THERE’S a big night at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli on Saturday as Loud Applause Productions presents ‘A Night with the Stars’ gala concert.
The annual event is always a big hit at Ffwrnes and there are just a handful of tickets left for Saturday’s show.
The talented young singers from Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) will be joined on stage by an array of Welsh talent.
This year marks the 10th anniversary for LARS and the charity officials are delighted to welcome back a former member who has gone on to achieve great success, the young Welsh superstar of stage and screen, Callum Scott Howells.
Callum will host the evening and entertain in his own unique way.
Callum is known for his role as Colin Morris-Jones in the Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin (2021).
Callum was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.
In October 2022, he played The Emcee in the West End production of Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre.
He is the recipient of 2021 BAFTA Cymru Best Actor and best Male Actor at the Royal Television Society (RTS) programme Awards.
Also back by popular demand at Ffwrnes will be one of Wales’s premier choirs, the Pendyrus Male Choir, who are celebrating their centenary year.
Pendyrus Male Choir have been at the forefront of the Welsh Male Choir world since 1924.
The list of the choir’s famous musical directors includes Arthur Duggan MBE, Glynne Jones MBE, John Samuel and Stewart Roberts.
The choir is now under the baton of Ieuan Jones. The choir’s accompanist, Gavin Parry, is a legend in the choral world, having been accompanist for a remarkable 50 years!
Completing the line-up on the Ffwrnes Theatre stage will be the children of Côr Ysgol Swiss Valley Choir from Llanelli.
Since it was established, LARS has supported numerous young performers, many of whom have successfully transitioned into professional performing careers.
Currently, LARS comprises 15 members, aged between 15 and 23.
The organisation supports its Rising Stars through various means, including staging opportunities, mentoring, and bursaries.
Tickets for Saturday’s show start at £12.
Tickets are available from the Ffwrnes Theatre box office and the Carmarthenshire Theatres Theatrau Sir Gar website at – https://carmarthenshiretheatres.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873646118
Meanwhile, the ladies of Carmarthen’s A Choired Taste are planning a special 10th anniversary concert this month.
It will be held at The Lyric Theatre on Saturday, October 19, and will be hosted by actress, TV presenter and producer Connie Fisher.
The concert is being billed as ‘A Celebration of Voices’, so you can expect to be dazzled by a dynamic mix of favourite songs and what A Choired Taste’s musical director, Sarah Kirby, describes as ‘mash-ups’ (innovative medleys and musical mixes which have been become the choir’s trademark).
The concert will also feature a special performance by Britain’s Got Talent finalists, the phenomenal gospel choir Northants Sing Out.
A very busy and packed stage will also see performances from Carmarthen Male Voice Choir, Whitland Male Voice Choir, Carmarthen Young Voices, Carmarthen Ukuleles and Saxy Brass.
All proceeds from the event will go towards the choir’s target of raising £10,000 for 10 local charities in the choir’s 10th anniversary year. The choristers are already more than halfway towards their £10,000 target.
Tickets are £15 and £12 and are available from The Lyric box office or from the Theatrau Sir Gar (Carmarthenshire Theatres) website at – https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk/en/shows/a-celebration-of-voices
Due to high demand, the Lyric have been able to release more tickets for the concert.
The 10 local charities set to benefit from the kindness of A Choired Taste members are –
- Magnolia Tree – Support Group for Bereaved Parents.
- CCAMA – Carmarthen and Crosshands Autistic Mams Association.
- Endometriosis UK.
- Sandy Bear – Children’s Bereavement Charity.
- Plant Dewi – a chariry which cares for families across south-west Wales.
- Adferiad Carmarthen – an organisation which provides help and support for people with mental health, substance use, addiction and other complex needs.
- Blood Bikes Wales – a completely free courier service for the NHS.
- Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales – a specialist voluntary organisation providing support to carers, giving them “time” to be themselves.
- Angor, Carmarthenshire – a charity made up of like-minded individuals from various walks of life who understand the impact that a life-altering diagnosis can cause. They provide a pathway from clinical services back to the community.
- Red Cross, Carmarthen.
The choir have a JustGiving website page set up for their fund-raising efforts. It is at – https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/achoiredtaste-act
Anniversary concert compere Connie Fisher, 41, shot to fame when she won the BBC One talent contest How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
In 2006, she opened to excellent reviews in the part of Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music in the West End, London.
In 2011, she was forced to change tack in her career when she was diagnosed with congenital sulcus vocalis (holes in her vocal cords).
She now concentrates on a career in presenting, production and acting.
The Northants Sings Out choir sprang to fame after wowing judges in the final of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.
Finally, Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Irish fiddle virtuoso Aoife Ní Bhriain will take the stage at Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre on Thursday, October 10 (7.30pm), as part of their UK tour.
Dublin native Aoife Ní Bhriain is one of Ireland’s foremost traditional fiddle players and a classical violinist of international stature who straddles both the classical world and her Irish traditional heritage.
From across the Irish Sea and the west coast of Wales, harpist Catrin Finch has also built an impressive classical career and ventured into uncharted musical territory, most notably through her award-winning international collaborations.
Tickets are priced at £22 and can be booked online at www.theatrausirgar.co.uk or with the box office on 0345 2263510.
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