Christmas comes early with fun Twenty Club play

Christmas has come early for Llangollen audiences as the Twenty Club stages its rib-tickling version of the Alan Ayckbourn play Season’s Greetings at the Town Hall on three nights this week plus a matinee on Saturday.
 

Despite having been in business for over 60 years, the club has lost none of its vitality and has assembled a formidable nine-strong cast for this black-ish, often farcical, comedy by the old master which tells the tale of a dysfunctional family spending the festive season uncomfortably together in an average English suburban house.

A number of excellent new players have been recruited to strengthen the already-powerful core of established actors.
 

These include David Edgar, who gives a brilliant portrayal as man of the house Neville. He’s an electronics retailer without any energy to spare on his wife Belinda, who is played to perfection by another very useful newcomer Paula Sutton.

Fresh in the club’s ranks too is Robin Cowley, who turns in a neat performance as Neville’s pretty useless mate Eddie.
 

The role of Clive, the novelist who arrives at the house to spend Christmas with his girlfriend Rachel, Belinda’s nervy spinster sister, is taken by another new face, Mathew Oswald-Haggett, who fits it as snugly as a winter glove.

This was also the first Twenty Club appearance for Ellie De Bolla who proves a suitably nutty Phyllis, the wife of another family friend, Bernard.
 

That part – an ineffectual doctor with a penchant for pathetic puppet shows, is taken by club first-timer Christopher Sims who has already shown his on-stage prowess with the likes of Llangollen Operatic Society and brings to it a very deft comedic touch.

Twenty Club stalwart Mike Law provided a marvellous interpretation of Harvey, a cantankerous old bore who exhibits just about every “ism” in the book and also has an unhealthy habit of carrying around an armoury of knives and guns.
 

Another club favourite Liz Evans takes the part of Rachel with aplomb and experienced Twenty hand Nicola Holmwood makes a perfect Pattie, bumbling Bernard’s long-suffering missus.

The whole thing is a credit to director Natalie Evans and producer Anna Turner and the entire behind-the-scenes team deserve a pat on the back for providing a very classy setting. 

There’s nothing too complicated about the plot which revolves around a bunch of people who don’t get on all that well being forced to spend yet another Christmas together.

The interplay between them sparks lots of laughs and the end goes with quite a bang, although I’d better say no more about that because Season’s Greetings still has three more performances to go – one tonight and two on Saturday, including the 2pm matinee, and I wouldn’t want to spoil things for those who have yet to see it.

So give yourself an early Christmas present by getting along to the Town Hall to catch this stylish and very funny production. 

AM turns up heat on fuel poverty

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood chaired and spoke at the Energy Best Deal Review Event in the Assembly yesterday.

 

He also welcomed Jayne Bellis from Flintshire-based Pennysmart, the lead organisation for the North Wales Financial Capability Forum.

 

Ofgem and Citizens Advice have been working together since 2008 developing and delivering face to face consumer advice through the Energy Best Deal scheme.

 

As chair of the Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty, Mr Isherwood provided an update on the Cross Party Group’s work to raise awareness of the problem of fuel poverty in Wales and to investigate the solutions needed to combat it.

 

Energy Best Deal is delivered in England and Wales by members of the regional Financial Capability Forums, getting people off expensive tariffs and onto the best energy deal available to them.

 

Energy Best Deal sessions are aimed at low income consumers. Front-line staff work with people at risk of fuel poverty, who can be signposted to a range of further help with issues such as fuel debt, benefits entitlement and energy efficiency.

 

The campaign aims to make people aware of the savings that can be made by switching fuel providers or negotiating with existing providers; provide information about help available from energy suppliers and government for people struggling to pay their gas and electricity bills, and inform consumers about how they might save money by using less energy and sources of advice and help around energy efficiency.

 

Mr Isherwood said: “With energy bills unaffordable for 1 in 3 Welsh households and the budget constraints on local services, the heat is on for those living in fuel poverty.

 

“Thankfully, help is out there – but it is our job to connect that help to the people who need it most.  

 

“In 2012, 30% of households in Wales were living in fuel poverty, equating to 386,000 homes. Nearly 85% of these are vulnerable households, containing a child, older person or someone with a disability or chronic illness."

 

He added: “All stakeholders – government, statutory bodies, private companies and charities – have a moral responsibility to change society to one where: children don’t have to grow up in freezing cold homes with mould on the walls; no pensioner has to wear outdoor clothing inside while shivering in one room of their home; no disabled or ill person has to suffer because they can’t afford to use the heating that will bring them some relief and people aren’t struggling to pay for energy that just vanishes through the walls, roof and draughty gaps of their uninsulated home, leaving them cold and poor.”

 

Store boss set to film Bond-style movie

 

* Film-maker Dan Speirs outside Ever Beyond in Eagles Meadow, Wrexham.

 

A store manager from Llangollen is set to film a James Bond-style political thriller.

 

Amateur film maker Dan Speirs, 28, the manager of Ever Beyond, at Eagles Meadow shopping centre, in Wrexham, is planning his shooting schedule for the movie short.

 

The story, which has the working title of Trajectory, is heavily influenced by James Bond author Ian Fleming, and begins when a mysterious unnamed soldier finds a potential weapon of mass destruction.

 

The movie will be shot entirely on his DLSR camera and released on Youtube.

 

Dan, who attended Ysgol Dinas Bran and has a Media Studies degree from Glyndwr University, is also a graphic designer and creates videos for Ever Beyond, which specialises in kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.

