Planetarium Night with the Stars -  When Art Meets Science

Saturday 6 February 2010

Glasbury Arts at Glasbury Village Hall

As a complete ignoramus in the complex world of astronomy, I took my seat in Glasbury village hall which was bursting at the seams with an enthusiastic audience, ages ranging from 7 to 70.  Firstly we enjoyed a very generous “light” supper, then students from Gwernyfed High School Astronomy Club gave a presentation of images which they themselves have obtained using the Faulkes telescopes – internet controlled telescopes situated in Hawaii and Australia.  The Faulkes project is in its fifth year at Gwernyfed and over this time the school has gathered many images of objects in the night sky.

 The curved ceiling of the village hall was transformed into a planetarium.  The students spoke with clarity and vitality and the images appearing above us were breathtakingly beautiful.  Stars, galaxies and nebulae were explained.

 Our sun is a single star which is one of about 100 billion other stars making up our galaxy the Milky Way.  The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy which if we could see it from above would look like a Catherine wheel. Looking out into space beyond our own Milky Way we can see other galaxies of many different shapes and sizes. Huge distances of time and space are almost beyond our comprehension. Galaxies stretch out into the universe as far as our most powerful telescopes can see.  Truly amazing.

As more fascinating images appeared above us, we learned of the birth, life and death of stars.  We owe our very existence to countless past generations of stars : we are all made of stardust.

My personal favourites were the images of nebulae – the vast diffused masses of gas and dust in which stars have been or are being formed.  These stellar “nurseries” form some of the most beautiful sights in the sky.  Who could forget the wondrous shape and colour of the butterfly nebula, or the famous Crab – a twisted gas cloud thrown out by a supernova exploding in 1066 ?

 Accompanying the planetarium was a small exhibition of photographs, artistic interpretations plus views of Powys skies by Llangors photographer Mike Featherstone. Half the net proceeds from this event were donated to the Gwernyfed High School Timbuktu Fund.

 A thoroughly enjoyable evening.  An excellent school giving its pupils the confidence and maturity to present such an event.  A community school we should all be proud to support.

Well done, Gwernyfed High School.

 Hilary Jackson,  Glasbury

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Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri charm Glasbury audience

 A BIG name, a small and intimate venue with a small and very appreciative audience ensured a big evening out for everyone lucky enough to catch Kiki Dee and guitarist Carmelo Luggeri at Gwernyfed High School Drama Studio last weekend.

 Click here to see the full review on the HEREFORD TIMES WEBSITE

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Saturday 6th October 2007  
THE MELLSTOCK BAND

The Shepherd’s Calendar – Merrymaking and Courtship through the Country Year

A costumed performance with early and modern instruments.  Tales and poems by Thomas Hardy, John Clare and others with:

• Dave Townsend       concertina, fiddle, voice
• Tim Hill                       clarinets, flute, voice
• Phil Humphries         serpent, voice
• Charles Spicer         oboes, cor anglais, voice

Follow the festivities of the rural year from winter, through spring and summer to harvest time, with the words of Thomas Hardy, John Clare and the Somerset poet, John Holland.   The Mellstock Band take you back to the days of old village songs, West Gallery tunes, music from the village dances, weddings, cider-making, harvests and haymaking...

Workshop with The Mellstock Band

 Workshop:  Saturday 6th October 2 pm – 4.30 pm in Glasbury Village Hall

Join The Mellstock Band for vocal harmony or instrumental workshops.  Have fun learning new folk songs and West Gallery tunes.

Please book early - workshop places are limited and will be popular.  All vocalists and instrumentalists welcome (not percussion, guitar and electric instruments).

Feeback from The Mellstock Band Event

Quotes

“Just a quick email to say thanks for organising such a great weekend.  I much enjoyed the singing workshop.  Amazing sound from all those voices ... and great to be part of it.  Concert was top too.”

“Just want to thank you for a splendid evening ... look forward to seeing Isla St Clair in February.”

“Thank you very much for a super day.  So very well organised.”

“Been great!  Thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.”

“Really enjoyed the day – thank you!”

“Magnificent.  A very minor improvement could have been more dimming of the audience lights.”

Enjoyed the workshop (very good value for money!) ... and the home-made cakes were delicious!”

“I like Glasbury Arts because there is a variety of concerts / workshops to do.  We enjoy drama (and marshmallows)!”    A comment  from a younger audience member

“Well done Glasbury Arts!”

“Thank you to all organisers.  A lovely afternoon and evening.”

“Superb concert.  Could The Mellstock Band come back next year, please?”

“The afternoon workshop was excellent and thoroughly enjoyable.”

“Very good idea ... The Mellstock Band gets it off to a good start.”

