IT’S hats off to the Llanelli-based Curtain Up Theatre Company this week as they have celebrated their latest fund-raising achievement.
Members of Curtain Up gathered to hand over a cheque for £2,000 to Ms Christine Darkin, coordinator of the Breakthro charity, based in Llanelli.
Breakthro is dedicated to improving the lives of adults with learning disabilities and/or special educational needs in the local community.
The charity’s mission is to provide care, support, education, and facilities for recreation and leisure time occupation to improve the overall quality of life for members.
The money was raised through the Curtain Up Christmas show held in Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, in December last year.
Ms Darkin thanked the group for their generous donation.
The cash will help to take Breakthro members to Llandudno in north Wales for their summer holidays.
Meanwhile, Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli has been picked as a venue for a touring production of Verdi’s Macbeth.
One of Shakespeare’s greatest plays is also one of Verdi’s greatest operas.
Mid Wales Opera is staging its first-ever production of Macbeth as the culmination of its Shakespeare Season.
You will be able to experience a gripping tale of power, manipulation and tragic descent as Macbeth, a valiant general, succumbs to his wife’s persuasion, leading to a ruthless quest for the Scottish throne.
Verdi’s magnificent score, with its sweeping melodies and intricate harmonies, propels the psychologically thrilling narrative, while Act 4 introduces a modern twist with the haunting chorus of refugees.
The opera will be sung in English. The Mid Wales Opera company will be accompanied by Ensemble Cymru and a large cast will be supplemented by community choruses.
The opera will be staged at Ffwrnes on March 19. Tickets are £20 and £18.
Macbeth will feature Welsh Soprano Mari Wyn Williams and Canadian-born Jean-Kristof Bouton.
As the February half term school holidays approach, the Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen is ready to welcome back the immensely-talented Carmarthen Youth Opera.
This year, the spotlight shines on the award-winning musical Our House, featuring iconic hits from the legendary band Madness.
Our House is a romantic comedy based on music by Madness and a compelling book by playwright Tim Firth.
Set against the backdrop of ‘80s ska beats, the musical delves into themes of love, family values, responsibility, and the journey of growing up, all through the lens of Madness’s timeless songs, including chart-toppers like Our House, Baggy Trousers, and House of Fun.
The narrative unfolds on a summer’s evening in London, following the adventures of Camden lad Joe Casey. As Joe navigates love, friendship, and pivotal life decisions, the audience is taken on a rollercoaster of emotions with a dual narrative guided by the ghost of Joe’s deceased criminal father.
Director Dan Williams ensures a high-octane performance, promising audiences an unforgettable experience.
The immensely talented ensemble is backed by a West End standard orchestra, delivering a musical feast that captures the energy and spirit of Madness’s greatest hits.
The choreography, staging, make-up, and lighting are meticulously crafted, rivalling any professional theatre production.
Performances are scheduled from Wednesday, February 14 to Saturday, February 17, with evening shows at 7.30 pm and a special matinee on Saturday at 2.30 pm.
Tickets are available at the Lyric Theatre box office or online at www.theatrausirgar.co.uk.
In other news, a Llanelli-based company called Scarlet Musical Theatre Productions will be making a much-anticipated debut this month.
The classic coming-of-age rock musical Spring Awakening will be the first full-scale production for Scarlet Musical Theatre.
The show is being staged at Stiwdio Stepni at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli on February 22 and 23.
With music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater, Spring Awakening is based on the controversial 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind.
Spring Awakening contains partial nudity and sexual content, as well as explicit language. It is recommended for an audience of 16 and over.
Tickets for the February performances in the intimate Stidwio Stepney space are £12.
In March, a brand new musical, produced by National Theatre Wales, is coming to Llanelli.
Feral Monster is described as a ‘banging new musical about an unremarkable teenager’.
It will be staged at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Wednesday, March 13 (7pm).
Feral Monster is written by Bethan Marlow and directed by Izzy Rabey, with music by Nicola T Chang.
The cast features Lily Beau, Carys Eleri, Geraint Rhys Edwards, Rebecca Hayes, Nathaniel Leacock and Leila Navabi.
Tickets are available from Carmarthenshire Theatres, Theatrau Sir Gar.
In other news, the popular Bronwen Lewis is bringing her ‘More from The Living Room’ tour to Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli on February 17.
Following her hugely successful 2022 tour, Bronwen will be back, recreating the magic of her virtual gigs live on stage.
Bronwen will be performing a new selection of her favourite songs intertwined with endearing storytelling.
The multi-instrumentalist and Tik-Tok sensation showcases a varied repertoire including a new selection of her original songs.
The Welsh singer-songwriter has a wonderfully warm style that sits between Country, Pop, Folk and Blues. She is proudly bilingual and received international acclaim during her time on BBC’s The Voice when she brought Tom Jones to tears. Bronwen also starred in and sang the theme song ‘Bread and Roses’ in the BAFTA Award Winning film ‘Pride’.
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