Music legend's nephew tries out for Sweeney Todd

 

 

* Berwyn Pearce, great-nephew of Sir Geraint Evans,

auditions for a part in Sweeney Todd.

 

The great-nephew of one of Wales’s singing legends will be bidding for a starring role alongside operatic great Bryn Terfel at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

Berwyn Pearce, 26, from Cilfynydd, near Pontypridd, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his great-uncle, Sir Geraint Evans and carve out a musical career.

 

Sir Geraint, a miner’s son who died in 1992, was a star of the Royal Opera House and, like Bryn Terfel, a bass-baritone who performed in the great opera houses of the world in roles such as Falstaff and Figaro.

 

Berwyn, currently teaching at Cwmderwen Primary School, in Blackwood, in Gwent, has been short-listed for the role of Anthony when Bryn Terfel (pictured left) heads a star-studded cast in a performance of Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway smash hit Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Llangollen in July.

 

The graduate of the Central School of Speech and Drama in London impressed the Eisteddfod’s Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths at auditions for Sweeney Todd, held in the Wales Millennium Centre, in Cardiff.

 

He is back at the Wales Millennium Cetre, this time in front of Bryn Terfel himself, as a vies for a place in the curtain-raiser to this year’s Eisteddfod at the Royal International Pavilion on Monday, July 7.

 

Berwyn said: “I’m very excited about the prospect. It’s a great opportunity and I’m nervous as well.

 

“We did perform Sweeney Todd in college and I shared the role of Anthony so I am brushing up on it ahead of the audition.

 

“It will be incredible to audition with Bryn Terfel, especially because of who my great-uncle was, but that won’t count for anything on audition day which will be a great experience.”

 

Sondheim’s acclaimed show which was first performed in 1979 and will see Terfel play the title role of the murderous barber with a cast that also includes Carmarthen tenor Wynne Evans, Gio Compario of the Go Compare television ads.

 

Over 80 young singers took part in the first auditions in Cardiff, where Berwyn appeared, and at the Royal International Pavilion, in Llangollen, and these have been whittled down to just 12 so that Bryn Terfel can himself choose the three young unknowns who will take the stage alongside him.

 

The roles to be filled are star-crossed young lovers Anthony and Johanna and street urchin Tobias Ragg who works for Todd’s rival, Pirelli (Wynne Evans) and then for piemaker Mrs Lovett, Todd’s murderous accomplice.

 

The Anthony and Johanna roles are for tenors and sopranos over 18 while Tobias will be played by a ten to 14-year-old.

 

Eilir Owen Griffiths has been impressed by the quality of the entrants and he said: “The standard has been very, very high and it’s been very exciting.

 

“I am sure everyone will be very well prepared because there is a lot at stake. Performing a major role alongside an icon like Bryn Terfel could be the springboard for someone’s career.

“Bryn and the show conductor, Gareth Jones, will be there for the auditions and will choose the three successful singers on the day.

 

“They will have learned the part and we will be trying out the different Anthonys with the various Johannas and they may have to read parts with Bryn.

 

“One of our roles at the Eisteddfod is to provide an opportunity for young talent to flourish and there can be no bigger opportunity than to sing alongside a legend like Bryn Terfel.

 

“Just the chance to actually audition for a role like this is an experience in itself and one which will stand them in good stead in the future.”

 

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Sondheim is set in 19^th century London and tells the story of the crazed barber who murders his clients and supplies the bodies to his accomplice, piemaker Mrs Lovett.

 

Sondheim’s multi-award winning classic was first performed on Broadway in 1979 and has since been a regular production across the world and on the big screen in 2007 when superstar Johnny Depp played Todd and Helena Bonham Carter his accomplice.

 

Bryn Terfel is fresh from starring in a production of Sweeney Todd alongside Emma Thompson with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at the Lincoln Center in New York last month and before that played it in 2002 in Chicago.

 

It will be the first time he has performed on the International Eisteddfod stage since he opened the 2006 festival and that was his first appearance at Llangollen in a decade.

 

He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled I’m able to appear at the 2014 International Eisteddfod. I’m a proud Welshman and the International Eisteddfod is unique, the atmosphere, the colour, the audience, even the flowers, it really is a very, very special event.”

 

Eilir Owen Griffiths added: “It’s brilliant to have Bryn back this year and what an experience for those who come through the auditions to be on stage with him.

 

“It’s very exciting and the orchestra for the performance, the Sinfonia Cymru, is a very young orchestra also, conducted by maestro Gareth Jones.

 

“We need to be leaving a legacy and giving an opportunity for young people to shine.”

 

Sweeney Todd will be the curtain raiser to six tremendous days at Llangollen which kicks off on Tuesday, July 8, with this year’s concerts featuring Dutch jazz diva Caro Emerald, American tenor star Noah Stewart, a new work by composer Karl Jenkins, the Cape Town Opera, the Choir of the World competition on Saturday night and legendary British rockers Status Quo closing the event on Sunday night.

 

To book tickets and for more information on the 2014 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Easter events in Llangollen

The Feast of Life, a musical in ten songs about the life of Jesus as told by St Luke, will be staged tomorrow (Good Friday) and again on Saturday at 3pm in St Collen’s Church, Llangollen.

It will also be staged on Sunday (Easter Day) in the Town Hall at 3pm.

Admission is free.



* Llangollen Community Garden has an Easter Egg Hunt planned for Saturday morning.

Details are on the poster below:

Councillors' fears over new health centre access

UPDATE ...

 

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies has sent the following comment on the story below:

 

"Cllr Davies has continually pushed for Betsi Cadwallader to provide controlled crossings on the approach to the new Health Centre. He attended a site meeting last week with Highway officers and it was agreed that the relevant Highway specialist would meet with local Councillors on site next week to continue the negotiations.

