News Archive

 

Archived news

archived

   

At the DAW AGM held in Rhayader on 24th September, GDL Chair, Teri McCarthy, was voted in as Vice Chair of the Executive Board of the Association. Congratulations, Teri!

Teri takes over the role from the previous Vice Chair, Mari Major (a long standing player in GDL herself) who stood down this year, but who will continue to serve on the Executive Board as an Elected Member.

04.12.07

sarah lark dressed as nancyThe Unknown Theatre Company is on tenterhooks at the moment as Sarah Lark, from Cardiff, has successfully completed the first five live rounds of BBC1's I'd Do Anything - a competition to help find the cast of a new West End production of Oliver! She'll be singing again next Saturday, on the next live show.

Sarah was a member of of the company from outset, playing Peter Pan in the group's first ever production in 1997, but she has very much kept up her connection with the company, appearing at last summer's 10th anniversary concert at Dyffryn Gardens.

The show is on BBC1 on Saturday evening prime time, and all GDL members are urged to vote for Sarah! For further information on the show, see the BBC's website for the show.

Good luck, Sarah! 23.03.08 updated 29.04.08

05.05.08
Are you a Facebook user? facebook logo
My Union allows union members to place a badge for their union onto their Facebook profile, and to see which unions other friends belong to.

To add it to your own Facebook profile, visit www.my-union.org . (22.11.07)
 

There are 8 entries in this year's One-Act Play Festival, to be held in Swansea's Dylan Thomas Theatre between 19-21 April 2008.

Four member companies have entered (including 3 youth groups), with three of the companies entering two plays each. For full details of who's on when, go to our One-Act page.

Bridgend Castle Players were unable to particpate after all, so Dylan Thomas Theatre Youth Academy have saved the Day, they are stepping in with The Fairyland Detective Agency by Vin Morreale, Jr, which will be performed on the Thursday evening of the festival. 07.03.08 updated 30.03.08

20.04.08

After a fairly steady stream of entries over the year, entries for the Glammies have suddenly flourished to the point that we are back at last year's level of 11 adult shows! There have been a sudden rush of entries to the Youth Glammies too, although these have been mainly in the Drama, rather than the Musical category, which is a real change from past years.

With all these entries, and with the standard so high, who will pick up the coveted trophies this year? Make sure you're there on the night to find out. Tickets for the Glammies, which are limited in number this year, will be available soon. Full details of the shows entered are available via the Glammies pages. 06.03.08

20.04.08
   
The Unknown Theatre Company is auditioning over the next couple of weeks for its forthcoming shows: The Oedipus Plays by Caroline Reader (a modern adaptation of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone) and the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The former is a play, and the latter a musical for which strong, confident singers are required. If you're aged between 13-25 and are interested in either show, check ou t The Unknown Theatre website www.unknowntheatre.co.uk for further information about the auditions.
NB AN EXTRA AUDITION DATE IS ABOUT TO BE ADDED FOR OEDIPUS. PLEASE WATCH THE UNKNOWN WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFO. 31.03.08 updated 07.04.08
15.04.08

DCMS conducts first National study of voluntary arts activity in England

On 1 February 2008, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be launching the first ever national survey of amateur arts groups in England. Groups of voluntary and amateur participants from all artistic walks of life - from music, dance and crafts, to theatre, visual arts and literature - are being encouraged to participate by going to http://www.artsurvey.org.uk and completing a short online questionnaire before 29th February.

Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge, said: "The arts are a really important part of so many people's lives. Taking part in local voluntary arts groups is rewarding, fascinating and fun. This survey is the first step to connect with those involved. Over 70% of people in England take part in artistic activities in all their many and varied forms - but for too long, local arts groups have not been fully recognised as an important part of our thriving arts scene. This survey will try to map voluntary and amateur arts groups and look at how they are supported and how more people could be encouraged to get involved."

The survey will be open from 1-29 February, 2008. The results will be published in summer 2008. 23.01.08

23.03.08
With the very generous support of the Drama Association of Wales, some exciting workshops are planned for the very near future.
Member groups are being circulated with questionnaires over the next few weeks, and everyone is asked to complete their form and return it as soon as possible so that the next stage of the planning can be started! 18.07.07
23.03.08
DAW Playwriting Competition results: Teresa Hennessy, Member Services Officer at Drama Association of Wales writes: "On Friday 1st June 2007, the results of the Drama Association of Wales' One Act Playwriting Competition was announced at Theatr Hafren in Newtown, Powys. This year we received 198 entries, not only from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England, but also from France, New Zealand, Australia, the USA and Canada. The results are as follows:

The winner of the Best Play for a Youth Cast 16-25 years: 'Another August 919' by Monika Johnson from Nottingham.

The winner of the Best Play in the Open Section: 'Rosie's Shoes' by Audrey Ringrose from London.

The winner of the Best Play in the Welsh language: 'Car Dy Gymydog' by Manon Wyn Williams from Llangefni, Anglesey.

The winner of the Best Play by a Wales Based Playwright: 'Snakes and Ladders' by Don Rodgers from Bryncoch, Neath, South Wales.

