Snow White has some cool fresh touches

* Pictures by Barrie Potter

* The chat show sequence from Snow White.

While it still contains all the favourite ingredients Llangollen Pantomime Group’s latest offering at the Pavilion, Snow White, has a few novel touches.

Yes, the crowd-pleasing “he’s behind you” and “oh yes he is, oh no he isn’t” routines as well as the traditional booing and hissing at the baddie and the sweets distribution to the audience are all firmly in place – but look out for one or two fresh twists.

Without issuing a spoiler alert beforehand I can tell you that right at the end there’s a hilarious, pre-filmed chat show sequence in the style of Jeremy Kyle in which the wicked queen swaps insults with the heroine about the small mtter of attempted murder.

But I shall only hint at the other clever innovations introduced by director Justine Bradey and her team. All I can say is watch out for the entrance of the Mirror on the Wall early on in the action and also make a careful head-count of the Seven Dwarves.

All the usual hard work and attention to detail has clearly gone into this colourful production which is brought stylishly to life by a very talented cast of key characters and an enormous chorus of cute kids.    

Playing it for laughs in a big way is old panto hand Nico Decourt as the dame, Nurse Knick-Knack. The make-up and costume departments have worked wonders on him – particularly the assortment of wigs – and his line in patter is pretty smart, and scrupulously family-friendly, too.

Another natural deliverer of mirth whenever he appears on stage is another of the group’s stalwarts Neil Barrett as Chamberlain Potts. If ever anyone had the perfect face for comedy it’s this guy!

Talent obviously runs in the family as Neil’s son Harvey makes a rather good King Archibald while daughter Eve plays The Mirror – she of the crazy way of appearing on stage I mentioned earlier.

Deliciously loathsome in the role of the awful Queen Evelyn, the villain of the piece who tries to do in Snow White, is Joanna Potts and taking the title role with just the right amount of syrupy sweetness is Celyn Orton-Jones.

Shea Ferron, already something of a star of other local productions, plays Snow’s love interest Prince Rupert with aplomb and Jo Pearson, again magnificently bewigged, does a nice turn as the queen’s bumbling henchman Humphrey.

The diminutive bunch playing the dwarves – well, not all of them – are another hit with the audience and the whole show is bound together well by the bubbly Simon Orton-Jones as the ringmaster-attired Narrator.

The other elements which shine out here are the brilliant costumes, minimalist but effective stage settings and props, zingy script and well-chosen songs which are wonderfully backed by a six-piece band led by musical director Helen Belton.

If you fancy something to warm you up a miserable winter’s day there are two more performances of Snow White left, today and tomorrow.             

Chance to view Clwydian Range's distant past

Archaeologists have found new signs of pre-historic human activity in the Clwydian Range and a new exhibition is open to the public showing some of the archaeological processes revealing fleeting traces of our distant ancestors.

As successors to the Heather and Hillforts project, the Clwydian Range Archaeology Group (CRAG) have been surveying and excavating in the Moel Arthur area for a number of seasons. 

In that time, tantalising glimpses have emerged of human activity, some of it probably medieval, and some appearing to go back thousands of years, possibly as far back as Mesolithic times. 

As well as showing what has been found in successive years of excavation, the exhibition explains some of the methods archaeologists use to investigate, gather evidence and record the results.

Time? Daily from 10am to 4pm

When? Until Sunday 28^th January 2018.

Where? The Gallery, Loggerheads Country Park, Ruthin Road, Mold CH7 5LH

A member of the CRAG team will be on hand between 11am and 3pm to answer questions about the excavations and the archaeological processes involved.  Between these times the finds from recent digs will be displayed.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Sustainable Development Fund for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

CRAG have recently won the Marsh Award for Community Archaeology and this national award is sponsored by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and the Marsh Christian Trust. If you would like further information about CRAG, contact info@cragnorthwales.co.uk

                       

Temporary road closure this Sunday

Denbighshire County Council is informing motorists in the Dee Valley  of a road closure due to take place between  Llangollen Bridge, Llangollen and The Sun Inn Public House, Trevor (A539) on Sunday,  21^st January 2018.

The road closure is necessary  to remove trees overhanging the road as a result of a recent road traffic collision.

Contractors will commence the removal works  at sunrise on Sunday, to try and keep any disruption to a minimum.   

The works should be completed by 10am, but there may still be delays to bus service T3 (operated by Lloyd’s Coaches) and bus service 5 (operated by Arriva Buses Wales).

During this road closure the A539 between Ruabon Interchange and Llangollen Bridge, Llangollen will not be serviced by buses.

The Council says it would like to thank motorists in advance for their co-operation.

Railway unveils 2018 events programme

Llangollen Railway has revealed details of its 2018 season.

Here, llanblogger brings details of events planned over the next couple of months ...

Sunday, February 11: Valentine’s Special. Spoil the one you love and take a romantic steam train ride through the beautiful Dee Valley and enjoy an afternoon tea with a selection of finger sandwiches, assorted sweet treats, full Welsh Cream Tea (with tea or coffee) and a glass of pink bubbly.

The trip includes a return train ride to Corwen and there will be a soft drink alternative available. Adults £32.00 each, children £17.00 each.

Sunday, March 11: Take a return trip through the beautiful Dee Valley. Enjoy an afternoon tea with a  selection of finger  sandwiches, assorted sweet treats, (with tea or coffee) and a glass of bubbly. Adults £32.00 each, children £17.00 each.

Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25: Come and see Peppa at Llangollen Railway. The cheeky little piggy will be appearing at intervals between 10:30am – 3.30pm on both days… don’t’ forget your camera! Take a  train ride to Carrog to see the magic show. Face painting available at intervals on Platform 1 at Llangollen Station.
Train ride to Carrog. At Carrog Station there is a magic show , colouring sheets, miniature train ride.

