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Only performances in Wales by Shakespeare’s Globe kick off St Donats Arts Centre’s new autumn / winter season |
Wales’ audiences will be treated to the first-ever open-air performances in the country by the world-renowned company, Shakespeare’s Globe who kick off St Donats Arts Centre’s new season during August Bank Holiday weekend.The prestigious company was founded by the pioneering American director Sam Wanamaker after being disappointed not to find a memorial to one of the world’s greatest playwrights. They will perform The Winter’s Tale in front of St Donats Castle overlooking the sea on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August at 6.30pm. The centre’s community arts programme also kicks off in August with a unique new Summer School for children from the local community, a group of Wales’ visually impaired and blind young performers and international students. The week will involve acting, singing and dancing classes before finishing with a performance, and is the first of its kind in Wales. It runs from 11th to 14th August and will be led by ex-Hollyoaks actor and director, Bernie Latham. Live music and theatre continues with the highly sought-after Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, the Vale of Glamorgan Festival of Music featuring the work of Henryk Górecki, Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle, the wonderful folk duo, Show of Hands, one of the world's foremost jazz singers, Stacey Kent and an expanded season of the ever-popular café concerts by professional musicians. At Christmas, the ‘Cinders’ story is a treat for the under 7s, the most popular masterpiece in the choral repertoire, Handel's Messiah will be performed in St Donats’ Castle and the annual Crafts for Christmas Fayre returns with hand-made ideas for Christmas gifts not found in the shops. The day will be accompanied by Santa, Welsh food and music from the dynamic jazz band, The Amigos. The centre is also launching its expanded community arts programme. New weekly contemporary dance classes (for 4 to 14+ years), music theatre choir classes, ballroom dancing classes and music showcase nights by young singers and musicians will run alongside the popular art classes and tea dances, the International Storytelling Festival every other year and the annual programme of education work in schools and communities around Wales and in areas of disadvantage. Janet Smith, General Manager at St Donats Arts Centre reports that, “tickets are already selling extremely well. In partnership with Atlantic College in whose grounds we are based, we are delighted that Wales’ audiences and students will experience high quality, internationally-renowned companies such as Shakespeare’s Globe performing here on home turf!” “We also know from the huge support we received earlier this year that people from around Wales and the local community love coming here. Our vision is for the centre to continue to be used by an ever-wider range of people, including children and we look forward with great excitement to our new summer school bringing together visually-impaired and sighted local children,” she said. “We also give huge thanks to 2,500 supporters who signed our petition and 3,500 people who sent postcards on our behalf following the announcement of a withdrawal of funding by the Arts Council of Wales earlier this year. Following our subsequent successful appeal against the decision, our most ambitious season will take us to the end of the year as we continue to work with the Arts Council to secure this amazing venue’s future,” she said. Tickets are available on 01446 799100 or on-line at www.stdonats.com |
| St Donats Arts Centre web site: www.stdonats.com |
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Monday, August 4, 2008 |
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