PEMBROKESHIRE theatre company Artistic Licence is preparing to bring the much-loved farce Noises Off to the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 February.

It is 25 years since the National Theatre’s ground-breaking production of Michael Frayn’s comedy first wowed audiences. Now Artistic Licence is presenting its own take on what critics have long hailed as “the greatest farce ever written”.

Packed with slamming doors, flying sardines and backstage mayhem, Noises Off follows a theatre company whose production is falling apart both on stage and behind the scenes. The result is a chaotic tribute to live theatre – and the perfect night out for anyone who has ever been on stage, or simply sat in the audience.

Local cast takes centre stage

The entire cast is drawn from Pembrokeshire performers. Artistic Licence, which champions local talent, has assembled a strong ensemble for the show.

The company includes Kerry Steed as Dotty/Mrs Clackett, Marcus Lewis as Lloyd, Alex Jukes as Garry/Roger, Laura Barrett as Brooke/Vicki, Will Oliver as Frederick/Phillip/Sheikh, Janine Lewis as Belinda/Flavia, Frank Tobin as Selsdon/Burglar, Hun Benbow as Tim/Stage Manager, and Chloe Wheeler as Poppy/ASM.

Artistic Licence was founded by Carol Mackintosh, Trisha Biffen and Marcus Lewis to bring classic plays and quality comedy to local audiences, while giving Pembrokeshire actors the opportunity to perform at the county’s only professional producing theatre.

“We’re so excited to be bringing Noises Off to the Torch,” said Carol, Tricia and Marcus. “It’s one of the funniest plays ever written, and it’s a real treat to work with such a talented group of local performers. Artistic Licence is all about celebrating great writing and giving Pembrokeshire talent a chance to shine – and Noises Off is the perfect show for that.”

How to book

Performances take place in the Torch Theatre’s Main House from 5–7 February 2026. Tickets are available now from the Box Office on 01646 695267 or online at torchtheatre.co.uk.

For anyone who loves theatre, laughter and a generous dose of organised chaos, this is one not to miss.

Wales is moving forward with plans that bring real internet coverage to areas where speeds fall short. The project now launched is built on data, fieldwork, returned funding and a clear digital objective. The timing and the scope are fixed, the tools are known, and the outcome is firm. Rural parts of Wales can expect change early in 2026.

A plan built for areas still waiting

The Welsh Government set aside £70 million to bring high-speed broadband to premises where 30Mbps is still out of reach. These areas sit outside all commercial and public rollout activity confirmed for the next three years. 

The new effort uses returned funds from BT’s Superfast Cymru phase. Take-up levels went up, the clawback clause activated, and now the amount is being put back into the ground.

There are two LOTS in the framework. LOT 1 carries £60 million and targets clusters with 1,000 or more premises. LOT 2 carries £10 million and goes to smaller sites with fewer than 1,000. 

The tender was open until November 26th, 2025. Contracts are expected to be handed out on 20 January 2026. Once awarded, the build can begin. The first results are expected soon.

Coverage gaps are actively targeted

As of mid-2025, around 97.6 percent of premises across Wales reach 30Mbps or more. Roughly 87.8 percent of those can access gigabit speeds. However, smaller areas still remain with lower coverage. These are the homes, farms, outbuildings, and business spots now included in the new plan.

The open market review defines the list. It checks all current commercial and government plans and picks only those premises outside them. That keeps the focus on gaps. It also stops money from going to areas already covered. 

Installation cost per premise stands around £2,400. That is slightly higher than figures under Project Gigabit, which usually run under £2,000. Reaching these remote spots takes more work, more equipment, and more time. FTTP is the main option here, as fibre to the Premises means fast, direct access right at the socket.

Where the difference will be felt

This rollout reaches people and places with low speeds, weak lines and poor access to online services. The reach includes people working from rural homes, small business owners, live streamers, and residents who rely on online platforms for everyday tasks. 

New coverage will also change how users access data-heavy services like online gaming, app-based tools, and systems that demand instant response and secure payments.

Faster internet helps with media, support platforms, and site features that rely on strong upload and download signals. Those who play online casino games on established gaming platforms will notice smoother delivery. 

This type of gaming in the UK has grown steadily in recent years. It is driven by the ease of access from home and the steady shift toward digital formats. With stronger networks, features like live tables, high‑speed slots, and timed promotions can perform more reliably. 

With the broadband upgrade, performance will be more consistent, and the interface will become more responsive, especially where visuals or payouts are involved.

Research that helped target the project

The Welsh Government commissioned Cwmpas to gather feedback from those living and working in the most affected areas. This research reached across all parts of Wales and focused on rural users. Respondents included students, self-employed workers, remote professionals, and community leaders. 

The biggest age group was 54 to 63, which made up 31.4 percent of replies. The group with the lowest reply rate was 16 to 25, at just 1.45 percent.

Many users saw FTTP as the best solution. They wanted something that worked now, but they were ready to accept bridging options until the final system could be built. Every user surveyed asked for fast and reliable service. No one wanted to wait another three years.

