Entertainment
Jess Gillam to perform in St Davids Cathedral
HAILING from Ulverston in Cumbria, Jess Gillam is animating the music world with her outstanding talent and infectious personality.
She has been forging her own adventurous path since she shot to fame becoming the first saxophonist to reach the finals of BBC Young Musician and the youngest ever soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms.
Passionate about inspiring and bringing joy to people through music, Jess invites audiences on journeys of musical discovery through her electrifying performances and eclectic programming.
As well as performing around the world, Jess is a presenter on TV and Radio. She became the youngest ever presenter for BBC Radio 3 with the launch of her own weekly show, This Classical Life.
The show is in its third year now and in 2020 won the prestigious ARIA Award for Best Specialist Music Show. She has also been a guest presenter for BBC Radio 2 and co-hosted a miniseries for BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.
Keen to explore the creative output of her home county, Jess presented a series of Cumbrian Chats on BBC Radio Cumbria. TV presenting includes the BBC Proms and BBC Young Musician.
Jess is the first ever saxophonist to be signed exclusively to Decca Classics and both of her albums shot to No.1 in the UK Classical Music Charts. Her debut album was listed in The Times Top 100 albums of 2019. Jess’ second album – TIME – is out now and went straight in at No.1 in the Official Classical Album Chart.
She has been the recipient of a Classic BRIT Award, has been nominated for The Times Breakthrough Award and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2021 for Services to Music.
A free spirit in style and character, Jess is an advocate for the power of music in society. She is passionate about inspiring and bringing joy to people through music and during lockdown, she formed her ‘Virtual Scratch Orchestra’, inviting musicians of any standard to come together to play music virtually with her.
The orchestra played music by David Bowie and The Beatles as well as a Christmas special of Leroy Anderson’s ‘Sleigh Ride’. Over 2,000 people from around 30 different countries took part across the two projects, aged 2-94, playing a huge range of instruments.
Jess is a patron for Awards for Young Musicians and London Music Fund and enjoys working and performing with young musicians.
Her infectious enthusiasm and passion for classical and non-classical music lights up every stage and she has performed in prestigious concert halls and with world-class orchestras around the globe including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, NDR Hannover, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic.
She also enjoys touring with her newly-formed Jess Gillam Ensemble bringing together a group of brilliant musicians who share her bold, uplifting and open-minded approach. Jess has performed live at the BAFTAs to millions of viewers at home.
Jess is an Artist in Residence at the Wigmore Hall and an associate artist at the Royal Albert Hall, and she continues to promote her own concert series, bringing international talent to her hometown of Ulverston.
Jess is a Vandoren UK Artist and became the youngest ever endorsee for Yanagisawa Saxophones aged just 13.
You can find out more about Jess here www.jessgillamsax.co.uk
Entertainment
British South Seas adventure comedy romance hits the Torch stage
STUDENTS from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen will be performing The Admirable Crichton by J.M.Barrie at two venues across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire this week. On Wednesday 15 May, you can see the play, written in 1902, on the Torch Theatre stage, directed by William Kingshott and Torch Theatre’s very own award-winning Artistic Director, Chelsey Gillard.
This joyful comedy is presented by third year students from the Acting and Design and Production courses at the University. The classic satire, pokes fun at British manners and asks what will happen if the “natural” order is upended. Members of an aristocratic family find themselves shipwrecked on a desert island with just one pair of shoes between them and someone must take the lead – will it be the blustering Lord Loam or their loyal butler Crichton?
Torch Theatre’s Artistic Director Chesley Gillard said: “I love the work of J.M. Barrie and it’s a real joy to be rehearsing this play with the third year acting and production students at UWTSD. The show is wonderfully witty and fun. It really pokes fun at the ideas of British manner and I’m sure you’ll all be laughing along with these fantastically talented students.”
Taylor Dyderski and Alyanna Arzente, both students at UWTSD, say that the experiences that they are gaining on this production will help them prepare for their future careers in the industry.
“As set design and production students, we learn a lot about how to adapt sets, lighting, and costumes so that we can tour them around different venues. Working within different environments and making sure that we are working sustainably. We are working alongside Chelsey and William, to achieve their creative visions and from this opportunity we are learning to a high standard how to be practitioners in the industry.”
Playing the role of Crichton, Celeste Turnbull has enjoyed diving into the role.
“As it is a period piece, us acting students have had to learn the specific rules of etiquette that were expected at the time. Wearing the amazing period-accurate costumes has allowed us to develop the physicalisation of our characters and delve into their mindsets. It’s nice to look back at period plays and learn a different form of our language that we wouldn’t necessarily consider including in our repertoire,” explained Celeste.
