THEATR Brycheiniog has unveiled some of the acts it has lined up for May and June in Brecon.
Leading the way is opera soprano Lesley Garrett who joins the Welsh National Opera to celebrate Welsh Suffragettes with a new piece, Rhondda Rips it Up! (June 16). Created by and starring only women, the story follows Margaret Haig Thomas, the Newport suffragette whose activities paved the way for women’s rights in the personal, professional and political worlds. This classic music hall style production will take audiences on a whirlwind tour of the activist’s mission. Leading lady Margaret Haig Thomas (Lady Rhondda) is played by Madeleine Shaw, and Lesley Garrett plays Emcee, the Master of Ceremonies.
Looking forward to her appearance in Brecon, Lesley said: “The show is completely unique. It is not a musical; it is not an opera; it is unlike anything I have ever known. It is full of that vibrant and powerful world-changing energy which was around at that time.”
Other highlights not to be missed include Theatr Brycheiniog’s joint production with Brecon Little Theatre of Alice in Wonderland (June 1-3). Written by Westenders’ Julie Jones and directed by Rosie Mellerick, this enchanting journey will introduce you to the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and Queen of Hearts.
The performance on June 1 is a special ‘relaxed performance’, to extend a warm welcome to those who may find it difficult to follow the usual conventions of theatre etiquette and would benefit from a more relaxed environment. Craft workshops (May 28&29) and a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (May 26) will also be running at the theatre in the lead up to the show, offering the opportunity to participate in what will be a fantastic community production for all the family to enjoy.
Extraordinary folk music craftsmen Show of Hands (June 30) are joined by singer and double bassist Miranda Sykes in Theatr Brycheiniog’s auditorium, as part of the Brecon Folk and More Festival. This concert will be an unmissable celebration of the trio’s enduring impact on roots, acoustic and folk music.
Theatr Brycheiniog’s spring season was due to begin last night (Wednesday, May 2) with a sci-fi bang with Lightspeed from Pembroke Dock, which explores what happens when the Millennium Falcon, Star Wars’ best loved spaceship, lands on your doorstep. Graduate students from Tring park School for the Performing Arts take to the stage in Encore Dance (May 3) to perform an eclectic mix of established and newly commissioned dance work. The first family show of the season, Perfect (May 5), is a story of anticipation, disappointment and love which follows a young boy waiting for the birth of his sister. This puppetry and physical theatre piece is a brilliant introduction to disability to those aged 5+. The Remi Harris Trio (May 6) visit Brecon for their rescheduled show, and fans will be blown away by their eclectic mix of gypsy swing, jazz and blues music.
The Westenders have done it yet again with another record-breaking, sell-out show, One Night Only: Fully Exposed! (May 12). This adult-only night featuring a Full Monty finale is raising money for male cancer charity Orchid. Based on the poetry of Dylan Thomas and commissioned by the Brecon Jazz Festival, Do Not Go Gentle (May 13) is a jazz suite from Swansea-born composer Huw Warren, which was specially written to mark the iconic poet’s centenary in 2014. Veteran stars The Searchers revisit some of their greatest hits (May 16), and the month is brought to a close with Cyngerdd Ieuenctid Eisteddfod yr Urdd Brycheiniog a Maesyfed (May 26).
June brings a bestselling Welsh language children’s book to life on stage as Na, Nel! Wwww! (June 11) follows the adventures of a mischievous young girl with an incredible imagination. Students from NPTC Group, Brecon Beacons College and Ysgol Penmaes, come together to present Seren Stars: Pick n Mix all our Favourites (June 15). Award-winning travel writer Hugh Thomson (June 21) drops by to discuss his One Man and a Mule adventures whereby he embarked on a ‘South American adventure in England’. The Welsh Chamber Orchestra (June 23) will take to the stage performing a programme which includes Mozart, Debussy, Tchaikovsky and Bach. Summer big name comedy comes in the form of Tim Key: Megadate (June 25), which promises to blend poeticals, talking, foot-stamping and old school wistfulness amongst other things.
The Andrew Lamont Gallery will host three varied, yet very exciting exhibitions this season. The spectacular Vulgar Earth continues until May 20, an exhibition that encourages discussion about the direction humanity has taken. Presented by the Lumen Prize for Digital Art will be Microworld: Brecon (May 28-June 24). This digital art exhibition promises to fill the gallery with computer driver animations, with workshops arranged around the exhibition where young people can learn to program a computer and create their own digital art. Maurice Selden: Rally Photography 1972-2017 (June 28-August 20) will celebrate the spectacular career of this renowned motorsport photographer, capturing the thrills, colour and atmosphere of this exciting sport. Following the launch of this exhibition (June 28), Maurice will take part in a Q&A session in the auditorium, joined by Phil Mills of Viking Motorsports and Welsh rally driver Sara Williams.
Monthly favourites continue this summer, with Comedy Club on the last Friday of every month giving a unique opportunity to enjoy the best up and coming comedians on the circuit in a relaxed and informal setting. May’s line-up (May 25) features Suzi Ruffell, Laura Davis and Chris Washington; in June (June 29) Rose Johnson and Will Dugan will be joined by James Acaster as he gives a special extended Edinburgh preview set. The Arts Society Brecknock give a talk on Welsh (and a few English) Cathedrals (May 1), with a subsequent talk on Russian Painting in the 19th Century (June 5).
Theatr Brycheiniog continues to offer a range of classes and activities, including Mid Wales Dance Academy, Chorus Line, Brecon Town Band and Pilates. The thriving Youth Theatre is run by professional practitioners and offers the opportunity for young people aged four to 25 to develop confidence and performance skills. There are four age groups to choose from, and sessions run weekly, except in the school holidays. This season all Youth Theatre participants are busy working hard in preparation for their summer showcase in July.
Don’t forget Theatr Brycheiniog will be staging its usual fascinating talks from Brecon U3A and The Arts Society Brecknock. There is also free live music every Saturday, 1-3pm with Live @ The Waterfront.
For any details on performances or activities visit www.brycheiniog.co.uk, or call the Theatr Brycheiniog box office on 01874 611622.