Entertainment
Award- Winning one woman show visits the Torch
THE TORCH says it can’t wait to welcome Iphigenia yn Sblot to its stage. Having just been premiered at the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd this week, the Welsh language adaptation will head here to Pembrokeshire on Wednesday 18 September.
Seren Hamilton will take the title role in her first major performance while completing her final year in Acting at Rose Bruford College of Performing Arts. Alice Eklund will direct this new production nearly a decade after it first became an international smash-hit.
The one-woman play Iphigenia yn Sblot is a furious analysis of our society and the hard-bitten lives it bears. Since its premiere at Sherman Theatre in 2015, it has won the James Tait Black Prize for Drama 2016 and the Best New Play Award at the UK Theatre Awards 2015, with the original production touring to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, across Wales and the UK and as far as New York and Berlin. In 2022, the play was re-staged by Lyric Hammersmith to great acclaim. It has been translated into and performed in several languages the world over.
“I’m so excited to direct this production. Iphigenia in Splott played a huge part in my introduction to new writing and I can’t wait to see Effie’s story come to life in Welsh. Doing this play in this way feels so timely, so relevant and so needed right now,” said Director, Alice Eklund.
This production contains strong language, sexual references, sensitive themes including grief and neonatal loss as well as scenes which some audience members may find upsetting.
Iphigenia yn Sblot will be performed at the Torch Theatre on Wednesday 18 September at 7.30pm. Ticket prices: Adult: £16. Concession: £14. Under 26: £10.To book your tickets or for further information, contact the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.
Entertainment
Junior Fun Day at Ogi Bridge Meadow promises family fun and festivities
HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY AFC will host a Junior Fun Day at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium on Saturday (Nov 15), offering a full afternoon of entertainment and family-friendly activities from 12:00pm onwards.
The event will feature a wide range of attractions, including a bouncy castle, face painting, 360 camera booth, prizes and giveaways, and even an appearance by Sweet Home Alpaca, where visitors can meet and interact with alpacas between 12:30pm and 2:30pm.
A marquee in the car park will host various activities throughout the day, and half-time cheerleaders will bring extra excitement during the football action.
The fun continues in the clubhouse from 5:00pm, where visitors can watch Wales take on Liechtenstein in the Cymru match live on screen.
Younger fans will also get the chance to meet mascots Freddie Fox and Sandy Bear, while Prendergast CP School will take part in a special School Takeover Day, with Fishguard Cluster Primary Schools also attending.
The event is supported by community partners Stephen Fellows Chiropractor, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, and Sandy Bear.
With so many activities on offer, the Junior Fun Day promises to be a memorable day out for families across Pembrokeshire.

(Pic: Haverfordwest County AFC)
Entertainment
Picton Castle announces festive line-up of Christmas events
PICTON CASTLE is preparing for a vibrant and atmospheric festive season, with a series of special events set to take place over the coming weeks. From creative workshops to family encounters with Santa, visitors can look forward to a varied programme celebrating the warmth, creativity and traditions of Christmas at Picton.

Christmas Fair launches the season
The festive calendar begins with the Christmas Fair on November 22 and 23, when local craft makers, artists and artisan producers will fill the castle grounds with unique gifts, handmade treasures and seasonal treats. It’s the perfect opportunity to support independent craftspeople while soaking up the festive atmosphere of the castle and gardens.
Creative workshops and candlelit tours
Those feeling creative can join the Wreathmaking Workshop on December 6, where participants will craft their own natural wreaths using fresh foliage gathered from the castle grounds. Guests are welcome to bring personal decorations or keepsakes to add to their design, and should bring secateurs, an apron and gloves.
For a cosy evening out, the Candlelight Christmas Tour returns on December 18, inviting visitors to explore the castle illuminated only by candlelight. The evening includes seasonal music, festive displays and drinks with canapés by the fire in the Great Hall — a perfect way to experience Picton’s magic at night.
Meet Father Christmas at the Castle
Families can then look forward to meeting Father Christmas on December 20, 21, 22 and 23, as the castle is transformed with sumptuous decorations and festive activities. Children can follow the elf door trail through the castle, take part in Christmas crafts, and receive a special gift from Father Christmas himself — dressed in his traditional Victorian green robe. Adults can enjoy mulled wine or spiced apple juice by the fireside alongside Mother Christmas in the Great Hall.
Book early to avoid disappointment
Tickets for these events (other than the Christmas Fair) are expected to sell quickly, following the huge popularity of Picton’s Halloween celebrations, which sold out within a day.
For full details and ticket information, visit www.pictoncastle.co.uk or follow Picton Castle and Gardens on social media.
Entertainment
Royal Ballet brings pastoral charm to the Torch Theatre
Audiences can escape to the countryside this November as The Royal Ballet’s much-loved La Fille mal gardée comes to the Torch Theatre screen in Milford Haven.
Brimming with warmth, wit and exquisite choreography, Frederick Ashton’s classic tells the story of Lise, a spirited young woman who dreams of marrying her true love, Colas. Her mother, the formidable Widow Simone, has other plans – she hopes to secure a wealthy match by marrying Lise off to Alain, the dim-witted son of a prosperous landowner. What follows is a joyful tale of love, mischief and defiance as Lise plots to outwit her mother’s ambitions.
Sixty-five years after its premiere, Ashton’s masterpiece remains a sparkling celebration of English village life, filled with humour and heart. With Ferdinand Hérold’s cheerful score and Osbert Lancaster’s colourful designs, this production is often described as Ashton’s love letter to the English countryside.
Supported by philanthropist Aud Jebsen and the Opera Principle Julia Rausing Trust, this Royal Ballet performance has earned five-star reviews from The Times, The Independent, The Express and the London Evening Standard.
La Fille mal gardée will be shown at the Torch Theatre on Sunday, November 9 at 2:00pm.
Tickets are £20 (£18 concessions, £9 under-26s).
For bookings, call the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.
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