Every year in summer, the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen brings competing choirs, dancers and world-class musicians to Wales. Conny Kaufmann has a look at what Llangollen 2010 has in store for visitors.

Picture by: Sonjiag

Since 1947, the annual Eisteddfod has been the starting point for many careers in music and dance. Up to 5000 visitor flock into the small Welsh town, and turn it into a cultural melting and meeting pot for a week.

This year's festival will take place from 5th to 11th July. Although the Celebrity Opening Gala concert line-up has yet to be announced (check the Llangollen 2010 website from 20th March onwards), the organisers are already certain that it will be "a night to remember" and not to be missed.

The next day is a Children's Day about exotic traditions during the day, before Karl Jenkins and pianist Llyr Williams take to the stage with The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace along with the Sinfonia Cymru making it's Eisteddfod debút.

Wednesday will see the International Song & Dance Day, with choirs and folk dancers from all over the world participating. At night, the One World, One Stage event will be hosted by Terry Waite and include a procession of performers through the Royal International Pavillion.

Thursday is all up for Youth Entertains, inviting young singers and folk dancers to the stage with Songs from the Shows as well as the biggest ever Junior Children's Choir. The evening will see Shine with Bond, and international dance acts.

The organisers of the International Eisteddfod call Friday the "essence of Llangollen" as it's the Celtic and Folk Day. New competitions have been set up for folk performers, which will be a first at the festival. At night, award-winning ensemble Only Men Aloud will perform Welsh favourites.

Bring the whole familiy Saturday for the International Family Day with activities for all ages. There will be competitions and crafts, and the best male and female choirs of the world. In 1955, Luciano Pavarotti won the choir competition along with his father, and he returned to Llangollen in 1995 as star performer. The best choirs will have a "sing off" at night to be names Choir of the World, and receive the Pavarotti Trophy.

Sunday marks the end of the Eisteddfod, with violinist Nigel Kennedy taking the stage together with his full orchestra and band. As the festival's star performer, he will join the rangs of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Plácido Domingo and Montserrat Caballé.

Many star musicians started their careers in Llangollen - one more reason to come and see what makes this small Welsh town so internationally known. And who knows, you might see the next Pavarotti live on stage!

The Eisteddfod holds fun for the whole family and everyone from the kids to grand-parents should find a performance they can enjoy.

By the Book, an original musical by UoC student Scott Tomkins, will come to the stage of the Stanwix Studio Theatre on 18 December. Watch Scott talking about the inspirations that influenced him to write By the Book.




You can also listen to an interview with Scott, in which he explains the ups and downs of the casting and rehearsing process here.

Listen to writer and director Scott Tomkins talking about the casting and rehearsing process for his original musical By the Book, which will premiere on 18th December at the Stanwix Studio Theatre.




Watch a video of Scott talking about his inspiration and influences for By the Book here.

A new and original musical by a third year UoC student is coming to the Stanwix Studio Theatre this month. Cornelia Kaufmann had a chat with writer and director Scott Tomkins.

Sue is a librarian and absolutely loves her job. The only thing she doesn’t like is the fact that every day is the same and her boss Beryl holds her back from what she wants to be.

This is the scene for the original musical By the Book, which will be performed at the Stanwix Studio Theatre on 18th and 19th December at 9pm.

“The old library is being upgraded and Sue is really excited about the change. However, her boss is a bit old-fashioned and against it. Never in her life has Sue stood up for herself or to her boss before and you just have to see what happens when she finally does,” writer and director Scott Tomkins, a third year Musical Theatre and Technical Theatre students explains.

“The musical is very quirky, very up-beat and funny. Some of the songs are taken from already-existing musicals, although they are not too well-known. One of the key songs, I’m a librarian, is by American singer Jonathan Rundman, who kindly gave me permission to use it for By the Book. Other songs the audience will get to hear I’ve written myself,” Scott says.

The cast, led by Alex Anstey as chief librarian Beryl and Jennifer Yeates as Sue, will encounter exaggerated versions of real-life students throughout the show. “The casting and rehearsing process was fun! There’s mature Creative Writing student Bob, portrayed by Ben Edgecombe, who’s been doing the course for eight years now; and Adrian, a student who has lost a book and now has to go on a mission to find it again, who is played by Martin Carlton,” Scott laughs.

However, the musical also shows that good things can come from a bad situation and it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom. By the Book is partly based on the library situation at the University of Cumbria’s Brampton Road campus, which was closed and converted into teaching space over the summer. Watch an interview.with Scott, in which he talks about influences and inspirations that led him to write By the Book .

Tickets are available at the Stanwix Theatre Box Office, by phone on (01228) 400356 or email stanwixtickets@googlemail.com. They cost £ 4 for adults, concessionary tickets are available for £2 and members pay £1.