UK Government feedback from similar research confirmed the trend. Those living in areas with limited coverage said they wanted better access for basic online actions, work‑from‑home tasks, and information services. Businesses said they needed faster lines for productivity, better access to cloud tools, and system stability for customer contact. 

Support, structure and who builds it

The Welsh Government worked alongside Building Digital UK and local councils to avoid overlap and make sure that funding reached places without confirmed service. City and growth deals across Wales also had input. Coordination across all levels was a key part of planning.

The grant process will include requirements for environmental awareness. Past broadband builds asked providers to show how they would manage biodiversity, and this project will carry the same. Civil works for fibre take weeks, so early notice and open communication help ease disruption in each area.

While this is an infrastructure project, some users face extra difficulty once it goes live. Low income and low digital confidence can slow take-up. This was flagged in early assessments. Providers may offer setup guidance and local signposting to make sure coverage turns into real access.

The build also gives support to third sector groups. These groups use online tools to manage funding, communicate with teams and run outreach. Reliable broadband makes this simpler. The same applies to people using online learning, public service portals or tools with streaming content. It keeps users in touch with what matters.

Fixed timetable, clear impact

The contracts close in late 2025, and awards follow in January 2026. The first build phase starts just after that. Over time, the network will stretch into farms, valleys, border towns, hill properties, and distant coast spots. Each home and business added gets stable signal and a future‑proof line.

The aim is always steady access. Rural areas take longer to build into, but the model here has been tested and planned with care. Providers like Openreach, Ogi, Netomnia and Virgin Media all match the project size. Some need more backing than others, and some may only go after one LOT. 

Service helps people stay productive. It lets platforms run with fewer errors. It removes the weak points in a stream or feed. Once the new lines go live, the full package of modern tools and services can follow. Wales stays online without lag, skips the drop, and cuts out the wait.

RENOWNED storytellers Daniel Morden and Hugh Lupton are bringing a new intimate theatre experience to Wales next spring, exploring classic myths inspired by the night sky. Stars and their Consolations, produced by Adverse Camber Productions, will tour Wales in Spring 2026 and arrives at the Torch Theatre in March.

The production reimagines well-known Greek star myths through a blend of live storytelling, projected animations of the night sky and a mesmerising electro-acoustic soundscape created by award-winning Welsh composer Sarah Lianne Lewis.

The show has evolved from an earlier collaboration between Adverse Camber, Morden, Lupton and Lewis. Its first incarnation premiered in west Wales at the Beyond the Border Storytelling Festival 2021, and the company further developed the piece in 2022. This enhanced touring version promises a majestic, hypnotic experience that brings ancient tales to life with fresh theatrical energy.

Described as a beautiful way to reconnect with stories that have been shared around fires for thousands of years, the production explores familiar constellations such as Orion, Pegasus, the Pleiades, Sirius and the Milky Way.

Storyteller and co-creator Daniel Morden said: “Stars and their Consolations is a way of restoring the night sky. When we listen to these myths, we are connecting with our ancestors. It is as if a hand has reached out from the past and taken our own, and we feel less alone.”

The two-hour show, suitable for ages 12 and over, invites audiences into an enthralling world where gods toy mercilessly with mortals, and stories of pride, lust and passion unfold against the vast canvas of the cosmos. The epic sweep of the sky, the creators say, offers a grounding and consoling perspective on human troubles.

Producer Naomi Wilds added: “Stories shared together bring people together. We all live under the same sky, though it looks different depending on where you stand. Star-related stories help us remember constellation patterns, mark the seasons and even warn us about issues such as light pollution. They remind us why the night sky is valuable, and why we must protect it for future generations.”

Six-month bilingual storytelling project across Wales

Ahead of the spring tour, Adverse Camber—supported by Prosiect Nos Partnership, Theatrau Sir Gâr, Arts Council Wales, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Colwinston Foundation, The Darkley Trust, Welsh Government, Literature Wales and People Speak Up—is launching a six-month initiative: Cysur y Sêr (The Comfort of the Stars).

This Welsh-led, bilingual project will develop new Welsh-language stories, explore the environmental impacts of light pollution and climate change, and leave a long-lasting storytelling legacy. Ten bilingual storytellers will work with communities near venues across Wales in the lead-up to Dark Skies Week in February 2026, before linking into the touring production in March and April.

Although Stars and their Consolations focuses on Greek mythology, the creative team emphasises that Wales itself has some of the best protected night skies in the world—and a largely forgotten tradition of celestial storytelling.

Morden noted: “The Welsh landscape used to be populated with stories. We’ve forgotten many of them—on the ground and in the heavens. If STARS helps make the night sky magical and precious again, perhaps we will do more to protect it.”

Dani Robertson, Dark Sky Officer for the Prosiect Nos Partnership, added:
“Interest in Dark Sky watching across Wales is growing. We suspect many of the star stories once told in rural and coastal communities have been lost, but Cysur y Sêr may uncover memories people still hold. Sharing them helps pass this knowledge on to the future.”

How to watch

Stars and their Consolations will appear at the Torch Theatre on Tuesday, 24 March.
For more information and tickets, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk
or contact the Box Office on (01646) 695267.