Merthyr Express column

18 June 09
Poets, Writers And Others
The next Open Mike Night welcomes poets, short story writers, singers and acoustic musicians together with those who would just like to listen and soak up the atmosphere, on Thursday, 18th June, at the Imperial Hotel. The guest author for the night will be Nigel Jenkins. Open Mike Nights are free entry, supported by MTCBC Arts and Academi. Please contact 01685 725382 or arts@merthyr.gov.uk for more details.

Welsh Rock
The big Saturday night event on 20th June at the Bedroc Welsh Language Festival welcomes big names on the Welsh music scene; Jess, Gwibdaith Hen Fran, Y Diwygiad, Plant Duw and Y Betti Galws to the Workmen's Hall at 7.30pm. Tickets for the night cost £6 from sebon.co.uk. Saturday begins with free events from 10am; Kids fun with children’s TV presenter Martyn Geraint, a bouncy castle, S4C children's characters, stands and family fun, together with a free acoustic stage and a free Cymdeithas Yr Iaith stage at Bedlinog Rugby Club running from mid-day until 7pm. While tickets for Saturday night are still available, Friday night is completeley sold out. The weekend festival ends with a free Folk Music Session and Barbecue on Sunday, 21st June. For further information please contact the Menter Merthyr Tudful office on: 01685 722176.

Fashion Exhibition
From today, Thursday, 18th June 2009 until 15th August 2009 Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery will be showing All Dressed Up: An exhibition displaying some of the costume and accessories worn by the best dressed people of Merthyr Tydfil during the past 150 years. Also featuring fashion designs of the future by the Merthyr Tydfil community, in the search for the next Julien MacDonald! Entry into the exhibition is free of charge. For further information, please contact the museum on 01685 723112 or email museum@merthyr.gov.uk

Taming Of The Shrew
Myfanwy Theatre presents a new version of the 16th Century Shakeperian comedy, the Taming Of The Shrew, where a drunken tinker is tricked into thinking he is a nobleman by a mischievous Lord. performed by The Shakespeare Players on Wednesday, 8th July 2009. For tickets and Information contact 01685 726161 / mtheatre@merthyr.ac.uk.

Chartist Celebrations
Merthyr Tydfil Chartists Partnership will continue to celebrate the Anniversary of the Chartist Parade 170 years ago, with another event on Saturday, 15th August. This years events comemorate the occasion when the Chartists of Merthyr paraded peacefully to Saint Tydfil’s Church, in support of the right of all men to vote. The free event will again, as with the event in April, take place at the Café Quarter, Lower High Street, Merthyr Tydfil. For further Information please call Huw on 07968256864, Viv 01685 377883 or email Les at les.james@newport.ac.uk