Highlights of the January-April 2018 programme at Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, on sale from 10 am today (Nov 24) , include appearances by Sir Bryn Terfel and Hannah Stone, Dr John Cooper Clarke, Mark Steel and Shappi Khorsandi
The programme also includes contemporary circus, children’s shows, music galore and two mini-festivals, as well as our ongoing programme of cinema and live screenings.
Elen ap Robert, artistic director said, “As we look towards a brand new year, we invigorate our programme with productions that will shake you, wake you and put a spring in your step. Come join us!”
Open since December 2015, the centre houses a mid-scale theatre, studio theatre and 200 seater cinema as well as food and drink outlets and is open 7 days a week to the public.
The new programme kicks off in style with a seasonal New Year in Vienna with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra, followed by an exclusive run of Pirates of the Carabina circus theatre company’s Relentless Unstoppable Human Machine, a brand new production which confirms Pontio’s growing reputation as an important UK venue for the presentation of contemporary circus.
Bangor Music Festival 2018 will take place on Saturday, February 3 and has a space theme this year, and the first ever Wales-China Festival at Pontio marks the Chinese New Year in partnership with associate company Invertigo and in association with the Confucius Institute and Bangor University. Pontio also welcomes two major televised events in the form of Cân i Gymru (Song for Wales) on St David’s Day and the BBC Songs of Praise Young Choir of the Year Competition 2018.
Pontio’s Comedy Club is relaunched, moving to a Thursday night, with Gorad restaurant offering their £10 ‘burger and a pint’ deal on the comedy nights. Also on the comedy front, Radio 4 favourite Mark Steel (The News Quiz, Mark Steel’s In Town) and Sophie Willian (Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show Nominee 2017) perform in February, Kiri Pritchard-McLean in March and Shappi Khorsandi in April. In March, we’re delighted to welcome Dr John Cooper Clarke and special guests here for an evening of verse, extraordinary new material and hilarious ponderings on modern life.
Informal Cabaret Pontio evenings, set out around tables and with coming and going from the bar allowed, will include fiery highland Elephant Sessions from Scotland, The Gentle Good performing songs from their award-winning album The Immortal Bard, traditional Haitian roots music ensemble Chouk Bwa and heroes of Madagascan music Toko Telo. There’s also a concert by Colorama and Plu, with their collaboration Bendith and Jon Boden, former lead singer of Bellowhead comes to Pontio as part of his Afterglow Tour.
New Welsh-language drama from Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru Y Tad premières at Pontio, and we also welcome Cwmni’r Frân Wen with Ŵy, Chips a Nain and Cwmni Pendraw’s 2071 environmental project.
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra are welcomed back to Theatr Bryn Terfel with a romantic programme featuring the music of Verdi, Dvorák, Wagner and Brahms, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales present Haydn & Mozart at Prichard-Jones Hall. Mid Wales Opera combine Pushkin’s compelling story with Tchaikovsky’s sweeping lyricism in Eugene Onegin. National Dance Company Wales also return, with their Terra Firma programme including another chance to see the spectacular Tundra recently performed as part of P.A.R.A.D.E.
Local groups and student bodies also host events, including Menter Iaith’s first ever gig in Pontio featuring Crys and Maffia Mr Huws, Gwynedd School of Dance and Performing Arts Centre’s production of Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical by Bangor University’s Musical Theatre Society, the Bangor Unversity Symphony Orchestra and music group Codi’r To. Young people can also enjoy the arts through Pontio’s youth participation programme, BLAS.
Family fun is also in store through Pontio’s successful family strand, which welcomes back popular children’s theatre companies Lyngo Theatre and M6, along with free creative workshops and fun activities over the Easter holidays.
Tickets on sale from 10am Friday 24 November from www.pontio.co.uk or 01248 38 28 28. For a copy of the programme, visit www.pontio.co.uk or call in at the centre.
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