Merthyr Express Column

16 Oct 08
Welsh Music
Come along to listen or play some traditional Welsh music at the Imp! The Welsh language group Menter Iaith present a Welsh Folk Music session at the Imperial Hotel, on Saturday 15th November. There is also the added attraction that the session will be preceeded by a short tour of Merthyr Taverns, raising awareness of traditional Welsh music and instrumentation. For further information please contact Jamie Bevan on 01685 722176. Continuing the folk theme Amy Wadge will also be playing at the Myfanwy Theatre, next Wednesday, 22nd October.
Book Available SoonThe new Merthyr Tydfil short stories and poetry book is almost here. The official launch and Open Mike Night will take place at the Imperial Hotel on Thursday 23rd October, with an official publication date the following day. The book, which features 26 authors, including Des Barry, Mike Jenkins, Anthony Bunko and Mike Williams, will be available through various outlets including Merthyr Libraries and The Welsh Books Council website http://www.gwales.com/. For further information please contact Gus Payne at the column details.

Welsh Drama
A new Welsh language drama by the talented Caryl Lewis - winner of the Welsh Language Book of the Year 2005 (Martha, Jac a Sianco), Tir-Na-Noog prize 2004 (Iawn Boi!) and the Long List of the Welsh Book of the Year 2008 (Y Gemydd). This is Caryl's second play for Arad Goch. Suitable for ages 13+ the performance lasts for around 60 minutes. There are waiting rooms everywhere - in the health clinic, in the driving test centre, in the train station and even backstage. When you are waiting for your life to begin, the world can seem like a big waiting room. This is a drama about growing up. A drama that questions the idea of 'success'. A drama that looks at how very different members of the same family can be. We follow the lives of a brother who is a stage star, a sister who is waiting back home for her life to begin and a mother whose big secret will change all of their lives forever. The performance will take place at Zoar Hall (next to the Canolfan Gymraeg (Welsh Centre), Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8UB on Wednesday, 26th November 2008, at 7pm.

Recycled Art
A new exhibition of art using recycled materials titled "ReWorked2" continues at Cyfarthfa Castle until 7th November. The exhibition which began at the Washington Gallery in Penarth presents artists who have found ingenious ways to re-use materials, including melted plastic, to create many new objects. An intriguing aspect of the exhibition is the range of materials used including sculptures from dishwashing sponges, vinyl records melted to organic shapes, food cans converted in spectacular fashion into a metre-high figure. Reworked 2 also sees many artists choose to make clothing items from paper, denim or packaging. An entire outfit has been made from used cassette ribbon, a dress sewn together from 10,000 clothes labels.. The prizewinners' presentation will take place at Cyfarthfa Castle. For further information please contact The Washington Gallery on 02920 712100 or Cyfarthfa Castle on 01685 723112.