...  and a verbal comment from visitors from Bedford ...  “Thank you for a fabulous day ... the best workshop we’ve ever attended ... so much fun and energy.”

Saturday 10th November 2007                                                                                            

THE SINGING SOUS’ CHEFS

Alive Again! – Comedy, a cappella singing and time travel for all ages

Directed by John Nicholson of Peepolykus Theatre Company

As featured on Rick Stein’s Food Heroes, Glastonbury Festival Comedy Marquee, Sidmouth, Hampton Court, Leicester Comedy Festival ... and now Glasbury Village Hall!

Three Italian chefs helter-skelter down the continuum of Time through the congestion zone of Space across the wide-open bison plains of History and back again before last orders.  Meet Michelangelo, Merlin, Newton’s Apple and The Future.  Travel the globe.  Feel its bigness.

With songs by The Beatles, Ry Cooder, Iggy Pop, The Beach Boys, Dionne Warwick, The Chiffons, Lou Reed, Joe Jackson, Claudia Monteverdi and other iconic grooves of our Time.  Locally sourced by Jim Howden, Adrian Mealing & William Tooby.

This is a show with incredibly funny historical sketches arrived at by way of time-travel and cod-Italian nonsense, interspersed with lovely a cappella barber-shop style singing.

“Musicality and life enriching ... compliments to the Chefs!”  Rod Clements (Lindisfarne)

Sunday 11th November 2007 

MEET THE WRITERS

Val Tyler The Greenwich Chronicles	Jenny Valentine Finding Violet Park

Ever wanted to be a writer?  Here’s your chance to hear from the professionals.  Two well-known authors, Val Tyler and Jenny Valentine will be put under the spotlight and interviewed by local teenagers.

Hear the winning short stories from the Festival’s Young Writers’ Competition held over the summer.  See the winning book jacket designs.

Friday 16th – Sunday 18th November inclusive

Glasbury Village Hall

Visual Arts Exhibition

Opening Times : Friday 7-9 pm / Saturday & Sunday 11 am – 5.30 pm

Glasbury is fortunate to have so many highly respected artists living in the village, who have supported our festival exhibition since its inception in 2004. We are therefore particularly pleased that so many will be exhibiting again this year in our newly expanded exhibition space.  Traditionally we have also invited guest artists  from elsewhere to exhibit, and this year we are delighted to welcome a range of exhibitors who are very highly rated in their respective fields, as well as students from Gwernyfed High School  whose work  will startle and delight.  Look out for the moving abstract paintings by Jane Tudge based on the photographs of torture in Abu Ghraib prison, or David Brinn’s photographic study contrasting and comparing life in New Zealand and Wales.

The exhibition will also display the best 100 photographs from the Glasbury Annual Photographic  Competition which has three themes: Protecting the Environment, Abstract Images and A Glasbury Postcard.

EXHIBITION

Guest Artists

Shan Egerton - Hay based artist

Sue Milne - Hereford based landscape, natural history and wildlife artist

Kate Freeman -  abstract painter

Pat van der Eyken – abstract painter from Boscastle school in Cornwall

David Brinn -  New Zealand photographer

Rebecca Payne -  Hay based photographer

Jane Tudge - Hereford based abstract artist

Harry Franklin - sculptor

GCSE and A Level students from Gwernyfed School

Local Artists

John Darlison - watercolour landscape painter

Caitriona Cartwright – lettercutter and carver in stone

Dawn Cripps - jeweller

Anna Myrddin-Evans - painter in pastels

John Fitzgerald - photographer

Joan Charlton – portrait and narrative painter

David Newell – bespoke furniture

Annette Claire - potter

Dave Perks - Bronllys Forge

Review of Glasbury Festival of Art Exhibition

                      16/17/18 November 2007

                   By Glasbury Resident Brenda Pierce

The visual arts exhibition 2007 was held in the newly refurbished village hall. As I went in I was surprised at how large the hall seemed. The exhibition had been carefully arranged to make the best possible use of the space. It was easy to move around  without tripping over people and exhibits.

There was a variety of work by guest and local artists. I saw paintings in oil and water colour of landscapes, views, wildlife, nature, abstract paintings sculpture, jewellery, work in stone, narrative paintings, portraits, furniture, pottery, work from a forge and photographs on various subjects. Here too, were the chosen exhibits from the local photographic competition. Praise must be given to our talented young people from fifth and sixth form of Gwernyfed High School. Magnificent and carry on. Who needs to go Cardiff or London.

