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Entertainment

The Great British Musical – A series of talks with West End musical director Ian McMillan

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MUSIC lovers and theatre enthusiasts in Pembrokeshire are in for a treat as renowned West End Musical Director Ian McMillan presents The Great British Musical!, a series of eight musically illustrated talks. Hosted at the piano, McMillan will guide audiences through the rich history of British musicals at Ty’r Pererin Education & Pilgrimage Centre, St Davids (SA62 6PD), with free parking available at Quickwell Hill Car Park.

The talks will take place on Thursday afternoons from 2:30pm to 4:30pm, running throughout February and March, excluding February 27th. Each session will explore the evolution of British musical theatre, from the early classics to contemporary hits.

An Acclaimed West End Conductor

Ian McMillan’s distinguished career includes conducting legendary productions such as Oliver! at the London Palladium, Charlie Girl at the Victoria Palace, and Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre. He made his West End conducting debut at just 24 years old, stepping in to lead Singin’ in the Rain at the London Palladium, starring Tommy Steele and Roy Castle. He later coached Hollywood dance legend Cyd Charisse to sing for the first time in her career, preparing her for her role alongside Paul Nicholas and Dora Bryan in Charlie Girl—a production that was also featured on the BBC Royal Variety Show.

A Musical Journey Through British Theatre

McMillan’s engaging presentations will showcase some of the most celebrated British musicals, including:

  • Merrie England, The Arcadians, Chu Chin Chow, The Maid of the Mountains
  • The musicals of Ivor Novello and Noel Coward
  • Me & My Girl, The Boy Friend, Salad Days, Bless the Bride, Oliver!, Pickwick, Half a Sixpence
  • The iconic works of Andrew Lloyd Webber

Audiences will gain unique insights into these productions, their composers, and the historical context that shaped their success.

A Speaker with International Experience

Ian McMillan has delivered captivating lectures on The QE2, at Cambridge University, The London College of Music, for the WI, and the University of the Third Age (U3A). His deep knowledge and engaging storytelling style promise to make these sessions both informative and entertaining.

All Welcome – Affordable Admission

Everyone is invited to attend these insightful and enjoyable talks. Admission is just £5 cash at the door, which includes a refreshing interval cuppa.

To register interest in attending one or more of these sessions, email [email protected]. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the magic of British musical theatre with one of the country’s most experienced and respected musical directors!

 

Entertainment

One Night in Dublin returns to the Torch with a brand-new show

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ONE NIGHT IN DUBLIN is heading back to the stage at the Torch Theatre with a lively new production fronted by renowned Irish singer Danny Muldoon.

Tickets are already selling fast for the feel-good celebration of Irish music, which promises two hours of songs, stories and plenty of craic.

Backed by an award-winning five-piece band, Muldoon leads audiences through a packed set of sing-along favourites including Galway Girl, Tell Me Ma, The Irish Rover, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey in the Jar, The Wild Rover and The Galway Shawl, along with many more well-loved classics.

The show recreates the atmosphere of a bustling Dublin pub, complete with fiddle, whistle, guitars, banjo, bodhrán, accordion and driving drums, transporting the audience straight into “Murphy’s Tavern” for an unforgettable night of live entertainment.

Fans can also expect hits from Irish legends including The Pogues, The Saw Doctors, The Dubliners, The Fureys, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys.

One Night in Dublin comes to the Torch Theatre on Thursday, March 26 at 7:30pm.

Tickets cost £26.50. Visit the theatre website or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267 to book.

 

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Entertainment

New appeal in search for missing Manic Street Preachers musician

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Family and charity issue fresh appeal for information about guitarist 31 years on

THIRTY-ONE years after the disappearance of Richey Edwards, a new public appeal has been issued urging anyone with information to come forward.

Edwards, guitarist and lyricist with Manic Street Preachers, vanished on January 31, 1995, in a case that has become one of the most enduring mysteries in British music history.

Missing for over 30 years: Richey Edwards

The then 27-year-old was last seen at the Embassy Hotel Bayswater in west London, where he had been staying ahead of a promotional trip to the United States. He checked out of room 561 but never reached his destination.

Despite numerous reported sightings over the years, none have ever been confirmed. Edwards was officially declared presumed dead in 2008, though his family continue to mark the anniversary of his disappearance and keep hope alive that answers may still emerge.

Anniversary appeal

The charity Missing People has released a statement in collaboration with Edwards’ sister Rachel, asking the public to remember the case.

In a social media post, the organisation said: “It is 31 years since Richard went missing, please keep his family in your thoughts.”

They also repeated key identifying details from the time he vanished. Edwards was described as white, around 5ft 7in tall, slim, with brown eyes and a shaved head. He had several distinctive tattoos, including a rose with the words ‘Useless Generation’, the phrase ‘I’ll surf this beach’, and a scar on his lower left arm where he had scratched the words ‘4 REAL’.

Unanswered questions

His car was later found near the Severn Bridge services, close to the Welsh border, prompting widespread searches but yielding no firm clues about what happened next.

At the time of his disappearance, the band were on the brink of international success. Edwards’ intense, literate songwriting and striking image had already made him a defining figure in Welsh rock music. More than three decades later, fans still hold vigils, create murals and share tributes across Wales and beyond.

Police say the case remains open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Service on 101 or use their online reporting service, quoting reference CONNECT REF 01/764429/24. Missing People also operates a free, confidential helpline on 116 000.

 

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Entertainment

Turner and Constable brought to life on the big screen at the Torch Theatre

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ART lovers in Pembrokeshire will have the chance to experience the lives and rivalries of two of Britain’s greatest painters when a new documentary, EOS: Turner & Constable, arrives at the Torch Theatre this March.

Celebrating the 250th anniversary of their births, the film explores the intertwined stories and enduring legacies of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable alongside Tate Britain’s major new exhibition. Exhibition on Screen has been granted exclusive behind-the-scenes access, bringing their extraordinary art and personal histories vividly to the cinema screen.

Born just a year apart, Turner and Constable helped redefine landscape painting in Britain – and were fierce competitors. Both captured a nation in transition, yet their styles could not have been more different. Turner’s dramatic skies, blazing sunsets and atmospheric scenes from his travels contrasted sharply with Constable’s gentle, nostalgic portrayals of the English countryside and familiar rural life.

Their opposing visions divided critics and audiences alike, famously described at the time as a clash of “fire and water”.

The documentary offers rare, intimate access to sketchbooks, letters and personal artefacts, alongside insights from leading curators and art historians. It also ties in with Tate Britain’s landmark exhibition, running in London from November 2025 to April 2026, which reunites the two masters’ works side-by-side.

This cinematic event gives audiences the chance to see their masterpieces in stunning detail and discover unexpected sides to two artists whose rivalry shaped British art history.

Turner and Constable will be screened at the Torch Theatre on Sunday, March 15 at 4:30pm.

Tickets are £13. For bookings, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01646 695267.

 

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