The winners of the first three sections will be published.  The winner of the best play by a Wales-based Playwright will receive a bursary to attend a writing course at Ty Newydd, the National Writers' Centre for Wales. Should you wish to receive any further information regarding the Playwriting Competition or the Drama Association of Wales in general, then please do not hesitate to contact me. " 17.07.07
23.03.08
Dylan Thomas Theatre, Maritime Quarter, Swansea, SA1 1TY  

The Drama Association of Wales Playwriting Competition for 2008 is currently underway, and welcoming entries in 3 categories: an open section, plays suitable for performance by a cast of 16-25 year olds and scripts in the Welsh language. There is a prize of £200 for each of these categories. A further prize of a bursary for a Ty Newydd theatre writing course will be awarded to the best play from a Wales based writer. In addition to cash awards, prize-winning plays will be considered for publication. The closing date for entry is 31 January 2008.

For further information, contact DAW on 029 2045 2200, or via email aled.daw@virgin.net (04.12.07)
06.03.08
"Birchfield", Despenser Avenue, Llantrisant, CF72 8QA, by kind permission of Suzy Stacey.  

After several years, our regular venue for delegate meetings, the Drive Office at Pontyclun, is shortly to be unavailable to us.

John Minkes, GDL Secretary writes: "Drive's lease on Ty Canol is ending and we need to find somewhere new.  Drive have kindly offered us free use of their new office but it is in Nantgarw, five miles north of Cardiff and therefore very much at the eastern end of our area.  Alternatively, Suzy Stacey, our Treasurer, has equally kindly offered her house in Llantrisant. 

Please could you let me know of any other possible venues.  We need somewhere which is available free of charge for meetings of up to fifteen people on Saturday mornings approximately every six weeks.  It would be nice to have somewhere which is reasonably central to the GDL meetings.  Or if we had a venue in the west, we could alternate meetings between one end of Glamorgan and the other.  Please let me have any ideas before the AGM/delegates' meeting on Feb 2nd and I will collate all the information." John is contactable at johnminkes@tiscali.co.uk (31.12.07)

25.02.08
Following the success of its production of How to Eat Like a Child in February 2007, the Cardiff-based Unknown Theatre Company is looking for new members for its new production with its special junior group. Members of the main company at the Unknown Theatre Company are aged between 13-25, but the junior group is for performers aged 8-13. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evening in Roath starting at 7.00pm, and the first workshops on the production will be held on Tuesday 8th January. Further information can be found on the group's website www.unknowntheatre.co.uk or by calling the UTC's producer, Jane Donoghue on 029 2076 6056. (31.12.07) 25.02.08

Several members of the current appraisal team took part in an extremely useful review of appraisal procedures following the delegates meeting on 15th September. Some details on forms were clarified, final agreement was given to the Glammies rules for entry, and the current marking system was looked at. A decision was taken to keep the current marking system for this year, as some shows have already been appraised, but to re-visit it in time for the 2009 year, perhaps to bring it closer in line with the GODA system. All the forms, appraisers' materials and other paperwork has since been updated and are available via the Glammies appraisers' page .

We're still looking for new appraisers and are looking to run another training session (it won't last very long, it's not *that* difficult!) in the very near future. If you think you'd like to have a go at appraising, please let us know on glammies@aol.com so that we know to contact you when the training is arranged.

04.12.07
Three of the entries at the 2007 GDL One-Act Play Festival were selected to go through to the Welsh Final: Swansea Little Theatre: Cruise Missile, Players Theatre: The Bridge and Telstars Theatre Company: A Little Extra Help. And The Bridge won the overall and went on to represent Wales at the British Final in Solihull at the end of June. The standard was extremely high at the Festival - but in the end, England clinched it with Find Me by Olwen Wymark. Players represented themselves, the GDL and Wales extremely well and we were all very proud of them. See some photos of the weekend here. 04.12.07
For the full news on the 2007 Glammies night, held at the Barry Memorial Hall on Saturday 9th June, see the Glammies 06-07 page. Information about the Young Glammies is also available there. 04.12.07
On 16th May 2007, former GDL Chair, GDL representative on DAW Executive, Cardiff Players main man - and friend to all - Mike Barlow passed away while on holiday in Rome. The news has come as a tremendous shock to everyone, and it is clear from the response the huge affection and respect that everyone had for Mike. Our sympathies go to everyone who knew and loved him. 04.12.07
Our much-loved President, Peggy Mason-Gray, sadly passed away on 8th March 2007, after a long illness, borne with great dignity. She will be missed by everyone. Our sympathies go to her family and friends. 04.12.07
GDL subscriptions: 2007 subscriptions are now extremely overdue.  At only £15 per year for adult groups, £10 per year for individuals and £5 per year for youth groups, membership represents good value for money, especially if you make use of everything the League has to offer.  You have to be a member to participate, so please ensure you send in your subscription soon.

