The Leader is reporting this morning (Tuesday) that one person was airlifted to hospital following a collision on the Horseshoe Pass yesterday, ambulance chiefs have confirmed.
* For the full story, go to: Patient airlifted to hospital after Horseshoe Pass crash | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk)
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Llangollen Operatic Society is releasing a set of desperate jailbirds plus a bunch of equally hardcore screws onto Town Hall audiences this week.
From
tomorrow (Wednesday) until Saturday a talented 17-strong cast – backed as usual by a highly
competent production team and an accomplished orchestra – have been set free to
present Bad Girls the Musical.
But
if you’re thinking previous of prison-themed musicals you might have seen, forget
it. Because Jailhouse Rock this definitely ain’t.
Based
on the smash-hit TV drama series from the 1990s, the action takes place inside the
fictitious Larkhill women's prison.
But despite the dark comedy, which is ladeled out as thickly as prison porridge, and the excellent songs which accompany and fuel the action, this is strong stuff, with themes such as sexual exploitation, suicide and drug dependence tackled head on. And that means the dialogue is hard core too.
The
opening scene of a young prisoner being put through the usual demeaning process –
including a humiliating strip-search - of being checked in for her time behind
bars sets the tone for the whole piece.
As
the plot develops we gradually meet more of her fellow inmates and prison officers whose character weaknesses and strengths are magnified by their mutually captive
situation. We see loud, brash and
violent prisoners become protective of one another, or “screws” with dark traits become even darker.
But, despite the challenging subject matter, this is a
wonderfully well-handled piece of musical theatre with a polished cast which includes some real gems, such as Naomi Riley and Amie Harrison-Bickley
as, respectively, prisoners Nikki Wade and Shell Dockley, and Louisa Jones and
Sue O’Neill as officers Helen Stewart and Sylvia Hollamby.
* ... but there's also some glitz on occasions.
Turning in a particularly fine take on loathsome principal officer Fenner is Kevin Williams.
There’s also some neat old lag-style
cameos from log-time Operatic favourites Chris Platt and Jan Bellis.
The stage sets are bang-on from
what we know of our grim Victorian nicks, and production values, masterminded
by joint producers Tracey Kempster-Jones and Caroline Anthonisz, are extremely high.
Direction is as spot-on as we’ve
come to expect from Chrissie Ashworth and choreography – yes, they do dance
rather well around G Wing when they're not being abusive or violent – is skilfully guided by Sarah Marshall and Rob
Stevens.
Stylish musical direction comes courtesy of Elen Mair Roberts.
Stage management is in the
capable hands of Tessa Orton-Jones and sound smoothly done by JB Sound.
* Bad Girls is on at Llangollen Town Hall from Wednesday May 22 to Saturday May 25 with a matinee on the Saturday afternoon. Tickets are available from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety
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Grow Llangollen held their eighth talk this last Thursday, welcoming permaculture specialist Steve Jones.
Grow Llangollen is a community organisation working towards sustainability and food security by inspiring and supporting local people to grow food through community gardening, produce sharing, and informative talks and workshops.
Steve owns Sector39 training and is a partner at Treflach Farm near Oswestry, where he delivers a lot of his training.
He led a fascinating discussion across key aspects of permaculture and how it can be delivered at garden or market scale, emphasising the principles of observing and interacting to understand energy systems and storage opportunities.
Permaculture is a form
of land use modelled on natural ecosystems, following the cycles, diversity,
and resilience found in nature.
Steve talked about the value and impact of community gardens he's started in Newtown which has helped transform engagement around food within the town.
He was a founder of Cultivate Newtown, which started on an industrial estate when they were able to build a roundhouse which attracted growers.
He explained how his work has required significant persistence with three burglaries in three years causing set backs, and some damage to trees planted - but that persistence has paid off: participation has never been higher and the vast majority of trees have thrived. You can read more about Cultivate Newtown here https://www.cultivate.uk.com
Alongside places in Wales that he has worked, Steve gave fascinating examples of how devastated, unproductive hillside areas in Zimbabwe have been transformed by permaculture.
In Chimanimani district in Zimbabwe, groups of residents have volunteered their time over the past 15 years to restore productivity and bring young people back to the land. Before and after photos can be seen here https://www.permaculturenews.org/2013/08/15/the-chikukwa-permaculture-project-zimbabwe-the-full-story/
He talked about how permaculture could be integrated into farming in Wales to restore the productivity of land as the UK is now among the most nature-depleted in the world.
The example from Zimbabwe prompted a discussion on how that volunteer-led achievement contrasts with expectations here that such projects need external funding and are often done by outsiders, perhaps missing opportunities to shape the future for ourselves by getting involved in practical initiatives.
This led to a further discussion about how to get more people involved in community gardens at Bryntysilio, Pengwern and Corwen, who are all welcoming new volunteers.
Steve also talked about the value of biochar in his work. Biochar is any organic material or 'biomass' that has been cooked at a high temperature with limited oxygen present.
The approach creates a soil enhancer that stores carbon for hundreds of years, boosts food security, and increases soil biodiversity. While this is available commercially, it can be easily produced at a garden level too.
Grow Llangollen will be organising a field visit to Treflach Farm to see the farm in action (the subject of another recent talk) and to learn how to make biochar.
You can find more information about permaculture here: https://www.permaculture.co.uk/what-is-permaculture/
The next gardening session at Bryntysilio will be on Sunday May 26, from 10 am to midday.
The next talk will be held on June 20,
topic to be confirmed.
* For more information, you can message us on our Facebook page (7) Facebook or by email: admin@growllangollen.org
North Wales Live is reporting a breaking story this afternoon (Monday) that police have closed the Horseshoe Pass due to a crash.
The story says that the road has been shut in both directions and that drivers have been told to find alternative routes.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/police-shut-horseshoe-pass-warn-29207458
An eye witness told Leader that a car has come off the road and ended up in a ravine.
* The stolen two-day-old calf.
Police are seeking information about the theft of a calf stolen from land in Llangollen last week - at just two days old.
Details of the cruel theft are given by the North Wales force's rural crime team in a post on their Facebook page.
Team member Tim Troseddau reports: "Stolen overnight Tuesday 14th May from land in the Eglwyseg area of Llangollen, a 2 day old Highland Calf. Unbelievable!
"If anyone has any information that could help, please get in touch, ref 24000448363."
* See the team's post at: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Yk4pcoVpBtmPGEhR/
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Latest local roadworks alerts from Causeway one.network are:
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Around 40 miles were walked in total, and a good time was had by all.
* If you are interested in joining - the ramblers do lots of local walks as well - contact Judy on smithdinbren@gmail.com.
She said: "We welcome new members."
