For November's news from performing arts groups please read on but if you're visiting our website because you're interested in becoming involved in the performing arts, we have an extensive directory of classes, groups and companies - simply click on Classes. This is also the place to find out about performing arts-related events that are happening all over South West Wales - click on Events Diary to find out what's coming up.


NOVEMBER 2008 NEWS

AUTUMN MUSICIANSHIP SEMINAR FOR PLUCKED STRINGED INSTRUMENTS (ACOUSTIC GUITAR/LUTE/MANDOLIN ETC) - This is scheduled for the 29th November at the Sketty Park Community Centre, Heather Crescent, Sketty Park Estate, Swansea, 11.30am until around 4.30pm. It will proceed along the lines of informal presentations of solos by participants which will then be discussed in relaxed, non-pressured surroundings with D. Charles Roberts LTCL, ex-Wigmore Hall artist, ex-Trinity College Carmarthen Staff, WCMD, and University College Music Departments Cardiff and Swansea, (etc). Participation is free, but donations to West Wales Charities would be most welcomed on the day. Topics for discussion may include: Harmony And Counterpoint In Solo Work; Phrasing In A Convincing Way; Fingering Reviews; Any Other Issues Affecting The Student...Memory, Stress, etc. Further information via: earlyeuropeanmusicres@hotmail.co.uk or text: 07939663419

VOICES OF PRAISE LADIES GOSPEL CHOIR - On December 13th Voices of Praise Ladies Gospel Choir are singing at the Waterfront Community Church, Swansea, as Guests of the Swansea Gospel Male Choir’s ‘Christmas Praise’ evening. Commences at 7pm. Free Admission

PORT TALBOT LITTLE THEATRE – PTLT will be performing the comedy thriller Tiptoe Through The Tombstones by Norman Robbins at the Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot between Thursday 13th & Saturday 15th November at 7.30pm each evening. Full details about the production can be found on our website www.ptlt.org.uk Tickets cost £6 each [no reductions] & may be purchased as follows: Telephone the ticket secretary on 01639 790636; Online via Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council's theatres' online booking facility: boxoffice.npt.gov.uk ; Theatre Box office (in person or telephone 01639 763214)

COALFIELDS TALENT NURTURE FUND - The Talent Nurture Fund has been launched to assist young people in Wales to develop their talent in the creative industries of film, TV, music and their related trades. Individuals aged 16 and over in former coalfield areas are invited to apply for support to help them exploit their talent and achieve their employment-related dreams and aspirations. There are two levels of grants: individuals can apply for between £500 and £3,000, and intermediate awards of between £3,000 and £10,000 are available for match funded or standalone projects. Applications may be submitted at any time. Further details are available from www.latent2talent.org.

NEATH LITTLE THEATRE - Three exciting events for November at Neath Little Theatre! ‘Potted Potter - The Unauthorised Harry Potter Experience’, Sunday 9th November at 2.30pm; all seven Potter books in seventy minutes! This fantastically funny show features all your favourite characters, a special appearance from a very frightening fire-breathing dragon, and even a game of Quidditch involving the audience, tickets are £5 / £3 Concessions. ‘Woyzeck’ Tuesday 18th November at 7.30pm; Cardiff's Everyman Theatre present Woyzeck, based on the true story of a soldier who had been executed for killing his mistress in 1824. Tickets are £5 / £3 Concessions. ‘Same Time, Next Year’ Monday 24th - Saturday 29th November; Neath Little Theatre's next play is Same Time, Next Year by Bernard Slade. The comedy tells the story of George and Doris, who develop a relationship in which they meet once a year at a hotel. Tickets are £5. Further information on all these performances is available from Jamie on 07906 118130 or from the Theatre Box Office on 01639 643462.

DUNVANT MALE CHOIR – On 8th November Ebenezer Chapel Gorseinon: Gower and Llwchyr Rotary Club present a Grand Concert featuring Dunvant Male Choir. 7pm. Tickets £5 available from 891977 and 893151. In aid of Army Benevolent Fund and Macmillan Nurses.

SWANSEA COLLEGE CHRISTMAS SHOW - Music and Performing Arts students from Swansea College will be staging their annual Christmas show for the public on Friday 12th December. ‘Saving Wonderland’ has been written by the students [script and music] and it has plenty of singing and dancing with a storyline that the whole family can enjoy. It’s lively, with plenty of visual jokes and special effects to wow the audience. The plot of this year’s show is being kept under wraps but we can give a little bit away! It’s set in a Winter Wonderland where the Ice Queen has been imprisoned in the Ice Cave. Will she escape and wreak havoc on the world or will we all live happily ever after? Better come and see the show to find out… ‘Saving Wonderland’ will be performed during the week commencing 8th December [matinee shows for school pupils] with a public evening performance on Friday 12th. Venue: Counterpoint Theatre, Llwyn y Bryn campus, Walter Road. Doors open at 7pm. For more information please contact 01792 284021.

POLLY BOLTON SINGING WORKSHOP - Polly Bolton, a highly talented and experienced singer, song writer and natural voice teacher is leading a workshop in Swansea on Saturday 6th December. Polly's workshops are accessible to everyone - she aims to make singing as natural and enjoyable as talking and laughing! She writes really great songs, some of which many of us have already sung - including 'We wish you peace, we wish you Joy' and 'Wangari'. You can find out more about Polly and check out her reviews at www.pollybolton.co.uk Following the workshop, from 7.30 to around 10.30 participants will have an opportunity to sing with Polly and local community choirs at The Pier Cafe, Mumbles. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. The cost for the workshop is £25 and if you book for the day you will get free entry in the evening (which would otherwise cost £5). For further information please contact Kate Davies on 01792 234711.

