Merthyr Express column

1st April 10

Extravaganza Concert
An extravaganza concert is to be held at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre on Saturday 17th April 2010, at 7.00 pm. The concert is in aid of the Mayor’s Appeal; Macmillan Cancer Support featuring Dowlais Male Choir, Cantorion Cyfarthfa, Con Voce, Merthyr Ladies Choir, Treharris Male Choir, Ynysowen Male Choir plus The Big Band and Triawd. Tickets cost £10, with £8 concessions available from the Mayor’s Office, Merthyr Tydfil Civic Centre (tel. 01685 725320) Choir Members and Macmillan Ladies. The event is sponsored by Willmott Dixon Group

Global Village
This year’s Global Village festival starts with a series of community workshops from 10th May, celebrating the cultural diversity of Merthyr Tydfil, including dance, music, art and food workshops and demonstrations from cultures spreading across the global. The main festival event will be held in Cyfarthfa Park on Sunday, 23rd May 2010, with Adult Learners week also culminating the day before for a Celebration Day in Cyfarthfa Park. For further up to date information on worksop sessions, please visit the What’s On guide at www.merthyr.gov.uk.

Welsh Poetry Competition
The 4th Welsh Poetry Competition (2010) was launched this week in Pontypridd, South Wales.
The aim of the competition is still to encourage and reward the abundance of creative writing talent that we know exists in Wales but finds difficulty getting recognition. Poet and competition organizer Dave Lewis is “calling on all real poets to try their luck”. All entries are judged anonymously by our one judge – Welsh poet and author John Evans. We are looking for brave, new voices who aren’t afraid to take chances. Previous years have included entries from Abu Dhabi, Australia, Canada, Corfu, England, France, Ireland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Kenya, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, USA and of course Wales confirming the Welsh Poetry Competition as a truly international event. Almost all winners have been new, unpublished writers, whilst many published writers didn’t win. The competition is less concerned with an academic approach to poetry but would rather see pure raw passion burst onto the creative writing scene. The prize money for 2010 is as follows: First prize - £300, second prize - £150 and third prize - £75.
This year’s judge is Welsh writer, John Evans, who has just released his long awaited new book The Acid Real and has been described as “one of Wales' most uncompromising and original contemporary artists and writers”.
To enter you just need to compose a poem, in English, of less than 50 lines and send to the competition organizers. Entry forms are available by post, can be downloaded from the website or picked up from Wales’ libraries. The competition is still only £3 to enter and the closing date is Sunday 20th May 2010. Competition Website - www.welshpoetry.co.uk. Competition Judge – www.johnevans.org.uk

Tiddly Prom
Dowlais Blast Engine House proudly presents a Tiddly Prom - Berts Farmyard on Tuesday, 13th July at 1.30pm. The Tiddly Prom introduces the Proms and the magic of live music to the youngest possible audience and builds on Arts Active's ongoing pre-school music.
It's a busy day on Bert's farm with lots of jobs to be done. But, ‘Oh no', the rain is coming down and the tractor is stuck in a muddy ditch. Even with all his friends helping Bert cannot pull the tractor out of this slippy, slidey hole. Perhaps you and the magic of live music can help them? Bert's Magical Musical Farmyard is produced by Arts Active. Entrance cost is £3 (£2 concessions). For further details contact 01685 375318 kristianengine@aol.com.