie Ladd and Gwyn Emberton – together with creative producer Laura Drane. Tomorrow (Friday, April 21), they bring their award winning show called Caitlin to Llanelli (Ffwrnes Theatre). The dance trio came together in 2014 to make Caitlin, a show commissioned for the Dylan Thomas centenary by the National Library of Wales. Through collaborative working, Light Ladd and Emberton create original professional performance work, with the aim of creating exciting and inspiring productions for audiences in Wales and beyond, and to represent Wales and the UK on a national and international stage. They draw on history and identity, predominantly of Wales, to create productions with contemporary relevance and culturally engaged. Caitlin was the wife of poet Dylan Thomas. At the start of the 1970s, 20 years after he died, she started going to Alcoholics Anonymous. In a circle of chairs, set out for...

Llanelli Youth Theatre's forthcoming production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible takes place at Stiwdio Stepni, Ffwrnes, Llanelli, next month. Llanelli Youth Theatre are renowned for their imaginative and highly innovative productions, being readily accessible, highly stimulating and visually entertaining for all ages allowing audiences to experience, celebrate and comment on the world in which they live. In a small, tight-knit community, personal grievances collide with lust and superstition, fuelling widespread hysteria. Miller’s timeless parable attacks the evils of mindless persecution and the terrifying power of false accusations. Both a gripping historical play and a timely parable of contemporary society, The Crucible is arguably the most important play written in the 20th Century. The Crucible runs nightly from Thursday 10th – Saturday 12th November at 7.15pm with a Saturday matinee at 3pm.

Latest news from Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley - Sense and Sensibility • An evening with the Head Gardener • Late cottage deals Looking good in the Gardens... The Rose Garden Flowering dogwood 'Cornus' white Meconopsis (pictured above) Siberian iris Photo courtesy of Nigel McCall Theatre in the Gardens ~ Sense & Sensibility Sunday 12th June ~ gates open at 6.30pm for a 7pm performance Adults ~ £14; Children ~ £10; Family (2 adults & 2 children) ~ £42. Tickets available through our website or on the gate on the night. An Evening with the Head Gardener, Joseph Atkin Thursday 16th June at 6pm Join Joseph for a special evening tour of the Gardens followed by supper and an after dinner talk on the terrace in the beautiful Pool Garden. Booking essential ~ you can book through our website or by calling the Ticket Office directly on 01558 667956. Sandra Phillips exhibition In the Mansion until Wednesday 15th June Find out more about Sandra P...

Latest news from the team at Span Arts in Narberth - What's coming up at Span Arts! Children's Theatre, Hip-Hop, Comedy & More! The Tap Dancing Mermaid Tue 29th March Tessa Bide performs as the tippety-top dancer, offering stunning puppetry, original music and magical storytelling for a truly fantastic show. Comedy Night with Steve Gribbin Thur 14th April Not only will Gribbin be causing laughter with his comedy songs, daughter of 80s comedy icon Jimmy Cricket will be the MC for the evening! Book Here! Monarch at Colby Woodland Gardens Thur 7th April The award-winning Feral Theatre introduces this family-friendly outdoor production, that comes complete with exploration and superb storytelling. Book Here! T'Pau Fri 22nd April T'Pau are one of thebiggest and most successful bands of the 1980s. Audiences can look forward to all of T'Pau's biggest hits on this acoustic tour! Book Here! Singing Workshop Mon 11th/25th April Led by tutor Clara Cl...

Buggerall, written by Jon Tregenna and produced by Llanelli Youth Theatre (with Llanelli Stage Company) at Stiwdio Stepney, Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. To begin at the beginning, it's a silent cobbled street mile better than watching dancing JCBs! Llanelli-born Jon Tregenna has dug a long and deep trench to strike the rich legacy stream left behind by Dylan Thomas. There are gems here that have been carefully polished since Buggerall was first launched in 2003. This latest production brings the story bang up to date in 2016 - a world where selfies rule and the village rugby team drowns in a sea of drink. The question is: if Dylan Thomas was still alive, what would he make of a modern-day seaside village in Wales? "The butchers, the bakers, the walking stick makers; high class drapers and watch repairers; men selling fish out of wheelbarrows around pubs with snugs, and tapping barrels for free beer and grinning; and quarrymen quarrelling and old sea dogs with sa...

