Carmarthenshire Theatres unveils a host of online shows

Carmarthenshire Theatres have unveiled a virtual programme of winter shows and events to keep people entertained at home.

Live music, plays, audio dramas, children’s theatre and even an art exhibition will be available to view across several online platforms as well as offline for those without internet access.

Carmarthenshire Theatres remains closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic and government guideline.

The Live at the Ffwrnes series will bring the swing back to your Saturday nights in October with three live bands lined up to perform across consecutive weekends, starting Saturday October 10.

Llanelli based soul band, Gimme Some Lovin, rock ‘n’ roll band, The Wurlitzers and an up and coming West Wales band, Los Blancos, are some of the exciting line-up.

Each gig is filmed at the theatre before being streamed on YouTube. The performances will be free to watch, although donations are welcomed.

For those missing their theatre fix, an original play which was first performed at the Ffwrnes Theatre back in 2016 has been reimagined for a digital audience and will be streamed live on October 14 at 7pm and will also be available to watch on-demand until October 28. This Incredible Life is a warm-hearted comedy about stories and storytelling from the pen of BAFTA-award winning writer, Alan Harris. Carmarthenshire born actress, Sharon Morgan, plays the lead character of Mab in this compelling play which brings together theatre, film, animation and original music to transport audiences into a story that will lift the spirits and warm the heart.

The Oriel Ffwrnes Gallery’s latest art exhibition is moving online too. Step Forward’ will showcase a collection of photographs from the gallery’s resident artist and curator, award-winning Welsh painter and photographer, Michele Laugharne Perrott. The exhibition captures post lockdown moments of local people and will be launched live on Facebook on October 7.   

Young people aged 11+ can escape with The Atlantis Project, a new audio drama which uncovers the effects of climate change on culture through the adventurous and heart-warming story of Evie and Deean – two teenagers who invite us into their world of friendship, crisis and acceptance. The full series is available to download and listen for free now.

For the younger members of the family, The Three First Drops, is a brand-new play performed by Taking Flight Theatre and is live over Zoom. Based on the legend of Taliesin by Elis Gruffydd, this story will transport your little ones to a world of magic and wizardry! For all children aged 2 – 9 years and especially for those with access needs. Tickets are £6 a family and need to be pre-booked via the website theatrausirgar.co.uk for the performance on November 29.

Fans of storytelling won’t want to miss the adaptation of ‘Farewell Innocence’ by Llanelli author, William Glynne-Jones. An abridged version of the novel which depicts life in the fictional town of Abermôr and especially the daily grind of a tin works, will be performed across several episodes by Alun Gibbard.

Theatre enthusiasts will also have the chance to take a backstage tour of the three Carmarthenshire Threatres – The Ffwrnes in Llanelli, The Lyric in Carmarthen and The Miners’ in Ammanford – from the comfort of their home with a series of streamed videos exploring the buildings.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member responsible for theatres, Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths said: “Although our theatres remain closed due to the coronavirus and government guidelines, it hasn’t stopped us from creating a vibrant autumn season of virtual shows for all the family to enjoy. Our season of online productions focusses on local artists with work which has been exclusively commissioned for our audiences and we are grateful to the Arts Council of Wales for funding to help make this happen. We hope as many people as possible will tune in and see some of the fantastic local talent that Carmarthenshire has to offer.”

All performances will be available to watch on-demand for a selected period following their initial release, please visit theatrausirgar.co.uk website for full details. For those without internet access, copies will be made of selected performances (where copyright allows) and these will be available to hire from local libraries throughout Carmarthenshire from later this year.