Saturday, March 31: Real Ale Train. 6.30pm departure from Llangollen Station. Step on board and soak up the atmosphere whilst enjoying the Real Ales on offer at our well stocked bar. Double return journey – arrive back approximately 9.30pm. £18 Advanced ticket price includes a free Llangollen Railway pint glass. Food will be available to purchase from The Station Cafe + Bar on the evening, along with a BBQ on the platform. Reserved seating will be provided for parties of eight or more. Advanced tickets – £18 per person with a FREE Llangollen Railway Pint Glass, tickets purchased on the evening – £20 per person.

Friday, April 6: Thomas the Tank Engine is back at Llangollen Railway Station. This fun-filled event offers children and their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas, meet The Fat Controller and enjoy trips on Thomas up and down Llangollen Station, you can ride in Rickety and Clarabelle as many times as you like. Take the Big steam Engine or Daisy the Heritage rail Car  to Carrog to the puppet show. Day Out With Thomas™ is an all day event and gates open at 10am.

Ticket Prices: Adults £19, Seniors £17, Children £11.50, Family (1 Adult + 1 Child) £27.50, Family (1 Adult + 2 Children) £38.00, Family (2 adults + 1 Child) £41.00, Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) £52.00, Children aged 2 and under free. All day ticket includes Brake Van Rides with Thomas & Clarabel at Llangollen Station, Unlimited travel on Daisy or Donald, Access to our Award winning Imagination Station. To book tickets please visit www.dayoutwiththomas.co.uk/llangollen.

Friday-Sunday, April 13-15:  Llangollen Railway’s ‘Spring Steam Gala . Full details will be added closer to the event.

Saturday, May 26: Come and see Paddington Bear  at Llangollen Railway. The cheeky little Bear  will be appearing at intervals between 10:30am – 3.30pm … don’t’ forget your camera! Take a train ride to Carrog to see the magic show. Face painting available at intervals on Platform 1 at Llangollen Station. Train ride to Corwen, stopping off at Carrog on the return journey. At Carrog Station there is a magic show , colouring sheets, miniature train ride.

AM raises concerns over bus services

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for a Welsh Government statement on local bus services following the demise of Acrefair-based bus company D.Jones and Son before Christmas.

Mr Isherwood (pictured) referred to the concerns of local residents and said a statement is needed to reflect these concerns and give residents some assurances  that they are being listened to.

He said:  “No doubt like others, I received concerns from affected residents who had lost local bus services, asking for help in replacement of bus links.

"I submitted a written question to the Cabinet Secretary two days later, on the following Monday. I'm still waiting for a reply to that.

"I also contacted Wrexham Council's Lead Member for Environment and Transport, who told me that officers were continuing to look at options, but this is difficult as a number of operators have ceased across the region; that despite the Cabinet Secretary's (Ken Skates) Bus Summit, they'd seen no tangible actions coming forward and that having attended two to three bus workshops, this was most certainly a wider issue across Wales.

“The Cabinet Secretary held his Bus Summit a year ago, in January 2017, stating that this was to halt the demise of the industry, following the collapse of Ruabon-based GHA coaches the previous summer.

"So, given the concerns being raised not only by affected residents, who often are on commercial rather than on commissioned routes, and given concerns being expressed that, still, no tangible actions are coming forward from the bus summit and subsequent workshops, I would welcome a statement to reflect their concerns and hopefully give them some assurance that they're being listened to.”

The Leader of the House Julie James AM replied: “In terms of the local bus services point, he raises a very important point. He did say he was awaiting an answer to his written question, and I would suggest that the Member waits to see what the answer to the question is, and if there is a more general point that he then wishes to raise with the Cabinet Secretary that would be of interest to the entire Senedd,

"I'm sure that the Cabinet Secretary will be prepared to look at that, since it is a year since the bus summit took place.”

 

Health board reacts to Llan dentist closure

* The Chapel Street dental surgery which is now closed.

The local health board has responded to last week’s unexpected closure of the Chapel Street dental practice in town, which had been used by many local NHS patients.

* The closure note

in the window.

<sub>A Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board spokesperson told llanblogger: “Chapel Street Dental Practice in Llangollen closed unexpectedly on 15 January, 2018.

“We are making arrangements for the provision of NHS dental services on a cover basis until a permanent solution can be put in place.

“This will include exploring options for short term support from other nearby practices.

“Patients who require urgent treatment before they have registered with an alternative practice, should contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.

“Patients wishing to see an alternative dental practice for the provision of routine dental care can find contact details for all NHS practices within North Wales on the health board’s website (www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/directory/dentists) or contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647.”</sub>

Apartments plan for old Berwyn Works unveiled

A construction company has given brief details of the development of apartments it is planning on the site of the derelict Berwyn Works on the A5 in Llangollen.

Earlier this week Wrexham-based Knights Construction made a brief announcement about the scheme, for which it will be seeking planning permission, on social media, and llanblogger asked them for further information.

The company’s residential development manager Joel Smith replied to say: “We are looking at multiple - more than 20 - apartments on the site.

“We really want local people to live in this development and we feel that this will be reflected in our potential sales prices along with any affordable considerations that are stated within our section 106 agreement if planning is granted.

“At this early concept stage it’s clear that some but perhaps not all buildings on the site would need to go but more will become clear once planning is achieved.

“I would like to point out though that there are no listed buildings on the site.”

Mr Smith added: “We hope to submit planning within the next financial quarter.

“Everything we would do on the site would have local residents in mind with a view to enhance access and be as non-disrupting as possible when/if works commence.”