Blog posts by year and monthSeptember 2011
Posts (98)
John McGrath to give annual Richard Burton lecture
Next Tuesday, 4 October, sees this year's annual Richard Burton lecture at the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot, near where the Hollywood screen legend grew up. The lecture is being taken by John McGrath, artistic director of National Theatre Wales, who was key in bringing this year's muc...
New Critics Day
Leading arts commentators from across the UK are descending on Cardiff tomorrow (Saturday) for an event to celebrate the end of a pioneering scheme to boost arts criticism in Wales. The New Critics Programme was launched in 2010 and offered budding critics encouragement via a mentoring project, which saw them partnered with experienced names in the business. The New Critics Day will see panel discussions headed by guests like Lyn Gardner and Elisabeth Mahoney from The Guardian; Matt Wolf from the New York Times Online, Arts Desk co-founder and author of Bred of Heaven: One Man's Quest to Reclaim His Welsh Roots (Profile Books) Jasper Rees, and journalist, broadcaster and critic Aleks Sierz. Other guests include Artistic Director of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Arwel Gruffydd, and academic and literary critic Prof Hazel Walford Davies. The day at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is being hosted by Literature Wales in conjunction with National Theatre Wales. It will be officially opened by the theatre company's Artistic Director, John E McGrath The four new critics to successfully complete the scheme are - Ben Bryant, Megan Jones, Dylan Moore and Adam Somerset. They applied for the unpaid roles last year and after demonstrating their passion for the arts, were given the opportunity to critique events during National Theatre Wales' first season. During the debate and discussion session, they will offer their feedback on the scheme. Theatre-goers, writers and armchair critics are invited to attend the event from 1.30pm-7.00pm. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. For more information and to book tickets contact Literature Wales: 029 2047 2266 / [email protected].
Plas Newydd hosts Josie Russell exhibition
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of strolling around the neo-Gothic mansion Plas Newydd on Anglesey, which is run by The National Trust. The brilliant weather we've been having in Wales this week added to beauty of this gorgeous building and its gardens that sits on the Menai Straits. Yet only two weeks ago the building suffered a water leak and damage to its saloon. The highlight of my visit was getting a glimpse of some of some of the artworks on show, including a fascinating 58 foot wide trompe l'oeil (trick of the eye) mural by Rex Whistler in the house's dining room. Josie Russell with some of her art work at Plas Newydd. Image courtesy of The National Trust An example of some more contemporary art will make Plas Newydd its home from tomorrow though, as the building hosts a new exhibition of work by textile artist Josie Russell. Josie staged her first exhibition of work at Plas Newydd almost a year ago, and enjoyed a sell-out of her works during the exhibition. At the time she said: "I even had to introduce some new work during the exhibition to keep up with the demand." Josie works with recycled materials to create her fabric collage art works, some of which include landscapes of the Nantlle Valley where she grew up and went to school. She said: "I became aware very early on that beautiful, unique artwork does not have to cost hundreds of pounds to create or cause a detriment to our surroundings. "Only the bare minimum of my required materials are bought new: canvasses, certain threads, or spare parts for my sewing machine. The rest - buttons, beads, ribbons, and off-cuts of strange, striking fabrics - are sourced from extensive rummaging in my local charity shops, recycled from my own clothes, or else kindly donated by generous family and friends." The exhibition runs at Plas Newydd from tomorrow, Saturday 1 October, until Wednesday 2 November. Find out more about Josie's work on her website www.josierussell.com and for more information about Plas Newydd visit The National Trust website or keep up to date on Twitter @NTPlasNewydd.
Bridgend walking festival
Discover the best of Bridgend county on foot! This year's walking festival kicks off on Saturday and runs from 1 - 9 October, 2011. The festival offers a range technical walks for the experienced plus an eclectic mix of experiences for dabblers, families and novice walkers. Visitors can t...
Keir Hardie, socialist pioneer
On 2 October 1900 James Keir Hardie became the socialist MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. At that time the Labour Party did not exist, but earlier in the year Hardie had been instrumental in forming the Labour Representation Committee. It was as a member of this group, the forerunner of th...
Recording Doctor Who soundtracks
I come from a family of Doctor Who fans. If he were on Mastermind, Doctor Who would probably be my cousin Nick's specialist subject. When I got my job, I think one of Nick's first questions was when would my first Doctor Who session be. Recording a soundtrack for a show as celebrated as Docto...
BBQ weather coming up
It may be autumn and the nights are drawing in but we haven't seen the last of the summer yet. It's going to get much warmer over the next few days. Southerly winds from the southern Europe and the Mediterranean will be bringing blue skies and lots of sunshine to Wales with temperatures rising into the low to mid 20's Celsius. The highest temperature ever recorded in September in Wales is 31C, 88F on 1st September 1961 at Gogerddan in Ceredigion. Later into the month and the highest temperature is 26 Celsius, 79 Fahrenheit at Abergwyngregyn in Gwynedd on 30th September 1985 but this could be smashed this week with temperatures on the north coast predicted to reach 27 Celsius, 81 Fahrenheit at Rhyl - on a par with Barcelona in Spain! The reason for the warm and sunny spell of weather is down to the shape of the jet stream. The jet stream in the upper atmosphere is shaped like a roller coaster at the moment and we're on the warm side of a big dipper. In meteorology this is called an Omega Block because it resembles the shape of the Greek letter Omega and these blocks can last for some time before breaking down. The weather we get depends on which part of the Omega block we are stuck under. At the moment we are in the middle which is warm and dry but either side of it is cooler and more unsettled. In winter, Omega Blocks can lead to cold and snowy weather if they are in the right place which was the case last December which was the coldest on record. At this time of year, some people often refer to warm weather as being an Indian Summer but these occur in October and November. In Welsh, fine and warm in late September is called a 'haf bach mihangel' or a St. Michael's little summer, which I have written about before. So, forget the soups and duvets, it's time to hit the beach and get the BBQ out over the next few days. In fact it could be the best spell of weather we've had since last April. The sunshine will really show off the autumn colours at their best so if you take a photo please email it to [email protected]. And you never know, I may be able to show them off on the telly. Derek
Cardiff wins international bid to host WOMEX World Music Expo in 2013
Cardiff has been selected as the city to host WOMEX, the world music expo, in 2013. The announcement, made today at the Wales Millennium Centre, comes at the end of a year-long campaign to bring the event to the Welsh capital. Described by UNESCO as the most important international profession...
Do something drastic, stop using plastic
I've been out and about in Haverfordwest today, a town which started a campaign three years ago to become 'plastic bag free'. A local campaigning group created a cotton bag, designed by schoolchildren, complete with the slogan 'Do Something Drastic, Stop Using Plastic'. The new re-usa...
Heritage Lottery Fund to revitalise Pontmorlais in Merthyr Tydfil
Fifteen historic buildings in Merthyr Tydfil, some dating back more than 200 years, are to be restored thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The HLF has give the final go-ahead for £1.58m towards the restoration of buildings in the Pontmorlais area of the town. Marlies Pires, owner of...
