Young 'Uns rock with their killer Queen musical

* A scene from the Young Uns' We Will Rock You.

Review by llanblogger

Old rockers never die, so the saying goes.

But anyone who turns up at Llangollen Town Hall later this week will see that young rockers have quite a bit of life in them too.

Over three evenings plus a matinee the Operatic’s outstanding junior section, the Young ‘Uns, will be belting out their latest show, We Will Rock You, a jukebox musical based on the songs of legendary British rock band Queen with a book by Ben Elton.

The all-action piece tells the story of a renegade group known as the Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, culture and music in a vaguely Orwellian society.

And oh what music! For how could you fail to rock along to super-hits like Radio Ga Ga, I Want to Break Free, Killer Queen, Under Pressure, I Want It All, Who Wants to Live Forever, We Are the Champions and Bohemian Rhapsody?

Over the busy two acts  no less than16 of these glorious numbers come tumbling out and the cast of 21, aged from just eight to 18, do them all perfect justice.

Producer Dee Smith, artistic director Alison Ravenscroft and musical director Leigh Mason have ensured a strong line-up of principle players, including Kelsey Thornton as Galileo one of the disaffected rebel figures, Leri Roberts as sharp-witted misfit Scaramouche and Edie Langford as terrifying dictator Killer Queen whose voice is powerful enough to command people in the audience as well as those on the stage. Also impressive is Freddie Thornton who makes for the deliciously sinister secret policeman Khashoggi.

Backing up the leads is a powerful ensemble of Bots, Ga Ga Kids, Super Yuppies and Bohemians which seem to total hundreds but are actually nearer 20.

Young ‘Uns have done without the usual live orchestra and sing their songs to the accompaniment of backing tracks. But it works nicely and, anyway, how could any small group of musicians hope to recreate the rich sound that Queen made in the studio?  

Costumes are highly colourful and inventive thanks to a large team of backstage helpers, including the director who is also credited in the programme for set design, building and painting and props! That’s what you call above and beyond.

Following on from their successes of the past few years it looks like Young ‘Uns have another rockin’ great hit on their hands.

* Tickets for the show, which runs from this Thursday until Saturday at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2pm, are  available on line from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety and also through four local outlets - Llangollen Tourist Information Office, Jades Hair and Beauty, Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods and The Clwydian Butcher.  

Funding available to improve open spaces

Funding totalling £318,970.09 is available to improve open spaces and play areas in Denbighshire.

Organisations that can apply for funding include:

•     City, town and community councils

•     Community and voluntary groups

•     Charities

•     Public sector organisations

•     Amateur sports clubs

•     Denbighshire County Council

The closing date for applications is 7 April 2025

* Further information and application forms will be available online here: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/commutedsums

Amounts available in each area of the county are:

Hope House’s Llangollen Canal Walk returns this March

* Hope House Hippo with event sponsors from Kronospan, CFO Ben Spruce and Group Secretary Mark Jones. 

Hundreds of walkers will be pulling on their boots and trekking a 10-mile route along the Llangollen Canal to raise money for Hope House Children’s Hospices this Spring. 

On Sunday March 23 supporters will take on the ever-popular annual walk, which starts at the Trevor Basin before heading over the world-famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and following the canal all the way to The Poachers pub at Chirk for refreshments before heading back to receive their special medals.

 

Last year the event, which is now in its 15th year, raised a massive £18,000 toward making sure Hope House and Ty Gobaith be here to help children with life-threatening conditions to live their best life.

 

Fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer said: “This wonderful event is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step this March. Bring along friends, family, colleagues and those four-legged friends and embrace the great outdoors.

 

“We have already well over half the places for the canal walk, which is absolutely incredible.

 

“This event is extremely popular and is always a sell-out, so make sure you sign up and get your tickets via the Hope House website to avoid disappointment.”

 

The event is sponsored this year by Chirk-based Kronospan who will also have a team walking on the day.

 

Ben Spruce CFO at Kronospan said: “It’s a real pleasure to be able to sponsor the event and continue our support for Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith. 

