Merthyr Express column

11 Dec 2008
Xmas Book
Merthyr Writing! Is a short stories and poetry book by Des Barry, Mike Jenkins, Anthony Bunko and twenty-three other Merthyr authors. Published last month the book is the perfect Christmas present for adult friends or family. Available now through the Welsh Books Council at various locations including Cyfarthfa Castle and www.gwales.com priced £4.99 (ISBN: 978-0-9555306-2-3).

Santa Photography Exhibition
Santa Claus the Photographs is Aatwenty five year pictorial record by Walter Waygood, documentary photographer. At Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery until 23rd December 2008. The exhibition is open Tuesday – Friday at 10am – 4pm and Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 4pm (Closed Mondays). The exhibition is free entry. For further details, call 01685 723112 or e-mail museum@merthyr.gov.uk

Open Mic Literature
The next open mic night, with poetry and short story extracts, welcomes Graham Hartill tonight, Thursday, 11th December at the Imperial Hotel at 7.30pm. Open Mic Night are open to all to come and read or just listen to others. The evenings are also free entry. Graham Hartill is a poet, workshop facilitator and lecturer. He was born in 1952 in the English Midlands, Graham has lived in Wales most of his life since 1971. He studied at the Universities of Wales and Massachusetts, and has since given countless workshops and classes in the UK, USA and China. Co–founder of LAPIDUS, the UK–wide association for the promotion of creative writing in therapeutic context, Graham was also a Scottish Arts Council Writing Fellow 1990-92 and an Arts Council of Wales Writer’s Bursary recipient 1993, 1999 and 2006. For further details: 01685 725382 / arts@merthyr.gov.uk. Open Mic Nights are funded by MTCBC & Academi

Live Soul Music
Fire Down Below, a 7-piece, south Wales soul/rock band featuring a 3-man brass section and vocals by Dave (Spidge) Spiller, will be performing at Myfanwy Theatre, Merthyr Tydfil College next Wednesday, 17th December with songs by Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Spencer Davies, Southside Johnny, Springsteen and many, many more. Tickets cost £5. For further information please contact: Myfanwy Theatre 01685 726000

Kids Christmas with Cyw
Shout ‘Hello Cyw’ this Christmas as Cyw and his friends including Sali Mali, Holi Hana’s Hana, Now from Ribidirês, Norman Preis from Fireman Sam and Heini all visit the Myfanwy Theatre, at Merthyr Tydfil College, tomorrow (12th December) in a magical show to celebrate the occasion. Cyw’s Christmas Show runs at 10:30am and 1:30pm, when Father Christmas will also pay a special visit and there will be fun and laughter for all the little ones with a special festive show. Admission to the show is £3.00 for both children and adults, and tickets can be ordered before hand via the S4C Viewers’ Hotline on 0870 6004141 (calls charged at national rate).
The show is suitable for children over the age of 2. For further information please contact: Myfanwy Theatre 01685 726000