"There have been developments with the bus provision for Pengwern in the short term. Confidential negotiations continue and he will update as soon as he has more news.

"Long term he has tasked DCC officers to explore the joint provision of a dedicated service to service the town and health centre."

Pedestrian access to Llangollen’s new health centre is going to present “absolutely horrendous” safety problems, according to a town councillor.

At Tuesday’s evening’s monthly council meeting a number of members voiced concerns about how people making their way on foot to the new centre will cope with what has been described as a traffic “pinch point” where the main A539 narrows just past the Four Poster B&B.

The issue was raised for debate by the mayor, Cllr Bob Lube, who said: “Access to the centre site can be extremely dangerous and I think we should discuss this.”

Cllr Phil Thane said: “The access could only be improved by compulsory purchase of property there and knocking it down, and I can’t see either the county council or the health board doing that.”

Cllr Sheena Burrell said: “We have been told that access will be made safer by bringing the traffic speed down to 30mph and putting in pelican crossings.

“The possibility of a footbridge over the river has also been mentioned by some people but we have been told this would be too expensive.

“I’m really dreading it. It’s damn dangerous because everything seems to overhang the road at that point and it’s quite dark.

“It’s going to be absolutely horrendous. If you get a wagon or a bus going past there as people are walking by it’s a recipe for disaster.”

She added: “I am recommending that we invite someone here from the county council to tell us exactly what they are going to do about it.”

Her recommendation was unanimously approved by members and the town clerk was authorised to invite a representative from the county’s highways department to address a future meeting of the council on the issue.     

 *A county council official with responsibility for public transport is also to be invited to attend a future council meeting at the request of members.

The invitation stems from concern raised about the possible axing of the Pengwern estate bus service.

Cllr Burrell said: “This is something we need to keep a very close eye on.”

County's survey on rural transport

Denbighshire County Council has launched a consultation to find out the community’s views on the existing transport options in rural Denbighshire - whether it meets local needs and what could be improved.

The findings of the consultation, which runs until May 11, will help to shape and transform public transport and community transport services within Denbighshire and what changes will be made to the network in the future.

People are being asked spare a couple of minutes completing the short survey which is part of the wider consultation.

The survey is available:

• online using the QR code below or go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ResidentsPTsurvey

• or picking up the short questionnaire up at your local library, council offices, leisure centre, or health centre/ doctor surgeries.

Llangollen to Corwen train service could start this summer

* The celebratory group assembled around the buffer stop.

Trains could be running between Llangollen and Corwen this summer for the first time in almost 50 years.

That’s the word from Llangollen Railway as  the first phase of its ambitious project to restore the rail link between the two Dee Valley towns reaches the end of the line.

A volunteer-led task force has now completed the track extension project to reach the station site at Dwyrain Corwen East.

Track panels laid alongside the footings for the temporary platform were connected to a buffer stop at the end of the track on Saturday, April 5.

Following a project co-ordination meeting on Wednesday April 9, at which the conclusion of the track laying exercise was announced, representatives from the local community and Denbighshire County Council celebrated with a visit to the railhead.

Llangollen Railway Trust chairman, Neil Evans, said: “The occasion was the culmination of a lot of hard work and application of resources over the past three years.

“Whilst a significant moment to celebrate, there is still much to do before trains can operate into the station. However it is evident now that we have almost completed phase one of this exciting rail extension project.”

Thanks to a magnificent response by contributors to the Corwen Sleeper Appeal, new supplies of concrete sleepers were sourced and delivered to the site during March.

With the project’s road/rail machine back in action, the volunteer workforce made good progress when track laying resumed and, as of the end of March, the rail head had exited the cutting west of Bridge 28A and was into the curve heading for underpass Bridge 29.

From that point Corwen town centre was plainly in sight and track laying was again visible for users of the nearby A5 road.

With continued effort in early April, the railhead reached the station site and the buffer stop was put in place sooner than initially forecast. 

Next challenge will be the building and installation of the 100-metre platform and associated access ramp leading off the embankment, and specialist help is being sought for this part of the project.

Delivery of over a thousand tons of stone is needed for the top ballasting of the track, with packing and aligning from the aid of a hired in tamper machine.

A railway spokesperson said: “There are various other aspects to be finished off and the length tidied up before the line can be passed for passenger trains. 

“However, it is looking hopeful that train services to and from Corwen will commence in the summer of 2014, provided finance continues to come to hand to provide the necessary resources to complete the job.”

Trains last ran between Llangollen and Corwen in December 1964 when the line was axed as part of the notorious Beeching cuts.

Can you help the Chainbridge Project with your memories?

Samantha Jones, heritage officer for the Chainbridge Project, has asked us to display the poster below for their next memories gathering day, which is being held at the Conquering Hero in Rhewl on April 26.

 

Mike completes gruelling Chirk Triathlon

* Mike Edwards completes the cycling section of the event.

 

An intrepid Llangollen man was amongst the 400 athletes from across the country who took part in Sunday’s Chirk Triathlon.

The gruelling event, now in its 22^nd year, featured a 400-metre pool swim at Chirk Leisure Centre, a 24km cycle ride from the centre out to Glyn Ceiriog and back, then a 5km run on single lane roads towards Halton and back.

Mike Edwards from Llangollen completed the challenge in 1:39:54.

Chris Standidge, from Northwich, was the first male to finish the race, and Beth Hughes, who was running for City of Chester Triathlon Club, was the first female entrant to cross the line.

Wrecsam Triathlon Club, which runs the event, has praised the support from North Wales Police, Wrexham Council highways and the leisure departments for their continuing support.

The club has also thanked the local air cadets and guides who assisted on the run course and pool respectively.