Music and Mince pies is a FREE music concert for older people on Monday 15th December at 2.30pm in the Ffrwnes Theatre in Llanelli. The concert is sponsored by Western Power Distribution and Arts and Business Culture Step and features soprano Jessica Robinson and pianist Rhiannon Pritchard. Mince pies and hot drinks will be served and this is your chance to attend a joyful festive event to help celebrate getting together and socialising over the festive period. While the event is free, people do need to reserve a ticket via the Ffwrnes by phone or website, please ring 0845 2263510 or e-mail theatres@sirgar.gov.uk . Although there may be space on the day for people to just turn up, it is better if you confirm your ticket in advance to ensure you have a seat.  Jessica Robinson (soprano) Jessica Robinson is a postgraduate student at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where her studies are supported by the Arts Council of Wales and the Elizabeth Evans Trust. Jessica holds ...

Latest news from the Span Arts team in Narberth -  Music, Comedy and Theatre, there is something for everyone this October! Brighten up your month with music and laughter... For tickets or more information on any of these events please click on the relevant photos, or visit the Span Arts website . You can also call the Box Office on 01834 869323 Span Arts Classical series is continuing with Icaris Duo - Thursday 2nd OctoberSet in the elegant Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Span Arts classical Series continues with a selection of music from Debussy, Rodrigo, Euguene Bozza, welsh folk songs and much more. Icaris Duo will be supported on the night by Squidge Squires. Enjoy alongside a delicious meal from 6pm onwards, prepared by Plas Hyfryd’s chef (advance booking essential). SpanJazz: Michael Coates with The John Gibbon Trio - Wednesday 15 OctoberSpan Jazz is back for another soul-filled evening, this time The John Gibbon trio are performing with featured Canadian musician Michael C...

Latest news from the Span Arts team in Narberth -  The swashbuckling musical adventure of The Three Musketeers arrives on the 25th August! Continuing with Span Arts summer of theatre, The Three Musketeers is set to perform at Narberth Rugby Club on August 25. Open-air family theatre, Boxtree productions are bringing their fun-filled show to Narberth. With action, sword fights, original songs, and a little bit of romance, there's something for the whole family to enjoy. Entertainment will start from 3pm onwards, with food, drink and treats also available. The bar will be open to grown-ups also. The show is suitable for children of 7+. The perfect way to wind down the summer holiday, this swashbucking musical adventure will be held come rain or shine...All for one and one for all! Don't miss out! Tickets are selling fast: Individual tickets: £6.50 (in advance)- £8.50 (on the door). Family of four:£22 (advance)- £29.50 (on the door) https://span-arts.ticketso...

Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre boomed while the Carmarthenshire National Eisteddfod was in town. Carmarthenshire Theatre’s manager Carwyn Matera Rogers said: “The theatre is certainly on the bigger map as a result of the Eisteddfod, many of its visitors come to see us and they came from all over the world.” The Ffwrnes had a mobile box office on the Eisteddfod Field and sold in excess of £1500 of tickets for our autumn programme in all county theatres. Mr Rogers said: “More than 100 new customers have registered on our customer’s database. “We have had audiences totalling 3,600 both locally and from all parts of Wales attending sell out performances in our main auditorium and in Stiwdio Stepni. “We recruited three volunteers after the launch of our Gyda’n Gilydd Volunteer initiative who worked with us for a total of 42 hours. “We launched our gallery space at the Ffwrnes with a Polish-Welsh partnership exhibition of the work of Josef Herman who was a Polish-Jewish immigrant who eventuall...

Latest news from the Span Arts team in Narberth -  A jam-packed summer at Span Arts! There'll be something for all the family to enjoy. For information and tickets to these events, please visit span-arts.org.uk , or call us on 01834 869323 Open-air Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors - Thursday 7 August The festival Players perform The Comedy of Errors,a hilarious farce. Pimms and refreshments also available! The Comedy Club: Howard Read & Bethany Black - Thursday 14 August Brighten up your Thursday with the Span Arts Comedy Club, with cabaret seating, bar & delicious food, and of course, lots of laughs! The 39 Steps - 11th-16th August Red Herring Theatre & Span Arts present The 39 Steps, performed at Manorbier House, bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy! SpanJazz @ Plas Hyfryd - Afternoon in Paris - Wednesday 20 August This month's Jazz Club takes place at Hotel Plas Hyfryd, with the very talented Afternoon in Paris. The Three Musketeers - Monday 25 A...