Update! - to help you to pay your subscriptions on time, why not complete a standing order form? It takes the hassle out of having to remember your renewal each year, and saves our overworked admin team from having to chase you... Contact our Treasurer Suzy Stacey if you'd like a Standing Order application form.
04.12.07
The Drama Association of Wales is running a course for new writers, in conjunction with Ty Newydd. Called Drama: The Next Stage, it runs 8-13 October 2007 and will be run by Sarah Dickenson and Kaite O'Reilly.
The course is designed for writers who may not have attended a course before but who have some experience of writing for theatre and wish to deepen their understanding and practice. The course will focus on enhancing writers' skills and developing their own voices.
Morning group skills-based workshops will explore craft and 'The tools of the trade' including dramatic structure, creation of character, tone and writing for specific audiences. Afternoons will offer the opportunity for writing time and one-to-one sessions to focus on writers' individual practice: developing their strengths and improving on their weaknesses. Evening sessions will provide time for informal discussion and sharing of work.
The course is open to all and DAW is offering places at a reduced cost to its members: there may also be some bursaries available. For more information on the course/bursaries, contact the DAW office on 029 2045 2200.
11.10.07
18.07.07 All members of the Glammies appraisal team are invited to attend the Appraisers' meeting following the next Delegates meeting at the Drive Offices, Pontyclun on Saturday 15th September. Current members are invited to bring their thoughts and ideas about how we might improve on the existing system, and to share ideas and their response to the whole appraisal process. Any member of a GDL-affiliated company who thinks they might like to get involved is also welcome to attend to find out more about how it all works, and how they can benefit from being a part of the team. Any questions/concerns in advance of the meeting to Glammies@aol.com 19.09.07
Bookings are now being taken for the Drama Association of Wales Summer School, to be held once again at the University of Wales in Lampeter, 12-18 August 2007. The themes of this year's school are ONE-ACTMANSHIP tutored by Phil Clark and PLAYING COMEDY tutored by Chris Morgan. Full details are available in the DAW Press Release (Word document, 29Kb), or you can look at or download the Summer School poster (jpg, 221Kb). Places are strictly limited, so if you're interested, book soon. 24.08.07
07.05.07 The 2007 One-Act Play Festival, held once again at Swansea LIttle Theatre's beautifully renovated home at the Dylan Thomas Theatre Swansea, was a great success. Eight entries over three nights showed a diversity of talent, style and challenge that proved that theatre is live and well in our part of the world! See the One-Act 2007 page for all the details. 15.07.07

The GDL AGM was held this year on Saturday February 3rd, at the Drive Offices, Pontyclun.
The following officers were (re-)elected on the day.
•  President - Peggy Mason-Gray
•  Chairperson - Teri McCarthy
•  Vice Chairperson - Lon David
•  Secretary - John Minkes
•  Treasurer - Suzy Stacey
•  Training & Development Officer - vacant

Thanks to everyone who works so hard on behalf of the GDL, both those in office and those who are not. Without the commitment of this group, the GDL wouldn't exist. The AGM, and the delegates' meeting which followed, looked forward very much to an exciting 2007: the GDL's 60th birthday.

 
The 2006 Glammies were a great success, with more than 200 people attending. A slightly different format was used this year, with more acts from member companies, including adults, interspersed throughout the evening, and expanding the awards-giving part of the evening. Full details, including photographs, are available on the Young Glammies page or the Adult Glammies page.  
No fewer than three of the entries at the 2007 GDL One-Act Play Festival have been selected to go through to the Welsh Final: Swansea Little Theatre: Cruise Missile, Players Theatre: The Bridge and Telstars Theatre Company: A LIttle Extra Help. The 2007 One-Act Play Festival, held once again at Swansea LIttle Theatre's beautifully renovated home at the Dylan Thomas Theatre Swansea, was a great success. Eight entries over three nights showed a diversity of talent, style and challenge that proved that theatre is live and well in our part of the world! See the One-Act 2007 page for all the details.  

WNO is opening up to members of the public, as part of an 'Open House' project which will run from 31 May to 3 June.
Click here to see the WNO's Open House  'e-flier' on which you can see the overview of the scheme. Unfortunately the links aren't working but to get more information go to www.wno.org.uk/what.main.html
You can:
· join members of the WNO Orchestra to PLAY tunes from Carmen - all welcome - any instrument   /  any standard!  (Yes really) 
· join members of WNO to SING tunes form Carmen - all welcome, no experience - just a love of singing!
· learn how to write a song with a professional song writer
· create art inspired by Carmen with a WNO designer  
and a lot more besides.  While everything's free, for some of the workshops you need to register.

 
The Glammies NIght is looming ever closer, with the last of the youth entries seen, and with one more adult production - Steel Magnolias - left to be appraised. It should be an extra special night at the Barry Memorial Hall on 9th June, as the GDL celebrates its 60th anniversary. Watch out for additional information - including nominees for acting awards - on this site.  

America's New "Great Lakes"

Geoff and Barbara Lake, seen here at last year's Glammies, are due home again in time for the next GDL Delegates meeting on 19th May.

Geoff writes " It's been a great time here in Florida and we will be looking to the autumn when we will return to our other life. We can't believe that it's six months, it seems to have flown by. We have made so many friends and enjoyed lots of activities and, as the Americans would say we've become acclimated."

 
The 2007 One-Act Play Festival, held once again at Swansea LIttle Theatre's beautifully renovated home at the Dylan Thomas Theatre Swansea, was a great success. Eight entries over three nights showed a diversity of talent, style and challenge that proved that theatre is live and well in our part of the world! See the One-Act 2007 page for all the details. (updated 07.05.07)  
The venue and dates for the 2007 One-Act Festival are now set: the Festival will once again be held at Swansea's Dylan Thomas Theatre, 19-21 April 2007. It is planned that in 2008, the Festival will venture, for the first time, to Aberdare, and in 2009 will return to Cardiff. See the One-act resources page for more details, including entry details, forms etc..  
Our President, Peggy Mason-Gray has had to step back from her duties as President at this time, due to illness. Peggy has always led a busy and active life both when she was working and after retirement - in fact we think it's a myth that she has retired! It is only recently that she had to stop driving and sell her car - who else would be driving a sports car at the age of 88?! We wish her well as she copes with her illness.  
At the Delegate committee meeting on Saturday 29 July, a number of possibilities were discussed about ways to encourage local groups to join the GDL and participate in its activities. The Chair and Vice-Chair are planning to visit non-member companies to discuss how membership could help their group. Other plans are also under discussion. If you're an active amateur drama group in the former Glamorgan area, and not currently a member, please do contact us about how membership could help you.  

