Merthyr Express column

15th July 10

Funky Fun Day

Pen-y-Dre Youth Club presents a free entry Funky Fun Day for young people aged from eleven to twenty-five, on Wednesday, 28th July 2010 at Pen-y-Dre Youth Club and High School. The day starts at 11.00am and continues until 4.00pm. So if you’re in that age group, why not come along and try some new activities! For further information please contact: 01685 727085/725085.

Welsh Open Mic

The August Open Mic Night at the Imperial Hotel will be a Welsh language event with guest Ifor ap Glyn on Thursday, 26th August. The event is free entry with Welsh learners welcome. Ifor ap Glyn is a poet, born and bred in London to Welsh parents. Following a period as a scriptwriter for theatre and TV he now works as a TV producer. He has collaborated on a number of television co-productions, and also co-authored two trilingual theatre pieces, Frongoch and Branwen which have toured in Wales and Ireland. A keen performer of his work with some 15 years experience, culminating in an appearance at the gala concert to mark the opening of the National Assembly in 1999. Winner of the Crown at the 1999 National Eisteddfod with a collection of poems about the problems of learning Welsh. Ifor was Bardd Plant Cymru (Welsh-language Children’s Laureate) 2008-9. In association with Menter Iaith Merthur Tudful, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council & Academi. For further information please contact (01685) 722176 or email arts@merthyr.gov.uk

Community Play

The eastern heads of the valleys bilingual community play; NEWiD will be performed at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale on Thursday, 29th July, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 or £3 concessions, available from 01495 355 800. Workshops leading to the performance are currently being held through the region, which covers Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent and the northern ends of Caerphilly and Torfaen by Head for Arts. Rehearsal dates: 17th, 18th and 24th to 27th July

For further information visit www.head4arts.org.uk or www.stwnsh.com/newid or contact Head for Arts directly on 01495 357816 or info@head4arts.org.uk.

Draw a Belly Dancer
Following in the footsteps of artists such as Matisse and Degas, valleys artists can take a unique opportunity to work from life and draw belly dancers whilst they perform to music at Garth Olwg Lifelong Learning Centre foyer on Wednesday 7th July at 7-9pm. The dancers will be from the Belly Dance class at the centre. There will be a small charge of £2 to take part and draw. All levels of ability welcome but participants must be age 16 and over. Spaces in the foyer drawing area are limited so please get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. For more information call: 01443 219589 or email llcreception@campwsgartholwg.org.uk or visit www.campwsgartholwg.org.uk

Youth Theatre Workshops
This week is your last chance to join Merthyr Tydfil College’s Summer Theatre experience for young people between the ages of seven and sixteen, Monday to Friday, from 19th to 30th July 2010 from 10am until 4pm. The sessions will allow students to develop skills in the three main performing arts disciplines; acting, singing and dance. The total cost for the two weeks is £150. The course will be held within the Performing Arts Department, including the use of the Myfanwy Theatre.To book and for further information, please call 07983 030 398.