Y  Celfyddydau Gweledig

Cynhaliwyd Arddangosfa’ Celfyddydau Gweledig 2007 yn y Neuadd Bentref sydd ar ei newydd wedd. Wrth fynd I mewn cefais fy synnu I weld mor eang oedd golwg y neuadd. Trefnwyd yr arddangosfa’n ofalus I ddefnyddio’r gwagle ? ddiwastraff. Y oedd yn hawdd mynd o gwmpas heb faglu dros bobol a phethau ar ddangos. Yr oed yma amrywiaeth o waith gan artistiaid gwadd a lleol. Gwelais beintiadau mewn olew a dyfrliw o dirwedd, by wyd nature a bywyd gwyllt, peintiadau haniaethol, gwaith torrwr llythrennau, cerfluniau, gemwaith, darluniau traethidol, portreadau, dodrefn, crochenwaith, gwaith gof, fftograffiau ar destynau amrywiol. Yma hefyd gwelais y dewisiadd o’r ffotograffiau gorau o’r gystadleuaeth leol. Rhaid clodfori ein hieuenctid talentog o’r pumed a’r chweched ddosbarth o Ysgol Uwchradd Gwernyfedd. Bendigedig a daliwch ymlean. ‘Does dim angen mynd I Gaerdydd neu Lundain Dewch I’r Clas ar Wy.

 
Saturday 17th  November 2007    

CELTAIDD  Welsh Wind Chamber Ensemble

In Concert

Nicola Rowlands (Flute), Ruth Jones (Oboe), Louise Haines (Clarinet), Sarah Finlay (Bassoon) and Charlotte Leeke (Horn)

The Festival is delighted to bring you Celtaidd,  a dynamic chamber ensemble of young Welsh musicians who are currently enjoying huge success performing in major venues and festivals throughout Wales, London and the South East.  Recent performances include BBC Radio Wales, Wales Millennium Centre, St David’s Hall and the  Cardiff University Chamber Music series, to name but a few.

Come and hear the vivid and brilliant sounds of Celtaidd in some of the liveliest and most beautiful music ever written for winds.  Their versatile programme will include “Three Shanties” by Malcolm Arnold, “Opus Number Zoo” by Berio and “I Got Rhythm” by Gershwin.

“I would not have believed five young people could make such a magical sound.  Everybody was enchanted.”  Dame Jane Campbell


WORKSHOP FOR WIND & BRASS PLAYERS WITH CELTAIDD

Saturday 17th November 3pm – 5 pm at Gwernyfed Drama Studio, Three Cocks, Glasbury

Join Celtaidd for an exciting, informal afternoon of playing and improvising.  This will be a community workshop event for wind and brass players of all ages.  Minimum standard required Grade 3 or equivalent.  Early booking essential as places are limited.

Review of Celtaidd Concert Saturday 17 November 2007

                     By Glasbury Resident Brenda Pierce

It was a great pleasure to welcome Celtaidd the the Glasbury Festival of 2007.This wind chamber ensemble is composed of flute, clarinest, horn, oboe and bassoon. The performers five lovely young women. The venue was laid out in cabaret style with candles on the tables and generous measures of wine for sale! The organisers had created a welcoming atmosphere.

The concert explored the use of imagery in music by composers inspired by fol music, landscapes, stories, paintings, animals and historical events. New Works by James Jones and Kelly Mordecai were introduced as well as the work of Malcolm Arnold Mussorsky. The finale from Rogers Hammerstein.

One of the highlights of the evening for many in the audience was the performance by the young people in the afternoon workshop of an original composition based on John Fitzgerald’s photographs of local Landscapes.

A wonderful evening that was warmly applauded.

Pleserus iawn oedd croesawu Celtaidd I’r  ?yl yn 2007. Mae’r ensemble siambr offerynnau chwyth yma yn cynnwys y ffliwt, y clarinet, y corn, yr oboa’r bas?n.

pum merch infanc a hardd yw’r perfformwyr. Gosodwyd y neuadd/allan yn y dull cabaret gyda channwyllau ar y brddau gwydrau hael o win ar werth. Crewyd awyrggylch ddeniadol. Rhaglen yn archwilio’r defnydd a wnaethpwyd gan gyfansoddwyr yn eu cerddorriaeth o’r tirwedd, alawon gwerin, chwedlau, anifaelaid a digwyddiadau hanesyddol a gawsom. Cyflwynwyd gweithiau newydd gan James Jones, Kelly Mordecai yn ogystal a gwaith Malcolm Arnold a Mussorsky. Y diweddglo oedd detholiad a waith Rogers and Hammerstein. Yr uchafbwynt I ieuenctid o weithdy’r prynhawn o gyfansoddiad

gwreiddiol yn seiliedig a’r ffotograffiau John Fitzgerald o’r tirwed lleol. Noson fendigedig a chymeradwyaeth frwd.