GDL stalwarts, Geoff and Barbara Lake, who between them have filled several of the posts on the GDL Committee for years, and who invented and for many years have been the main organisers of The Glammies, are heading off to Florida for their semi-retirement. But they'll be back in late spring - in time to help with the Glammies buffet!
Thanks to George Smith, of Bridgend Castle Players, for organising the successful 'au revoir' bash at Bridgend Tennis Club on 4th November: an opportunity for representatives of a number of groups to say thanks to Geoff and Barbara, for all they've done for so many people.
Thanks too to John Minkes, of Cardiff's Telstars Theatre Company, who has kindly agreed to take over the position of GDL Secretary, now that Barbara has stepped down from the role.

Have a wonderful time, Geoff and Barbara. We're waiting for the postcard!

 
John Minkes, one of the Telstars Theatre Company cohort active on the GDL delegates' committee, has now moved up the ranks, taking over from Barbara Lake as Secretary of the GDL. Thanks for volunteering, John, and all best wishes in the role.  

The GDL AGM will be held this year on Saturday February 3rd, at 10.15am at the Drive Offices, Ty Canol, Clun Avenue, Pontyclun. Nominations are welcome for the posts listed below, and should be passed to the GDL's new Secretary, John Minkes (johnminkes@tiscali.co.uk ) by January 13th, though nominations can also be made at the AGM itself.
•  President
•  Chairperson
•  Vice Chairperson
•  Secretary
•  Treasurer
•  Training & Development Officer
Representatives of all member groups are particularly encouraged to attend the AGM, to ensure their groups' opinions are heard as plans are made for the future.

 
The GDL has been contacted by Max Davies, a young man living in the Cardiff area who is a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, now living and working as a composer, arranger, and general musician in the Cardiff area (where he's originally from), as well as undertaking a Masters Degree at Cardiff University.

He has a lot of experience of music in theatre, and is looking for paid work as Musical Director/Co-Musical Director/Rehearsal Pianist/Incidental music/workshop work.

For full info see his website http://www.maxcharlesdavies.com or you can contact him by email maxcharlesdavies@aol.com or by phone on 07989 354872.
 
GDL stalwarts, Geoff and Barbara Lake, who between them fill several of the posts on the GDL Committee, and who are the main organisers of both the One-Act Festival and Glammies night, have announced their retirement from active service with the GDL. They plan to spend several months of the year in America but are planning to be back in the area for the rest of the time, so we're hoping we'll still get to see them on a regular basis.

Everyone wishes them all success with this latest venture, with grateful thanks for their dedication for so many years.
 

Disability Arts Cymru are running the Next Level in equality courses in Swansea in September and October. These are advanced equalities and inclusion courses that give you advice, guidance and information to help you make your services more inclusive and more accessible for everybody. Full information, together with an application form is available as a Word document here . ( 33kb)

For any further information, contact Maggie Hampton, Director, Disability Arts Cymru , Sbectrwm, Bwlch Road, Fairwater, Cardiff, CF5 3EF
Tel/Textphone: 029 2055 1040 Fax: 029 2055 1036
www.artsdisabilitywales.com     Disability Arts Cymru was formerly known as Arts Disability Wale

 
The Drama Association of Wales has circulated information about its 2006 Drama Summer School which takes place this year in the University of Wales, Lampeter between 13th - 19th August 2006. The course is called "ACTING SKILLS - creating that element of magic". Full information is available via our Activities page.  

Our workshop for appraisers was held in Pontyclun on 10 September and was a great success.  Out of the discussions, some materials were created to help Appraisers, new and old.  New pages especially for appraisers (or those interested in joining the team) are now available here

 
The 2006 GDL One-Act Festival is huge success in Swansea's Dylan Thomas Theatre. Supportive audiences enjoyed two nights of first-class theatre, with GODA Adjudicator, George Owen, faced with the most difficult task of deciding between some excellent shows. Cardiff's Orbit Theatre Company won two awards, as did newcomers The Unknown Theatre Company. Full details on our One-Act 2006 page.  

Cardiff Players' stalwart, Mike Barlow, has stepped down from the position of GDL Chairman after 6 years in the post.  At the League's AGM in Pontyclun yesterday, Mike confirmed his intention, expressed at the last AGM, of wanting to hand over to another. Standing Vice Chairman, Teri McCarthy of Telstars Theatre Company, was in the wings ready to assume the role.  The Unknown Theatre Company's Lon David has now taken over as Vice Chair.

Many thanks to Mike for his years of sterling service to the organisation.  We are all sure that he won't be able to keep away from us for long, and we all look forward to his continuing presence at GDL events.

