A CLASSIC fairy tale will be brought to life at the Torch Theatre this June as Ballet Cymru presents a fresh take on Sleeping Beauty.

The production, set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, tells the timeless story of a young princess placed under a curse and drawn into an enchanted sleep, in a tale where good and evil collide.

Ballet Cymru’s version explores themes of love, acceptance and what it means to be different, combining innovative choreography, exceptional dancing, distinctive costumes and immersive projections.

Audiences are invited to step into the woods and join Ballet Cymru as it celebrates its 40th anniversary with a magical production performed by some of Wales’ most breathtaking dancers.

The performance will also feature pre-recorded audio description in both Welsh and English.

Anwen Francis, from the Torch Theatre Marketing Team, said: “We are all familiar with the story of Sleeping Beauty, where the young princess falls into an enchanted sleep only to be woken by true love’s kiss.

“With Ballet Cymru celebrating its special birthday, we can’t wait to invite them, and our audiences, to the Torch to be part of this incredible milestone and celebration.”

Ballet Cymru’s Sleeping Beauty will be performed at the Torch Theatre on Wednesday, June 3, at 7:30pm.

Tickets cost £19, £18 concessions and £11 for under-eights. Book online at torchtheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01646 695267.

PEMBROKESHIRE BUSINESSES WARNED OF PRESSURE FROM FUEL, TRANSPORT AND SUPPLIER COSTS

WELSH business confidence improved in April, but firms are still facing falling orders, job cuts and rising costs, according to the latest NatWest Wales Growth Tracker.

The report, compiled by S&P Global, found that confidence among Welsh businesses picked up from March’s recent low, amid hopes of stronger demand over the coming year.

However, the overall picture remains challenging. The Wales Business Activity Index rose to 47.9 in April, up from 46.2 in March, but remained below the 50 mark which separates growth from contraction.

For Pembrokeshire businesses, particularly those in tourism, hospitality, transport, food, farming supply chains and small-scale manufacturing, the figures point to continued pressure from higher fuel, materials and delivery costs.

The report found that output and new orders were still falling, although at a slower pace than in March. New sales declined for a third month running, with firms blaming weak customer demand and wider economic uncertainty.

Employment also fell sharply. Welsh businesses recorded the steepest drop in workforce numbers of any of the 12 UK nations and regions monitored, with firms cutting staff or not replacing workers who had left.

Cost pressures were a major concern. Operating expenses rose at the fastest rate since November 2022, driven by higher fuel, transportation and supplier costs. Firms increased their own prices in response, but not by enough to fully offset the rise in costs.

Jessica Shipman, Chair of the NatWest Cymru Board, said: “Welsh business confidence ticked higher on hopes of stronger customer demand and planned investment in building resiliency.

“However, we saw contractions in output and new orders soften during April, but underlying business conditions told a challenging tale. A further drop in new sales led to sharper falls in backlogs of work and employment, as firms sought to cut costs and streamline processes.”

She added that pricing remained a key concern, with higher fuel and transport costs putting further pressure on businesses.

The report also found that Welsh export conditions improved only slightly, with weaker performance in Germany and France weighing on the outlook.

For Pembrokeshire, where many businesses rely on seasonal trade, logistics, hospitality and supply chains linked to agriculture, energy and the port economy, the figures suggest that confidence may be recovering, but margins remain under pressure ahead of the summer trading period.

BARCUD Group has launched a new Older People’s Strategy aimed at improving homes, services and support for older residents across mid and west Wales.

The three-year strategy sets out how the group will help older people maintain stable and suitable homes, while also supporting health, wellbeing, independence and stronger community connections.

Barcud, which works across Ceredigion and Powys, said the strategy has been developed in response to Wales’ ageing population and the changing needs of older tenants and communities.

The group includes Barcud Housing Association, Care and Repair in Powys, The Care Society and EOM.

Sara Woodall, Barcud’s Director of Communities, said: “Barcud Group has a significant role to play in the communities in which it works, in Ceredigion and Powys, as evidence shows an increasingly ageing demographic.

“It is of vital importance that we plan now for how we want to deliver homes and services that meet current and anticipated needs of our older communities.

“In doing this we understand that whilst this is Barcud Group Strategy, we will have to work in partnership with others to deliver on the Strategy’s aims.”

The strategy was developed with input from Barcud tenants, board members and external partners. It deliberately does not define the word “older”, recognising that older people are not one single group and may include several generations with very different needs and aspirations.

Following tenant feedback, Barcud will also rename sheltered accommodation as independent living schemes.

The strategy focuses on four key themes: health, wellbeing and social connection; digital inclusion and accessible communication; affordability and financial inclusion; and ensuring facilities and services are fit for purpose.

This will include work to tackle loneliness and isolation, improve accessible communication, support tenants with fuel poverty and financial pressures, and assess Barcud’s current independent living schemes with a view to upgrading facilities.

Sara Woodall added: “Future-proofing Barcud Group’s homes and services in the context of the ageing demographic of Wales is fundamental to delivering Barcud’s strategic objectives.

“This ensures Barcud remains an effective, forward-looking group. By strengthening and widening our service offering we can also enhance efficiency and respond more effectively to the needs of our tenants and communities as they grow older.”