The Admirable Crichton will be performed on the Torch Theatre stage on Wednesday 15 May at 7pm. Ticket prices: £8 / £5 concessions. For tickets phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk. You can also see the production at y Stiwdio Fach, Yr Egin, Carmarthen on Thursday 17 May at 7pm and Friday 18 May at 2pm and 7pm. To book tickets for the Carmarthen shows, please contact ([email protected])
Entertainment
Saundersfoot Footlights presents: ‘The Addams Family, the Musical’
- Normal? Define “normal”
EMBRACE the bizarre and celebrate the unconventional as Saundersfoot Footlights proudly presents “The Addams Family, the Musical”! In a world where “normal” is a relative term, the iconic Addams clan invites you to delve into their delightfully macabre universe. As we plunge headfirst into rehearsals, it’s abundantly clear: we’re having a monstrous amount of fun!
Their dedicated cast is pulling out all the stops, honing every song and dance number to perfection. Get ready for a spine-tingling spectacle that will leave you spellbound! With its unforgettable characters and jaw-dropping costumes, “The Addams Family” promises an evening of eerie entertainment like no other.
What sets this production apart is the attention to detail given to every ensemble member. Even without uttering a word, each performer breathes life into their character, weaving a silent yet captivating narrative. The Ancestors, in particular, add a hauntingly beautiful dimension to the show, their graceful movements choreographing the chaos that ensues whenever the Addams are involved.
Prepare for a rollercoaster ride of crazy antics, eccentric personalities, and a whole lot of love, especially when Morticia and Gomez take the stage for the mesmerizing “Tango De Amor”. And fear not! Our Musical Director is dedicated to ensuring that every note sung resonates with perfection, prioritizing the health and wellbeing of our cast throughout.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, their set and props team are working tirelessly to transport audiences into the eerie elegance of the Addams Mansion. From crafting their own slice of Central Park to meticulously designing a haunting graveyard, every detail is meticulously crafted to immerse you in the Addams experience.
Of course, no Addams production would be complete without its iconic costumes. Each outfit is a work of art, breathing life into the characters and adding an extra layer of magic to the performance.
And let’s not forget our versatile tech crew, masters of light, sound, smoke, and pyrotechnics. With their expertise, they bring a touch of theatrical wizardry to every scene, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable experience for all.
Tickets are available NOW! Don’t miss your chance to join the madness from Monday, May 27th to Saturday, June 1st at The Regency Hall in Saundersfoot. Book online at www.Saundersfootamdram.co.uk or grab yours directly from The Regency Hall box office.
Prepare to be enchanted, amused, and thoroughly spooked as the Addams Family descends upon Saundersfoot. See you there… if you dare!
Entertainment
Community event to mark end of popular exhibition
AN exhibition at Oriel y Parc, National Park Discovery Centre will conclude with an exciting farewell event, featuring renowned illustrator Jackie Morris and award-winning poet Mererid Hopwood.
The Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words exhibition has been on display since June 2023, captivating visitors of all ages and backgrounds with its vibrant illustrations and thought-provoking poems that explore the relationship between language and the living world.
Based on the award-winning book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, the touring exhibition, organised by Compton Verney, with Hamish Hamilton and Penguin Books, brought together, for the first time ever, the original artwork by Jackie Morris alongside the English language poems by Robert Macfarlane and Welsh language poems written by Mererid Hopwood.
With the exhibition now approaching its final weeks, the farewell event offers a unique opportunity to engage with two of the creators behind its magic, gaining insight into the creative processes that brought it to life.
There will also be a chance to hear about Jackie’s latest project, with a preview of her work in progress for The Lost Birds.
Manager of Oriel y Parc, Rachel Perkins, said: “The success of the Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words exhibition has been truly remarkable, captivating audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
“It’s been wonderful to be a part of this experience, which seeks to reintroduce the fading faces of nature to our vocabularies. We hope that many have been inspired to join the fight to reverse their plight and look forward to welcoming them as we bid farewell to this memorable exhibition.”
The farewell to The Lost Words – Geiriau Diflanedig exhibition will take place at Oriel y Parc, National Park Discovery Centre on Saturday 25 May, between 2pm-3.30pm. Although the event is free, booking in advance at www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/events is essential due to limited capacity at the venue.
Further information about exhibitions and events at Oriel y Parc can be found at www.orielyparc.co.uk.
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