 
Member group, The Unknown Theatre Company, based in Cardiff, is holding auditions this week for its forthcoming production of Just So, which will be performed in the Millennium Centre Weston Studio in October. Performers aged between 10-25 are welcome to audition for this exciting musical, from the writers of Honk!. For further information, please contact the Unknown Theatre Company, or you can get further information from their website .  

The Arts Council of Wales has available, FREE of charge to arts or charitable groups and individuals, quite an array of display sections, counters and screens in ply and other timber. The materials are bulky, and you would need to arrange your own transport to collect them.

If you're interested, please contact (by the end of June):
Valmai Ward, Administrator
Principality Collectorplan + ACW Art Collection
The Arts Council of Wales, 9 Museum Place, Cardiff CF10 3NX      
(029) 2037 6524

 
The Glammies nominations are out! There are many acting nominations, both Young Glammies, and Adult Glammies categories. Full details are available on the respective pages. If you'd like to book tickets for the event - which, with more entertainment, as well as the awards, promises to be better than ever - please contact us.  
The next Glammies Awards night will be held in Barry on Sunday 21 May 2006. All the information about the Glammies:  what it's all about, who's entered, how you can get involved as an Appraiser etc, can be found on the Glammies section of the site.  

 

 

 

     
     
     
     

Telstars Theatre Company

Watching the Magpies

and

Parasites

St Alban's Church Hall
Swinton Street
Splott
Cadiff



8.00pm
Saturday 12th
April 2008

Your chance to see the Telstars Theatre Company entries for the 2008 Glamorgan One-Act Play Festival - before everyone else does!

Tickets include nibbles. There's no bar, so please feel free to bring your own refreshments.

Tickets £4 available on the door: contact 029 2040 7866.

or www.telstarstheatrecompany.co.uk/tickets

poster for Nude with violin

Swansea Little Theatre

Nude With Violin

The Dylan Thomas Theatre Swansea


7.30pm
Tuesday 1st April - Saturday 5th April 2008

The highbrow world of collectable art is the focal point for this witty and cleverly written play.

Set in Paris, France in the mid-1950's, the famous painter Paul Sorodin dies, and his estranged wife and children living in England quickly arrive to seize their inheritance, but his works are not entirely what they seem and blackmail ensues!

Ticket Prices £8.00 / £6.00 Concessions

Call (01792) 473238 to book
www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk

poster for Return to the Forbidden Planet

The Unknown Theatre Company

Return to the Forbidden Planet

Howardian Centre
Hammond Way
Cardiff
(need a map ?)

7.30pm
Wednesday 2nd - Saturday 5th April 2008

The next production from Cardiff's award-winning youth theatre company is Bob Carlton's hilarious spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies, sprinkled with more than a little of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Join the cast for a ride to the stars as they work their way through the familiar hit songs such as 'Teenager in Love', 'Good Vibrations', 'Tell Her', 'Great Balls of Fire' 'Young Girl', 'Shaking All Over', 'It's a Man's World', 'Shake Rattle and Roll','The Young Ones' and many others.

A great evening out for everyone!

Tickets: £9.50 / £8.00 concessions
Call 029 2076 6056, or email jane@unknowntheatre.wanadoo.co.uk

www.unknowntheatre.co.uk

poster for Rose and the Wicked Wolfee!

The Unknown Theatre Company

Rose!... and the Wicked Wolfeeee!

 

Roath Church House
Penylan
Cardiff (need a map ?)


7.30pm
Saturday 29th March 2008

The younger members of the company once more take to the stage, in Belinda Roberts's play based on the classic tale of little Red Riding Hood.

The Wolf is there, and so is Grandmama, but watch out for the rapping trees!

And can YOU help the Narrator find them bloomin' pixies?!

Lots of fun for everyone. Very suitable for children.

Tickets: £6 / £3 concessions
Call 029 2076 6056, or email jane@unknowntheatre.wanadoo.co.uk

www.unknowntheatre.co.uk

 

Neath Little Theatre

The Unexpected Guest

Neath Little Theatre
Westernmoor Road
Neath


7.30pm
Monday 3rd - Saturday 8th March 2008

Here's a link to a map of the venue .

For tickets call 01639 643462.

See the company's website www.neathlittletheatre.co.uk for further information.

Curtain Call poster

Orbit Theatre

Curtain Call


Orbit Studio Theatre
The United Reform Church
Pen-y-Wain Road
Roath
Cardiff CF24 4BB





7.30pm
Thursday 6th - Saturday 8th March 2008

Curtain Call - a comedy by Bettine Manktelow

Sparkling dialogue and comic situations - a day in the life of a harassed theatre manager as he prepares for an important visit from someone from the Arts Council in respect of a grant. The manager has to grapple with his lovelorn secretary and her romance with the Front of House Manager, a disgruntled backstage crew on the verge of a strike and the temperamental lady director of the local amateurs. That's not to mention the intervention of the dictatorial husband of the said lady director who also happens to be Chair of the Theatre Trust!


Tickets: £6.50
To book call 08703 120266
www.orbit-theatre.net

Fairyland Detective Agency poster

Swansea Little Theatre

Nicholas Nickleby

and

The Fairyland Detective Agency

The Dylan Thomas Theatre Swansea

7.30pm
Saturday 8th March 2008

The welcome return of Swansea Little Theatre Youth.

 

Performed as part of a Swansea Little Theatre Club night, so the performances are not open to the general public, but if you would like to attend, contact the group.

