Entertainment
St Donat’s Fantastic Fête and Saundersfoot Harbour Festival dates confirmed
STREET FOOD CIRCUS says it has launched its 2024 programme with two new events joining its regular line up across south Wales.
The first new venture, Fantastic Fête, will take over the grounds of St Donat’s Castle on the Vale of Glamorgan coast for the first weekend in August [Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th]. Street Food Circus is reimagining the classic summer fête – remixing folk traditions with the unexpected – from magical morris dancing to the world’s biggest bouncy castle.
Food and feasting will take centre stage at the event, with a street food line-up bringing cuisines from around the world alongside a farmers’ market, pop-up pub and a lido swimming pool for people to swim and relax around.
Street Food Circus founder and ringmaster, Matt the Hat, explained: “We’ll have the best street food Wales has to offer – but this is about more than just the food. This will be our biggest event to date. We’ve been cooking it up for years with family activities, entertainment and a fantastical walk through the castle gardens to the main event. And after dark, as the sun sets on this epic castle by the sea you can expect a very special evening finale,” he said.
Moving west, the second new event, Saundersfoot Harbour Festival will run over the first weekend in September (Friday 6th – Sunday 8th). Street Food Circus will be bringing the pirate spirit to the National Events Deck at Saundersfoot Harbour with street food and entertainment based around the harbour’s life-size Coastal Schooner.
As well as bringing the travelling street food line-up to the town, visitors can expect a gravity-defying pirate circus show, sea shanties and lots of walkabout entertainment for families.
The 2024 SFC programme also sees the return of its two spring and summer residencies.
For five weekends in April and May [19 April – 19 May], Forest Feastival returns to the Merthyr Mawr Estate, bringing a family friendly global feast to these unique woodlands by the sea. As well as a rotating line-up of street food favourites – and some new faces – Forest Feastival includes circus performers, live music, cabaret and DJs in the evening sessions and for the kids, a circus school and marshmallow fire pits.
The Big Banquet rolls into Caldicot Castle for the spring half term weekends, including the late May bank holiday [24 May – 2 June]. Centred around long-table communal banquet dining under a big top, Street Food Circus transforms the castle grounds with a free circus school, fire shows and one of the UK’s best-known high-wire acts, Chris Bullzini, performing eight metres above the crowds.
Street Food Circus has curated a line up of more than 40 traders to appear across the four events. These include returning favourites like Keralan Karavan and Bao Selecta, well-known names appearing for the first time, like Hill’s Burgers and traders who launched last year making a welcome return such as Straight Outta Canton, Two Lads Kitchen and Pot Heads.
Matt added: “We’re always looking for that perfect balance of SFC stalwarts and to find and support the new talent emerging on the street food scene. We know we’ve got some people who come year in, year out to visit their favourites, and those who want to try something new every time they visit.
“Central to our mission as Street Food Circus is to give a platform to new traders – many of those who started with us have gone on to open their own bricks and mortar restaurants over the years. So we’re thrilled to be adding lots of new flavours from all over the world to the line up this year. From Africa and Afghanistan to Indonesia and Nepal – you’re guaranteed to find something you’ve never tried before,” he said.
New traders for 2024 include award-winning birria tacos from Bristol’s Gourmet Warriors, traditional Himalayan-inspired recipes from Mandela Street Food and authentic Indonesian dishes from Waroeng Nona.
Desserts come from Rebel Crumble, Bake Off The Professionals champion Minto’s Patisserie and SFC favourite Pwdin.
Full trader listings and event details for 2024 Street Food Circus events can be found at streetfoodcircus.com. Tickets go on sale on Friday 8 March 2024.
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 Friday 17 May at 7pm and Saturday 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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