Aberystwyth Arts Centre unveiled a first last week. It will be taking a production to the Edinburgh Fringe. Gwyn Emberton’s dance piece “My People”, based on Caradoc Evans’ coruscating 1915 volume of short stories, was seen last year in Newtown, Harlech and the WMC. “Soaring Debut for New Company” ran the heading of the review on Theatre-Wales last year.
Back to this season I will be heading to “Hitch” from the Mary Bijou Cabaret and Social Club. “Come as your favourite character” runs the invitation to this homage to the Hitchcock oeuvre from a company that includes NoFit State Circus veterans.
“Hitch” continues to Neath (March 27th), Milford Haven (9th April), Llanelli (10th April) and Newport, Gwent (16th April).
The canvases of Shani Rhys James are unmistakable. With their dominant red and blacks they are big, challenging and unsettling and need a large space to house them. The Gregynog Gallery at the National Library is showing a selection from thirty years of the artist’s work until 23rd May.
Machynlleth’s Museum of Modern Art is at the opposite end of the gallery spectrum, small, welcoming, comradely in feel. To mark its thirty-year celebration its dazzling new Tanerdy extension is showing thirty portraits from British artists. The artists include Wyndham Lewis.
Finally, my visits outside the natural boundaries of rivers Dyfi, Tywi and Teifi are selective but Cardiff in the last week of this month is one such occasion.
The ever-inventive RWCMD is repeating the short season of new drama writing which it inaugurated in 2014. Four new plays from Brad Birch, Luke Norris, Melissa Bubnic and Gary Owen run round the clock 31st March to 3rd April. Playwrights Moira Buffini and Nick Payne will be at the College’s sparkling venue 2nd April.