Further details to follow.

www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk

Cardiff Players

Blue Remembered Hills

 

The Mike Barlow YMCA Theatre
The Walk
Cardiff

7.30pm
Wednesday 27th February - Saturday 1st March 2008

Originally written for television and adapted for the theatre, Blue Remembered Hills remains one of Dennis Potter's best known and most successful plays.

Set in the Forest of Dean on a summer afternoon in 1943, Blue Remembered Hills follows a group of 7 year olds (all played by adults) as they fight, play, argue, bully and laugh until a tragic event brings their world crashing down around them.

Tickets £6.00 (concessions Wednesday)
available on the door

call 029 2062 1074 or via the website : www.cardiffplayers.org

Cardiff Players

Dial M for Murder

The Mike Barlow YMCA Theatre, The Walk, Cardiff

7.30pm
Wednesday 9th -Saturday 12th January 2008

Tony Wendice has married his wife, Sheila, for her money, and now plans to murder her for precisely the same reason. He arranges the perfect crime, blackmailing an acquaintance into committing the deed, while at the same time arranging his own airtight alibi. When the plot goes awry, however, Wendice shows just how cruelly resourceful he can be, even as he struggles to avoid disaster, barely keeping one step ahead of a Scotland Yard police inspector.

A runaway Broadway hit, one made even more famous as an Alfred Hitchcock film, Dial "M" for Murder is one of the great thrillers of all time.

Tickets £6.00 available on the door call 029 2062 1074 or via the website : www.cardiffplayers.org

     

Swansea Little Theatre

Sleeping Beauty

Dylan Thomas Theatre
Swansea 7.30pm 13 -15 December 2007 and
17-19 December 2007
also

2.30pm
15 December 2007

Brian Willis's original pantomime Sleeping Beauty wakes 'em all up in Swansea!

 

Tickets cost £7.00/£5.00 concessions and are available on 01792 473238, at Swansea Information Centre, or on the door.

For more info check out the Swansea website www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk

Llantrisant Drama Group

Trivial Pursuits

Llantrisant Church Hall

7.30pm
Fri-Sat
16 & 17 November 2007

The ever-popular Frank Vickery gets an outing to Llantrisant!

 

Tickets cost £6.00/£4.00 concessions and are available on 01443 223184 or on the door.

Cardiff Players

Bedroom Farce

The Players Theatre
The YMCA
The Walk
Cardiff

7.30pm
Wed-Sat
14-17 November 2007

The second play of Cardiff Players' 80th Birthday Celebration season.

Ernest and Delia go out to celebrate their wedding anniversary. As this is a failure they return home and prepare to celebrate it with a meal in bed. Malcolm and Kate are preparing to get dressed for a house-warming party they are giving. Nick and Jan have been invited, but Nick has hurt his back and is preparing to rest in bed. The marital disasters of Trevor and Susannah
weave in and out of all three rooms.

Tickets £6 available on the door

call 029 2062 1074 or pre-book online at
www.cardiffplayers.org

Amaline Theatre

Demens House

Llanover Hall
Romilly Road
Canton
Cardiff

7.30pm
Thurs-Fri
18 & 19 Oct 2007

Mary is special.  How or why she is special, she forgets.  Trapped in the confines of a run down manor, Mary feels the only person she can turn to is the mysterious Jayson.  Who is Jayson and will finding his journal her the answer to this question?  Or will the journal just open a Pandora's box to which her life can never be the same again. 

Amaline Theatre Company invites you to Demens House.  A place where nothing is quite what is seems.

Tickets £7.50 / £5.50 concs. Tickets available on the door

For further information, please see www.myspace.com/amalinetheatre or contact Amaline on amalinetheatre@yahoo.co.uk

Cardiff Players

A Night on the Tiles

The Players Theatre
The YMCA
The Walk
Cardiff

7.30pm
Wed-Sat
26-29 Sept 2007

A highly comical and well-observed play following the nightmare of Gareth and Shirley's wedding day.

Gareth, egged on by good-looking brother Kenneth, has a post-stag-night hangover so bad that he can barely speak, the bride is three months pregnant and Granddad, confused after getting stuck in the outside loo, is unsure who is marrying who!

contact info: 029 2062 1074

cardiffplayers@hotmail.co.uk
www.cardiffplayers.org

Neath Little Theatre

The Glass Menagerie

Neath Little Theatre
Westernmoor Road
Neath
7.30pm
Monday-Saturday
17-22 September 2007

Written by great American playwright Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie is one of the most delicate explorations of the frailties of the human condition.

Tickets £5.00 available from 01639 643462
or email - neathlittletheatre@hotmail.com

For more info check out the Neath website www.neathlittletheatre.co.uk

     

a production from one of our neighbouring drama leagues:

Blackwood Little Theatre

Brassed Off

Blackwood Little Theatre
Woodbine Road Blackwood
Gwent

7.30pm
Wed-Sat
5-8 Sept 2007

Grimley Colliery is set to close as the accountants say there's more money in it shut than open, even after redundancy payments. It means 1200 job losses, a dying town and the loss of its brass band. But under the leadership of Danny, coughing with coal-dusted lungs, the band is somehow transformed into British champions with local lass Gloria whipping up the money needed to get them to the Albert Hall .