Sunday 18th  November 2007    2 pm – 5 pm

Gwernyfed Drama Studio, Three Cocks, Glasbury

DRAMA WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

WITH THEATR POWYS

This is an opportunity for young people aged 9 - 13 to join professional actors from Theatr Powys for an afternoon’s drama workshop, culminating in a short performance at 4.30 pm for family and friends.

Last year’s event was one of the runaway successes of the Festival – not a dry eye in the house!

Please book early to avoid disappointment.  Places strictly limited.

Ticket price   Workshop     £2

Saturday 15th December 2007  
 

CAT WEATHERILL      
Storyteller         

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight  

A Midwinter Adventure for ALL the Family

Take a classic adventure story ... add one of the country’s best-loved storytellers ... mix in some music, a little theatre and a bit of pantomime ... sprinkle with fairy lights ... and hey presto!  Midwinter magic!

Young Sir Gawain, a Knight of the Round Table, accepts a challenge from the fearsome Green Knight.  Soon he is riding north on a terrible quest.  Cold, alone and far from home, with the snow falling like feathers around him,  he suddenly sees a mysterious castle ...

Bold knights, luscious ladies, hideous hags and the extraordinary Green Knight himself – they’re all here in a thrilling tale that everyone from 7 – 107 will enjoy.

A lovely midwinter tale for all the family ... but you don’t need to be accompanied by a child to come and enjoy this show.  Not to be missed!

“Cat Weatherill is one of our great storytellers.”  Michael Morpurgo (Children’s Laureate 2003-5)

 

Saturday 9th February 2008   

ISLA St CLAIR

An Evening with Isla

 

Isla St Clair is known to millions for her numerous television appearances, including The Royal Variety Show, Morcambe & Wise Show, Parkinson, and most notably as co-host to Larry Grayson on the BBC’s long-running The Generation Game, which won her ‘Best Female TV Personality’.

But it is for her beautiful singing voice that Isla is best known.  Since the age of ten Isla proved she had inherited the rich singing tradition of her native North-East Scotland, and, today, Isla is regarded as one of Scotland’s foremost singers.

She will be bringing to Glasbury her one-woman show, a  wonderful fusion of the old and new, spiced with fascinating and humorous anecdotes.  The combination of timeless songs, ranging from Burns to the classic laments, and her experiences working with some of Britain’s great artists is both poignant and wonderfully entertaining.

Don’t miss your chance to hear one of the UK’s best-known performers.

Isla St Clair takes Glasbury by Storm

Isla St Clair, who many people will remember from her days as Larry Grayson’s Assistant on the Generation Game, subsequently went back to her roots as a superb singer of Scottish and Celtic music. On Saturday evening (9 Feb) Isla came to Glasbury as part of the Glasbury Arts season to perform to a full house and such was the demand for tickets the concert could have been sold out twice over.

From the very first song Isla had the audience singing along with her through a repertoire of well known and not so well known traditional Scottish and Celtic songs ranging from Robbie Burns My Love is like a Red Red Rose, a Jacobite medley, a group of very funny old school songs  to the Bonnie Boats O’ Buckie written by her mother.  Isla has a voice so clear and pure she can hold an audience whether singing unaccompanied or playing her guitar and it is not surprising that recently the University of Aberdeen awarded her an honorary degree for services to Scottish music.

Her music was matched by the warmth of a very natural personality and unlike may performers when the interval arrived she did not disappear to her dressing room but joined the audience to talk and sign autographs something she repeated at the end of the concert with the result the audience went home feeling they had been present at something special, a night to remember.

Saturday 23rd February 2008   

THEATR POWYS
Little Red Riding Hood

in a new adaptation by Theatr Powys

Theatr Powys is delighted to return to Glasbury with this startlingly original telling of a centuries old and much loved fairytale.

A feast for the eye, ear, heart and mind for all who are brave enough to stray from the path.

Saturday 15th March 2008                                                                                              

BEN OSBORNE

Dog Days, Lion Nights

 

Join wildlife photographer, Ben Osborne, for a “behind-the-scenes” audio-visual show featuring two filming expeditions to northern Botswana for the BBC natural history series Planet Earth.  With a sound-track by the Soweto String Quartet.

 

Visit Savuti, a dry savannah region where life gets extremely tough in the October dry season.  Many animals move out at this time of year but the elephants stay.  So does a pride of 30 lions.  Elephants are dominant to the lions in the daytime but things change after dark when a lion pride of this size becomes a serious threat to the elephants.  The crew joined this feline menace day and night for a month – with dramatic and occasionally unpredictable consequences!