Young performers wow audiences as Sycamore Gap sells out

THREE nights of outstanding performances from the Torch Youth Theatre culminated in a sell-out final night, with young performers from across Pembrokeshire dazzling audiences in their production of Sycamore Gap.

The show proved hugely popular, with 96% of tickets sold across the run at the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven. The production also received glowing praise from the theatre’s community and junior reviewers.

Director Tim Howe said the success of the show reflected the dedication and hard work of the young cast.

“We are so incredibly proud of our young people and everything they have achieved with this production,” he said.

“While breaking box office records with 96% of tickets sold is an incredible milestone, the greater triumph is seeing these performers gain the essential life skills that will define their future success.

“Sycamore Gap demonstrates what we at the Torch believe makes youth theatre so special. It provides a safe and creative space where young people can build friendships, grow in confidence and explore the issues that matter most to them.”

Freya, one of the Torch Theatre’s junior reviewers, said she was impressed by the standard of the performance.

“I was impressed with the singing at the beginning of the show. What a voice!” she said.

“Every actor delivered their lines as if it were a normal conversation. I didn’t even hear a single stutter or notice if anyone made an error. The skill it must take! I’d be shaking in my boots.”

The success of Sycamore Gap will be followed by one final performance at Aberystwyth Arts Centre as part of the National Theatre Connections tour.

However, the young performers will have little time to rest as preparations are already under way for their next major production.

Mr Howe explained that the Torch Youth Theatre will soon begin work on a brand-new summer show.

“Following our Aberystwyth Arts Centre performance, we move straight into our spectacular summer production, Robin Hood and the Legend of the Black Knight,” he said.

“Written specifically for our Youth Theatre, the production will see more than fifty young people take to the main house stage for a fresh retelling of the classic tale. It’s an incredibly exciting time for our performers, and we invite everyone to come along and support them.”

The story picks up ten years after Robin Hood fled into the forest. Now he has returned in search of adventure, leading audiences deep into Sherwood Forest alongside Maid Marian and a host of familiar characters.

With daring escapes, a legendary archery contest and the appearance of the mysterious Black Knight, the production promises a thrilling new take on the well-known legend as Robin and his allies stand against the tyranny of Queen Eleanor and the ruthless Sheriff of Nottingham.

Robin Hood and the Legend of the Black Knight will be performed at the Torch Theatre from Monday (July 20) to Wednesday (July 22).

Tickets are available from the Torch Theatre Box Office on 01646 695267 or online at torchtheatre.co.uk. Prices are £10, with concessions available for £8.

Image: Jasper Photography

Campaigners say mast rent reforms have damaged cooperation between operators and landowners as rural Wales continues to struggle with patchy mobile coverage

CAMPAIGNERS representing rural landowners have launched a new website aimed at gathering evidence about what they describe as a “broken mast policy”, which they say is contributing to poor mobile coverage across parts of Wales, including Pembrokeshire.

The campaign comes amid fresh analysis highlighting persistent connectivity problems in rural areas. Research by broadband intelligence firm Ookla shows that large parts of West Wales continue to lag behind the UK average for mobile download speeds. In many parts of Pembrokeshire, typical mobile data speeds are reported to sit in the mid-teens to low-twenties megabits per second, with widespread mobile “not-spots” where coverage drops out altogether.

Local residents and businesses have long complained about unreliable signal in rural parts of the county. Coastal communities, farming areas and smaller villages often struggle with patchy reception, particularly during busy tourist periods when networks come under additional strain.

Campaigners say the situation has been made worse by changes introduced under the Electronic Communications Code reforms in 2017, which significantly altered the way telecoms operators pay landowners who host mobile phone masts.

Before the reforms, landowners typically received commercial rents for hosting telecommunications infrastructure. However, the updated legislation aligned mast rents more closely with the value of the land itself rather than the commercial benefit to the operator. In many cases this has led to payments being reduced by as much as ninety per cent when existing agreements are renewed.

Landowner groups say the changes have damaged relationships between network operators and site providers, making negotiations over new sites and renewals more difficult.

A spokesperson for the campaign said the new website will allow landowners across the UK to submit evidence and case studies about how the policy has affected the rollout of mobile infrastructure.

They said: “Many rural landowners feel they have been pushed into a David versus Goliath battle with telecoms operators. The reforms drastically reduced mast rents and undermined long-standing agreements, which has damaged cooperation just at the time when better mobile connectivity is needed most.

“We are launching this platform so that landowners can record what is actually happening on the ground. Without fair relationships between site providers and operators, the rollout of modern mobile networks will continue to face unnecessary barriers.”

The campaigners argue that the breakdown in trust between operators and landowners risks slowing the expansion of mobile networks in rural areas, including the rollout of newer technologies such as 5G.