The play is adapted from Mark Herman's film by Paul Allen and is directed by the award winning, Peta J Maidman. The production will feature, playing live throughout the play, Markham and District Colliery Band

For more information on Markham Band visit Markham & District Colliery Band Website . Tickets are available from calling 01495 223485 or online (via a secure booking form)  at either Blackwood Little Theatre Website or via Ticketsource (small booking fee applies)

Blackwoodtheatre@googlemail.com
www.blackwoodlt.org.uk

Swansea Little Theatre

The Handyman

The Community Hall
Briton Ferry

 

7.30pm
Thurs-Sat
6-8 September 2007

by Ronald Harwood

Can an elderly Ukrainian gardener, long time resident in England, be guilty of complicity in the holocaust? Is it simply a case of mistaken identity or if not did he have no choice but to be seen to be joining in to avoid death himself?

Uncomfortable questions are posed by the author in an attempt to understand the major horror of the 20th century.

By the author of The Dresser and Quartet.

Tickets £4.00 available from 01639 760983

For more info check out the Briton Ferry website http://www.bflt.org.uk/

Swansea Little Theatre

Deckchairs

The Dylan Thomas Theatre
Maritime Quarter
Swansea

7.30pm
Tues-Sat
21-25 Aug 200

A selection of one-act comedies featuring the award winning:   Cruise Missile
When Janet embarks on her first cruise, she finds herself overwhelmed by the array of delights on offer. However, there is a fellow passenger who is only too willing to be her guide and mentor. It is the flamboyant Goldie who is familiar with all the wrinkles and most of the crew - but her instant friendship is something of a mixed blessing.
In Cupboard Love , two women get talking after a seaside jog, and soon realise they have plenty in common - both are excellent cooks, and both are fighting the flab acquired through preparing rich meals for a new gentleman friend. But when they discover that they share a passion for the same man, the two women devise their culinary revenge on the deceiver.
Theatrical Digs - Pascaline Holbein - a glamorous and conceited actress, who is playing in the end of the pier show, meets her challenge in the elderly and eccentric Maggie Festoon.  When Pascaline discovers that Maggie is also an actress, the result is a farcical battle of work, agents and mobile phones.
Dancers wittily dissects the tea-dancing world of two skittish women and Doggies is an hilarious tale about two very different types of dog-owner...

For more info check out the Swansea website www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk

Amaline Theatre Company

The Dead Wait

Llanover Hall
Romilly Road
Canton
Cardiff


7.30pm
Thursday & Friday
28th & 29th June 07

You've been waiting for this moment all your life
    Your life leaves your body
      You go into the light
         and you.....um....wait!

An eclectic group of strangers are thrown together to confront their own life and, more importantly, death.  Amaline Theatre Company invite you to join them in this deliciously dark and painfully poignant journey into the unknown.  Because only when you accept your own death, can you really start to live your life."

Tickets will be available on the door.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email us on amalinetheatre@yahoo.co.uk

Special promotion of a member from a neighbouring Drama League....

Blackwood Little Theatre

Death by Fatal Murder

Blackwood Little Theatre
Woodbine Road
Blackwood
Gwent7.30pm (doors open at 6.45pm)

Weds- Sat
20th - 23rd June 2007

This hilarious farce sees the return of the amazing Inspector Pratt....the world's most accident prone and incompetent detective.

Inspector Pratt's record of crime detection at Bagshot House is not enviable. In his two previous visits, chronicled in 'Murdered to Death' and 'Secondary Cause of Death', the body count mounted disastrously as he looked on, helpless and hopeless! Now he is back and, as usual, chaos reigns supreme. During the course of his latest investigations, Pratt meets the new owner of the house, Nancy Allwright and soon he is embroiled in more mystery, aided and abetted by Miss Maple and Constable Thomkins. Upper-crust Ginny and Italian gigolo, Enzo help with enquiries but danger soon looms with an unexpected arrival and a frightening suggestion by Welsh busybody, Blodwyn Morgan. 

Tickets are available by calling 01495 223485 or by email on Blackwoodtheatre@googlemail.com Website: www.blackwoodlt.org.uk

Facilities:  Disabled access, Licensed Bar, refreshments, hearing loop.

poster to follow

Swansea Little Theatre

The Truth

The Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea


7.30pm
Tues - Sat
12th-16th June 2007

It's Terry Pratchett.

Done by Swansea Little Theatre.

And that's The Truth.

More information available here soon.

In the meantime check out the Swansea website www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk

Swansea Little Theatre

Steel Magnolias

The Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea


7.30pm
Tues - Sat
15th-19th May 2007

The close-knit women at Truvy's Beauty Salon, the unofficial hub of Chinquapin, have lots of time to gossip.

Alternately hilarious and touching, the play focuses on the camaraderie of six Southern women who talk, gab, gossip, chitchat, needle and harangue each other through the best of times - and cry, caress, comfort and repair one another through the worst.

For more info check out the Swansea website www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk

Cardiff Players

My Three Angels

The Players Theatre
The YMCA
The Walk
Cardiff

7.30pm
Wednesday -Saturday
25-28 April 2007

Christmas Eve and it is only 105 degrees in the shade!

Welcome to French Guiana where paroled convicts from the local penal colony move about with relative freedom. What we soon learn is that on the outside
it is often very hard to tell who the real criminals are.

