THE countdown is on in Carmarthen to enter that world of pure imagination!
Carmarthen and District Youth Opera members are busy preparing to stage Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The musical will be staged at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen from February 26 to March 1 (7.30pm), with matinee shows at 2.30pm on Thursday, February 27, and Saturday, March 1.
Tickets, price £20 (concessions £15), are now on sale and available online via https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk, at The Lyric Box office, or by ringing 0345 2263510.
The pure imagination theme is part of the DNA for Carmarthen and District Youth Opera, so you can expect the spectacular from the cast and production crew.
A spokesman for the Youth Opera said: “This year will be a first for us to be using a full-scale digital screen as part of the scenery on stage.
“We are confident that everyone will enjoy our performances and interpretation while also appreciating the huge input by our young cast and our small army of adult volunteers.”
Auditions were held in September, and since then rehearsals have been held three times a week.
There are 64 cast members, but as the performance schedule is so demanding many of the principal roles will be ‘double-cast’.
The show follows the hit West End and Broadway productions to combine memorable songs from the original 1970s motion picture (The Candy Man and Pure Imagination).
For those who don’t know the story, the musical is based on the Roald Dahl tale.
It is a fantastical story following young Charlie Bucket and his Grandpa Jo as they join a small group of Golden Ticket contest winners who get to tour the magical and mysterious chocolate factory owned by the eccentric Willy Wonka.
When Charlie Bucket finds one of the five Golden Tickets to the Wonka Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the other winners can’t wait to feast on the sweets of their dreams.
But, beyond the gates, they discover more than just remarkable edible delights.
As they embark on an extraordinary journey through Willy Wonka’s marvellous mind, they soon learn that nobody leaves the same way that they arrived.
The Youth Opera spokesman added: “This is a show for all the family and for all ages, with ticket demand likely to be high.
“We want you to experience the ‘Charlie’ environment throughout your visit to the theatre and, afterwards, leave for home having experienced its magic.
“To celebrate the magic of ‘Charlie’, and its storyline, we are offering a unique opportunity for you to enter a Grand Golden Ticket Prize Draw.
“Envelopes at £1 each will be on sale in the theatre foyer area before the show starts, and during the interval.
“Those lucky enough to reveal one of only 60 Golden Tickets will be entered into a prize draw that will take place after the final performance on Saturday, March 1.
“The winner will enjoy a family trip to London, including train tickets, and a two-night stay in a family room for up to four people at the Hilton Hotel, Kensington.
“There will be other prizes as well for ‘lucky envelope’ holders. The more envelopes you hold, the better your chances of a win.”
For a very important stalwart member of Carmarthen and District Youth Opera, the production will mark the end of an era.
‘Charlie’ will be the last show for the company’s very talented Director, Daniel Williams.
Dan has been Director for the last eight years but has been an integral part of the Youth Opera family for much longer than that.
Dan first joined the company in 1999 for the production of Guys and Dolls and then went on to play many leading roles, winning the President’s Shield in 2006 and 2015.
Dan’s ability to bring out the best in young cast members has been a joy to see and he has inspired many to pursue careers in the arts.
The comedy and energy he has always infused into the shows have made them unforgettable, and his vision and direction have produced some of the company’s most successful productions.
Dan will be sorely missed by everyone at Carmarthen Youth Opera.
In other news, the countdown is also on to a series of special St David’s Day concerts in west Wales. Events include –
- St David’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 1, at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. Two award-winning choirs, Dunvant Male Choir and Morriston RFC Male Choir, will join forces for what promises to be a memorable evening. They will be joined by two guest soloists – soprano Lauren Elizabeth Williams and tenor James Oakley. The evening will also feature the talented youngsters from Ysgol Gymraeg Ffwrnes school choir. The evening will be hosted bilingually by award-winning BBC Wales journalist and presenter Garry Owen.
- An A Cappella Community Choir Concert in Narberth, on March 8 (7pm). The venue will be St Andrews Church, Narberth, and tickets are £12.50 and £8.50 (concession).
- A concert at Ammanford’s Miner’s Theatre (now known as Glowyr) on Friday, February 28 (7pm). Topping the bill will be Osian Clarke, from Tycroes, a recent graduate of the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. Young harpist Awel Grug Lewis will also perform and the choral element of the programme will be provided by the exceptional harmonies of Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm, led by Catrin Hughes.
- A concert in aid of the Burry Port RNLI lifeboat station at Tabernacle Chapel, Burry Port, on Saturday, March 1 (7.30pm). It will feature three young Welsh tenors – Ceri Davies, Rhodri Prys Jones and local favourite Osian Wyn Bowen. Male voice choirs from Burry Port, Carmarthen, Mynydd Mawr and Dyffryn Amman will also take to the stage.
- Côr Meibion Pontarddulais Male Choir’s St David’s Day concert at Capel Hope Siloh on Saturday, March 1 (7pm). Special guests include soprano Ros Evans, a choir from Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr and Penclawdd Junior Band.
Finally, Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre will be rocking to the sound of The Guilty Men on Sunday, March 2, at 7:30pm, as the band visit the town as part of their UK tour.
The Guilty Men are a true modern-day supergroup, featuring five of the finest musicians from the northwest of England, with more than 10,000 gigs, thousands of recordings, and countless radio and TV appearances between them.
Tickets are priced at £18 and can be booked online at www.theatrausirgar.co.uk and with the box office on 0345 2263510.
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