Although mobile companies say the reforms were intended to reduce the cost of infrastructure and accelerate deployment, critics argue that in practice the changes have led to legal disputes, stalled negotiations and delays to upgrades.

For counties like Pembrokeshire, where the geography is already challenging, the issue has particular significance. The county’s rugged coastline, dispersed rural settlements and areas of national park land can make it more difficult and expensive to install new masts or upgrade existing ones.

Industry and government have acknowledged the scale of the rural coverage problem. The UK Government’s Shared Rural Network programme is currently working with mobile operators to extend coverage across the countryside by upgrading existing masts and building new sites.

The programme aims to eliminate many of the UK’s so-called “partial not-spots”, where customers can only access one mobile network. However, much of the initiative is focused on expanding 4G coverage rather than directly funding widespread 5G deployment.

As a result, many rural communities are still waiting for the faster speeds and lower latency promised by next-generation mobile networks.

Local businesses say improved connectivity is increasingly essential to the county’s economy. Tourism operators rely heavily on mobile networks for bookings and contactless payments, while farmers and rural enterprises are increasingly using digital tools and connected equipment that require reliable mobile data.

Campaigners behind the new website say they hope the evidence gathered from landowners will help policymakers better understand the practical challenges facing rural connectivity.

They warn that unless the policy framework governing mast sites is reviewed, ambitions to expand mobile infrastructure across rural Britain may be harder to achieve.

Industry bodies and government officials maintain that the reforms were designed to make it easier and more affordable to deploy digital infrastructure. Landowner groups, however, insist that the changes have had unintended consequences and may ultimately slow the rollout they were meant to accelerate.

For communities across Pembrokeshire still struggling with unreliable signal, the debate over mast policy could play an important role in determining how quickly faster and more reliable mobile coverage arrives in the years ahead.

A CARDIFF man who used fake identities on dating sites to defraud three women of almost £50,000 has been jailed.

Rodney Roberts, aged 40, of Trowbridge, Cardiff, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court to five years and one month in prison after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.

Officers from the Proactive Economic Crime Team at the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), working with South Wales Police, found that Roberts defrauded three victims of a combined £49,580 between 2021 and 2024. He contacted the women through online dating and social media platforms while using the false name “Paul Smith”.

Roberts first contacted a victim in February 2021. He initially claimed to be an American from California working in the UK as an attorney and financier. He later told the victim this was merely a cover story and that he was in fact an intelligence agent. Roberts claimed that because of his work he did not have direct control of his finances and asked the victim for financial help.

During the relationship he persuaded the woman to invest money in a fictitious investment company. He also assisted her in selling her home so she could invest more money into the scheme and encouraged her to open a bank account in her name for him to use. Unknown to the victim, Roberts also opened a cryptocurrency account in her name.

Roberts contacted a second victim in October 2022. Again he encouraged her to invest in what he claimed was a lucrative opportunity promising high returns. He showed her screenshots which appeared to show the investment growing in value, but these images were fabricated. Throughout the relationship Roberts repeatedly gave excuses for why he was unable to repay the money.

He contacted a third victim in March 2024, this time claiming to be an American television producer working for the BBC on a two-year visa. Roberts told the victim he was struggling to access his American bank accounts and asked for money to help him put down a deposit on a flat. As before, he used fake screenshots of accounts to convince her the investment was genuine, before providing excuses as to why the borrowed money could not be returned.

The third victim eventually became suspicious and carried out online searches, which led her to two historic news reports detailing previous fraud offences committed by Roberts under the alias Paul Smith. She then contacted South Wales Police.

Detective Constable Amanda Davies, of Tarian ROCU, said romance fraud was a growing and highly damaging crime.

“Offenders deliberately exploit trust and vulnerability,” she said. “Victims are often left with not only significant financial losses but also psychological distress and embarrassment, which can prevent them from reporting the offence.

“I am pleased with the sentence handed down today and hope it sends a message to others who would behave in such an abhorrent way for financial gain.

“I would also like to recognise the courage shown by the victims in helping us pursue a conviction and bring Roberts to justice.”

DC Davies urged anyone forming relationships online to remain cautious.

“Common warning signs include requests for money, reluctance to meet in person or by video call, or pressure to keep a relationship secret. Another warning sign is ‘love bombing’, where a new or prospective partner overwhelms someone with excessive attention, affection or grand gestures early in the relationship.

“Fraudsters are skilled at creating narratives that sound believable. If something feels too good to be true, trust your instincts and speak to friends or family.

“If you believe you may have been a victim of romance fraud, report it to Action Fraud.”

She added that Tarian ROCU would continue to pursue fraudsters and bring them before the courts.