 

He said: “The film is very ambitious. It’s easily the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted.

“It’s about a person’s journey. The main character has no name and that’s done on purpose. The reason for that is because it makes it more realistic and gives a fly on the wall feel to it. It will also add a sense of mystery.

 

“In films generally a lot of things have to be explained. In a real life situation you wouldn’t necessarily find out someone’s name.

 

“The film is influenced by the likes of Ian Fleming, and going to have a lot of 70s influences too.

 

“It’s going to be shot across North Wales and Cheshire.

 

“It’s only going to be a short film, probably about 30 minutes max. I’m going to release it on Youtube.”

 

Dan has teamed up with his brother Josh Speirs, 25 to create the flick.

 

Dan said: “We’ll be doing everything, from the filming, to the acting to the editing. Because there are only two of us doing it that presents challenges which we’re going to have to find creative ways to overcome. For example if the two of us are in a scene, the camera will have to be static because there will be no one there to move it. That’s part of the fun of it.

 

“I really enjoy the crafting of it and creative process. It’s something I’m really passionate about.

 

“My interest in creating films started when I was still a student. It’s born out of the huge passion for films and how they’re created and a desire to do that myself. I wanted to have a go at making my own.

 

“I love films by David Fincher like Fight Club, and films by Martin Scorsese. They both have a very distinctive style, and you can tell it’s one of their films just by watching it. They have a particular quality. They inspire me.

 

“We will be using green screening because we have a green screen at home. If you film someone in front of the green screen you can then replace it with what you want. It’s the same technique they use with weather people on the news. I’ll be editing it using Final Cut software."

 

He added: “I’ve been doing video editing for about 10 years now and it’s part of my job here. We’re doing more and more of it because we’re putting videos on our website so the customers can see what our kitchens look like.

 

“I create all our adverts for magazines. Our kitchens are bespoke, so when we create them we tailor them to the customer. We can pretty much make anything the customer wants, from the traditional to the more modern.

 

“I’ve created show reels that showcase the showrooms.

 

“It’s a very nice place to work because there’s a really pleasant working environment here.

 

“We give the type of personal service that you would expect from a local shop.”

Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley added: “I’m a huge James Bond fan and I think this project sounds very exciting. I can wait to see it when it’s finished.”

Special trains mark Remembrance weekend

To mark Remembrance weekend, and also the last weekend of the season for trains running through to Corwen, Llangollen Railway will have a special headboard on the engine.

The specially made Remembrance headboard will be carried by the rostered locomotive Black Five No.45337 in memory of all those railwaymen who fell in conflicts.

* The special Remembrance train headboard.

 

Trains will depart Llangollen on Saturday and Sunday at 10.50am, 1pm and 3.10pm for the extended run through to the new station at Corwen East.

Army cadets have been invited to attend on poppy sales duties.

After the last train on November 9 no further services will operate prior to the commencement of Santa Special trains on December 6, which conclude on Christmas Eve.

 

From Boxing Day, December 26, the series of Mince Pie Special trains will run through to Corwen East until January 1.

 

 

Health board being given help to improve

A BBC story says the "troubled" Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which serves Llangollen, is being given help by the Welsh Government to improve.

For the full story, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-29896481

War veterans meet for the last time

A GROUP of Second World War veterans has held an emotional reunion for the very last time, according to a story in the Leader.

The poignant event was held at the Bryn Howel Hotel, Llangollen, and was attended by 17 men who were stationed there for map training with the Royal Engineers in the 1940s.

* For the full story see: m.leaderlive.co.uk/mobile/mnews/140278/map-makers-call-time-on-annual-reunion-in-llangollen.aspx

Residents "will be consulted over speed limits"

Assembly Member Ken Skates has welcomed Denbighshire County Council’s assurance that residents near Llangollen will be fully consulted over changes to local speed limits.

Mr Skates, the Labour AM for Clwyd South, wrote to the authority’s chief executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet two weeks ago to pass on his constituents’ concerns about proposals to reduce the current 60mph restriction over the Horseshoe Pass.

Mr Skates said: “I have been contacted by several constituents in Pentredwr who are worried about the potential knock-on effects implementing speed restrictions on the Horseshoe Pass, and I have relayed these concerns to the council in writing.

 

“The worry is that a reduction on the new road could lead to even more drivers going down behind the Ponderosa and using Pentredwr as a cut-through.

 

“Too many drivers are already using that route and going dangerously fast on a far narrower and steeper road, which has no footpaths. As well as obvious concerns about increased traffic through Pentredwr, many residents have very real fears that the increased use of the Old Horseshoe Pass could lead to a spike in accidents.”

Dr Mehmet said the A542 was being looked at as part of a county-wide speed limit review of all A and B roads. All local authorities in Wales are required to carry out a similar project before the end of 2014.

He has assured Mr Skates that before any recommendations of the speed limit review can be implemented, the council must first undertake a statutory consultation exercise which will see initial talks with county councillors and North Wales Police.

Only if an agreement is reached at this first stage can the proposals then proceed to public consultation with the community, when formal objections can be lodged.

Mr Skates said: “I’m pleased that Dr Mehmet has assured me he has noted the concerns of residents of Pentredwr and these will be fully considered at the consultation stage referred to. He has also indicated that the introduction of traffic-calming in Pentredwr would be considered should the proposal for the lower speed limit progress.”

Because of current budget constraints, the earliest Denbighshire County Council could begin the consultation is likely to be in February or March.