COME DINE WITH ME - The hugely successful Channel 4 show Come Dine With Me is returning for a new, daytime series. We’re looking for people over 18 years of age in and around the Swansea area with a passion for cooking who want to demonstrate their skills. Over five days, five strangers, from all walks of life, take turns to host the perfect dinner party for each other. At the end of the week the most impressive host wins a £1,000 cash prize. This is your chance to create the perfect dining experience, and you get to enjoy four nights dining out and a chance to win the prize! If you or anyone you know would like to take part then please call ASAP: 020 7157 4757 or email: caroline.morris@itv.com

SWANSEA PHILHARMONIC CHOIR - The Swansea Philharmonic Choir will present their regular December concert on Saturday December 6th in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea at 7.30pm under the baton of Clive John. The programme consists of the hugely popular and very dramatic Requiem by Guiseppe Verdi. The Choir will be joined by the Chamber Orchestra of Wales, and the soloists will be Amanda Echalaz, Fiona Kimm, James Edwards and Paul Reeves. Tickets are £15, £12, £10 (18s and under £6), and can be obtained from choir members or from the Grand Theatre booking office on 01792-475715.

YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE UK AUDITIONS - YMT is a truly national company. We can exclusively reveal that in 2009 we'll be staging at least six incredible new musicals at some of the UK's most prestigious theatres and festivals, put together by some of the nation's very best creative teams. If you're between 11 and 21 and have a passion to perform, you could be exactly who we're looking for. The audition team is visiting more UK towns and cities than ever before (including Cardiff.) Regardless of whether you've been in lots of shows or if you've never set foot on stage - if you have a passion for performance and want to learn new skills, meet new people and be in with the chance of joining an extraordinary 3-week project next summer, make sure you book your audition workshop today.www.ymtuk.org/auditions

NEW BBC SHOW LOOKING FOR FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE - The BBC are looking for families living in Wales to take part in a new television series in which brothers & sisters swap their family for 2 weeks to experience what life is like in someone else’s shoes. The children will exchange ‘life for life’ which will include attending another school and living with another family. The project aims to explore and debate aspects of contemporary Welsh life in an educational and fun way. Families will receive a fee for their participation. If you’re interested in taking part or would just like to know more about the project please contact researcher Helen Cawley. 029 2057 5729 (Email) helen@presentable.co.uk NB. We need you to contact us as soon as possible as filming will begin in the new year and we will be visiting families over the following month.

SATURDAY LUNCHTIME THEATRE AT THE GRAND THEATRE ARTS WING - Saturday lunchtimes in Swansea’s are getting a whole new taste at the Grand Theatre Arts Wing Depot Studio this autumn as it presents a series of Lunchtime Theatre performances, in association with Fluellen Theatre Company. Performances will last for no more than an hour and should see audiences enjoy a diet of ‘locally caught, fresh drama’ using local playwright’s new work in a three month season from September – November. October 4th Man’s View by Derek Webb; October 11th & 25th Enduring Freedom by Gary Owen; November 1st & November 8th To Whom It May Concern by Ray Williams; November 22nd & 29th Tammo by Sarah Elliot. Further information from the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01792 475715.

VOLCANO THEATRE COMPANY – Volcano Theatre Company is 21 this year. To celebrate they are adding even more events and performances to their already busy schedule. Details can be found on their website www.volcanotheatre.co.uk where you can also sign up for the newsletter. Happy Birthday Volcano!

SWANSEA DANCES - Do you create dance in Swansea? Do you hold dance classes or performances for members of the public? If the answer is yes, then www.SwanseaDances.co.uk can offer you another opportunity for free advertising! Join our partners scheme and get yourself noticed! You can join online now or if you have any queries please email us at swanseadances@aol.com

PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION ARTS OPEN GRANT SCHEME - The Paul Hamlyn Foundation runs a number of special initiatives around art, learning and social justice, as well as this wider-ranging scheme that looks to fund innovative ways of encouraging enjoyment of and involvement in the arts. It is particularly interested in projects targeted at young people, including those involving families, carers and communities. There is no minimum or maximum grant size.

HARNESSING YOUTUBE FOR THE ARTS - The Culture.Info portal will shortly be adding showcase.culture.info, a portal focusing on clips of performances, exhibitions and venues. Showcase.culture.info will provide a directory of clips hosted by YouTube and around twenty other similar services from around the world. It aims to help: Prospective audiences, by enabling them to view clips of what they might want to see; Festivals and venues, by enabling them to view clips of touring performances; Touring companies, by enabling them to view clips of possible venues; Organisations seeking partners for joint projects, by enabling them to view clips of the work of potential partners. To date, organisations supporting the service include the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, LIFT, IFEA Europe (festivals network) and the Voluntary Arts Network. Culture.Info is looking for clips to add to its directory. Please email info@culture.info with either of the following: . Your clip (up to 10MB), preferably as a compressed file If you already have a clip on YouTube or a similar service, just send the relevant URL. You should also include some notes about the clip - e.g. title, short description, artform, where your company is from, where you are performing and dates if relevant, etc.