My Three Angels takes a warm, witty and romantic look at our long-standing moral convictions of what is right and wrong. We are taught that good must surely and always triumph over evil. But as is the case in our story, does the end always justify the means? This you will have to decide for yourself as our felonious trio intervene in the lives of an innocent family which is now perched on the brink of financial ruin.

Proficient in the illicit skills of theft, forgery, extortion and yes, even murder, our unlikely heroes arrive in timely fashion to remind us all of what is truly most important. An honest appreciation of life, love and the simple serenity of domestic bliss. An old fashioned and wonderfully crafted fable to take home.

Tickets £5.50 available on the door call 029 2055 4430 or email:
cardiffplayers@hotmail.co.uk

poster for the double bill

Telstars Theatre Company

A Double Bill:
A Little Extra Help & Murder at the Wedding

St Alban's Church Hall
Swinton Street
Splott
Cardiff

8.00pm
Tuesday
17th April 2007

A Little Extra Help: Life is not always as it seems and supermarkets are not simply just about buying your groceries.  It is amazing what you can find there; great bargains, fantastic service and even love....with a little extra help!"

Murder at the Wedding: Murder at the Wedding the first in a series of Daft plays from the 'Starlets' on Radio ' Lakeside '. But what is happening in the background while the play is being broadcast? Will Lottie ever sober up? Will Millie steal her man? Will Abigail, Wendy and Roger ever allow anyone else to use their mic? Tune in for hilarious consequences.

Both plays will be Telstars entry into the Glamorgan Drama League One Act Festival.  Be one of the first to see them before they perform in Swansea.

For tickets call 029 2040 7865.

More information about Telstars Theatre Company is available on their website http://www.telstarstheatrecompany.co.uk

poster for great expectations

Swansea Little Theatre

Great Expectations

The Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea


7.30pm
Tues - Sat
27th- 31st March 2007

Charles Dickens is given the Swansea Little Theatre treatment.

 

More information available here soon.

In the meantime check out the Swansea website www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk

poster for quartet

Neath Little Theatre

Quartet

Neath Little Theatre
Westernmoor Road
Neath


7.30pm
Mon - Sat
5th - 10th March 2007

  

Here's a link to a map of the venue .

For tickets call 01639 643462.

See the company's website http://www.neathlittletheatre.co.uk for further information.

 

Llantristant Drama
The Pompeii Panto

Llantrisant Church Hall
Swan Street
Llantrisant

7.30pm
Fri & Sat
2 - 3 March 2007
also matinees on Saturday 3 March and Sunday 4 March at 3.00pm

The Pompeii Panto by Jim Sperinck performed by Llantrisant Drama.

 

Tickets are £5 and £3.50 (concessions).

Tickets are available on the door or they may be booked via Suzy Stacey on 01443 223184.

a little tearaway - but cute!  the logo for the show

The Unknown Theatre Company

How to Eat Like a Child (and other lessons in not being a grown-up)

Roath Church House
Penylan
cardiff (need a map ?)

6.30pm
Saturday 24 Feb 2007

This is a production especially for the younger members of The Unknown Theatre Company. A very special revue of songs and sketches based on Delia Ephron's best-selling book 'How to Eat Like a Child', the show reveals many of those secrets that all children know, but that adults have usually forgotten...

And an extra treat! There will also be a performance of songs-from-the-shows from the older members of the company.

Tickets cost £6 / £4.50 (concessions)

call 029 2076 6056 or email:
jane@unknowntheatre.wanadoo.co.uk

www.unknowntheatre.co.uk

poster for blithe spirit

Cardiff Players

Blithe Spirit

The Players Theatre
The Walk
Cardiff


7.30pm
Wed - Sat
28 Feb - 3 March 2007

Blithe Spirit is the story of novelist Charles Condomine, who invites an eccentric and breezy, lady medium to his country home in order to learn the language of the occult for his latest novel, The Unseen.

Little do Charles and his second wife, Ruth, dream that the séance staged by the medium will summon back Charles' first wife, who has been dead for seven years. First wife, Elvira, still beautiful and mischievous, returns to torment Charles by reminding him of their days and nights together during their marriage. Only Charles can see or hear his first wife.

How he manages to extricate himself from this blithe spirit makes for a hilarious conclusion.

call 029 2055 4430 or email: cardiffplayers@hotmail.co.uk www.cardiffplayers.org

 

The Dylan Thomas Theatre Academy, Swansea

Macbeth

 

Dylan Thomas Theatre
Swansea

30 June - 1 July 2006 7.30pm

Following its recent highly-praised production of A Midsummer Night's Dream , The Dylan Thomas Theatre now brings you all the tension and drama of Shakespeare's Macbeth, performed by the theatre's youngest stars.
The members of The Dylan Thomas Theatre Academy, established only last year, are already award-winners for their first production, the devised War Play , which received much critical acclaim. Under the tuition of Swansea Institute graduates Darren Jones and Kayte Richards, this group of talented 8-17 year-olds have now produced a piece of high drama which shows the potential of Youth Theatre at its very best.
Tickets are just £5 (£3 concessions), and can be booked by phoning the Theatre on 01792 473238. We offer discounts for  bookings over 10 people. www.dylanthomastheatre.org.uk

 

top of page  
   
home  
 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking local theatre to the next stage...

 

 

various photos from GDL productions
               


 

Updated: 05.05.08

©Glamorgan Drama
League