 

“We know several of our team are also planning to don their boots and join the walk, so we wish them and everyone else the best of luck in raising as much money as possible for Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith.”

 

* Tickets for the event are £15 for adults and £5 for children and all entrants will get a special bespoke 2025 medal and a goody bag at the halfway point. Get your tickets at www.hopehouse.org.uk/canal

 

Call goes out to Llangollen Round volunteers

                    * Entrants on a previous Llangollen Round Challenge.

Organisers have sent out a message to volunteer helpers about the 5th Llangollen Round Challenge which is scheduled for the weekend of May 31/June 1 this year.  

They say: "We're afraid we don't have the contact details for everyone who helped with the last event, but if that was you, and you are interested in helping again this time, please get in touch with Judy on 07905 330788 or email smithdinbren@gmail.com .

"Entries are going well.  We've stretched a point with those, but even with that stretch we are more than 3/4 full already. So, if you've still to get your entry in, don't hang about too long.  And we look forward to seeing you."

Three good causes benefit from Christmas Festival proceeds

* Christmas Festival secretary John Palmer hands over the £500 cheque to Silver Band conductor Mia Thomas watched by fellow committee members Angela Williams (left) and Jane Williams during band practice night.

* John Palmer, Angela Williams and Jane Williams present the cheque for £1,500 to Wales Air Ambulance regional fundraising manager Debra Sima (centre).

Members of the committee which runs the annual Llangollen Christmas Fair have been out and about distributing the proceeds from last year's highly successful event.

Main recipient was Wales Air Ambulance for which the festival has been raising funds for many years.

Their share of the 2024 proceeds was £1,500 which was handed to their regional fundraiser Debra Sima at their Welsh pool Airport base.

Another good cause to benefit was Llangollen Food Share whose manager Stephanie Mitchell accepted a giant cheque for £1,000 at its base near the Market Street car park.

Another £500 has gone to Llangollen Silver Band whose conductor Mia Thomas received a cheque for £500 during the senior band's practice night in their Parade Street headquarters.

Festival committee chairman Austin "Chem" Cheminais said: "It was an absolute pleasure to be able to support these three local causes which each do so much in their own special ways to benefit the Llangollen community."      

* Food Share manager Stephanie Mitchell receives the £1,000 cheque from John Palmer.

Three science labs updated at Ysgol Dinas Bran

* One of the facelifted labs at Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Three science laboratories at Ysgol Dinas Brân in Llangollen have been updated as part of a half million pound investment in two Denbighshire schools.

Welsh Government grant funding has been used to fully refurbish the the labs in Llangollen and another two at Denbigh High School.

The projects included a full strip-out of the existing facilities, followed by the installation of new heating, electrical and gas services, together with new ventilation and the installation of new energy efficient lighting and redecoration throughout.

 

Also included was the installation of purpose made specialist laboratory furniture, along with new fume cupboards.

 

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “It is wonderful to see this funding being used to improve the facilities in our schools.

 

"These new facilities will help students learn more efficiently, with newer, more modern equipment at their disposal.

 

"We are committed to providing learning environments in which all of our students have the ability to realise their full potential.”

 

Tidy Town Team help bring museum's collection back home

 

* The Tidy Town Team  help carry the museum's collection back out of temporary storage.

Members of Llangollen Tidy Town Team were out in force the other day to do some of the heavy lifting when the town's museum moved its collection back into the building following its recent roof replacement.

Just as they did in January 2023 before the work began and they helped temporarily move the entire stock just across the road to the old courthouse, they were back again last Friday to lend a big helping hand in bringing it all back again.

In a Facebook post, the museum said: "We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Llangollen Tidy Town Team for all of their help last Friday.

"Not only did they help us move all of our collection back into the museum, from temporary storage across the road, but also helped to move and reassemble cabinets and other items within the museum.

"Many thanks Tidy Town Team - we honestly could not have done it all without you!"

* llanblogger's picture of the team moving the museum contents into storage across the road in January 2023.