Pontio on the road... Spring 2015

Spring 2015

What’s on and where to go in and around Bangor Music, Films, Drama, Comedy, Circus, Family Fun and much more at venues near you

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Front cover: SMASHED, Gandini Juggling, page 12

January Fri 16 Camerata Cymru Bangor Cathedral, 7.30pm Thurs 29 Pre-Concert Talk with Professor Carol Tully, Cledwyn Room 3, 6.30pm Thurs 29 James Gilchrist & Sholto Kynoch Powis Hall, Bangor University, 7.30pm

February Fri 6 Sat 7 Sat 7 Tues 10 Thurs 12 Fri 13 Sat 14 Thurs 19 Fri 20 Sat 28

Registered charity number: 1141565

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Film: Northern Soul (2014) Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University, 7.30pm 6 Gandini Juggling Masterclass Canolfan Brailsford, Bangor University, 3.30pm-4.30pm 13 Smashed! Neuadd Ogwen, 7.30pm 12 Comedy Central Live Bangor Football Club, 8pm 14 Allegri Quartet Powis Hall, Bangor University, 7.30pm 15 Allegri Quartet At Lunchtime Bangor Cathedral, 1pm 15 7 Film: Heartbeats (2010) Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University, 7.30pm Celticsonic Reichel Hall, Bangor University, 8pm 16 7 Film: Leviathan (2014) Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University, 7.30pm Bangor University Symphony Orchestra Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University, 7.30pm 17

March Sun 8 Tues 10 Thurs 12 Sun 15

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Film: The Big Sleep (1946) Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University, 7.30pm Comedy Central Live Bangor Football Club, 8pm Beta Testing Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, 7.30pm WNO Artists: The String Orchestra Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University, 1.30pm

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Sun 15 Penblwydd Codi’r To Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University, 7pm Tues 17 – Fri 20 Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, 7.30pm Fri 20 Film: What We Do In The Shadows (2014) Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University 7.30pm Weds 25 The Harri Parris: The Big Day Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, 7.30pm Fri 27 Fate And Celebration, BBC National Orchestra of Wales Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University, 7.30pm Fri 27 Jam In The Bar Teras Bar, Bangor University, post-show Sat 28 Whatever The Weather Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, 11am & 2pm Tues 31 Pum Cynnig I Gymro Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, 7.30pm

April Fri 3 Tues 14 Fri 17 Thurs 23 Sat 25 Thurs 30

Film: Nightcrawler (2014) Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University, 7.30pm Comedy Central Live Bangor Football Club, 8pm Film: School’s Choice! Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University, 7.30pm Luminico Reichel Hall, Bangor University, 8pm Shh…Bang! Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda, 11am & 2pm Benyounes Quartet Powis Hall, Bangor University, 7.30pm

May Fri 1 Benyounes Quartet Bangor Cathedral, 1pm Sat 2 Bangor University Symphony Orchestra Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University, 7.30pm

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Pontio on the Road

This spring we will be organising a full programme of events in the community having been unable to present the opening season due to delays in the building programme We will take international juggling phenomenon Gandini Juggling’s show Smashed, National Theatre Wales’ Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage, Theatr Bara Caws’ Pum Cynnig i Gymro, and children’s Families First shows to Neuadd Ogwen Bethesda. We’ll take classical music concerts Camerata Cymru conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes, Allegri and Benyounes string quartets to the Cathedral, and comedy gigs to the Bangor City Football Club.

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales will return to inspire us again and we will launch a special chamber music partnership with Welsh National Opera who will enthral us with the fabulous

Bangor City FC Book People (Prichard-Jones Hall & Stadium Main University Building Powis Hall, Teras) 4

www.bangorcityfc.com

Canolfan Brailsford

Vivaldi / Paizzolla Seasons. At the other end of the spectrum we will celebrate the first Birthday of young Codi’r To musicians – all in the University’s Prichard-Jones and Powis Halls.

Pontio’s BLAS project will continue in the community and we will hold a further dementia/music residency Hidden Corners 3 in Dyffryn Ogwen.

So as we turn our attention to 2015, we heed Bryn Terfel’s words of advice and “take the necessary time to compete the project properly”. We’ll revise Pontio’s opening programme and above all thank our audiences for the patience you have shown during this challenging period. We look with hope to the future and invite you to join us for this season’s artistic programme…

Pontio on the Road!

Elen ap Robert Pontio Artistic Director @elenpontio

Neuadd Ogwen Bethesda www.neuaddogwen.com

Reichel Hall

Bangor Cathedral

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Film Friday 6 February, 7.30pm

Northern Soul (2014) 102min – Drama | Music Director: Elaine Constantine Starring: Antonia Thomas, Steve Coogan, Elliot James Langridge This surprise cinema hit of 2014 is a joyous and uplifting coming of age tale of two young friends, John and Matt, played by newcomers Elliot James Langridge and Josh Whitehouse, whose lives are changed forever when they enter Wigan Casino and discover American soul music.

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Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University February – April 2015 £4 / £3 concessions

Saturday 14 February, 7.30pm

Friday 20 February, 7.30pm

(2010) 101 min – Drama | Romance Director: Xavier Dolan Starring: Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Niels Schneider

(2014) 140 min – Drama Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev Starring: Elena Lyadova, Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Aleksey Serebryakov

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to be introduced to Heartbeats, Xavier Dolan’s award winning comic exploration of a romantically obsessed menage-a-trois. This film centers on two close friends, Francis (Xavier Dolan) and Marie (Monia Chokri), who find themselves fighting for the affections of the same good looking young man. This film is about the complexity of young love, and about how we try to make perfect lovers out of the people we desire. Heartbeats is colourful, funny, musical, light, sad, romantic, impetuous and joyous about this universal thing called love.

Leviathan is a big, beautiful, brutal and important film from Andrey Zvyagintsev, the Russian director of The Return (2003), The Banishment (2007) and Elena (2011). In a small coastal town lives a typical Russian family. Nikolai (Aleksey Serebryakov) is a mechanic who runs a small auto shop and lives with his wife and teenage son. Their survival is threatened by the local mayor who is seeking to unlawfully steal Nikolai’s land, home and business.

Heartbeats

Leviathan

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Sunday 8 March, 7.30pm

The Big Sleep (1946) 114 min – Crime | Film-Noir | Mystery Director: Howard Hawks Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, John Ridgely

Film

Friday 20 March, 7.30pm

What We Do In The Shadows (2014) 86 min – Comedy | Horror Directors: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi Starring: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Brugh ‘The best new horror comedy since Shaun of the Dead’ Flight of the Conchords’ star Jemaine Clement’s latest film is a hilarious horror comedy mockumentary about Viago, Vladislav and Deacon, three vampire flatmates living in New Zealand.

The comedy arises, as it did in Conchords, from these gentle absurdities alongside the vamps’ lack of self-awareness, as they wearily report the travails of their days (and nights) to camera.

Howard Hawks’s The Big Sleep is pure cinematic gold. Adapted

by William Faulkner from Raymond Chandler’s 1939 novel this film really is something else. A script that barely makes sense, an uninterrupted flow of fast-talking, double-crossing characters spouting filthy double-entendres and more plot twists and turns than any audience could possibly process, all conspire together to keep the crowd purring with happiness and the whole film moving forward at a hundred miles an hour.

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Film

Main Arts Lecture Theatre, Bangor University February – April 2015 £4 / £3 concessions

Film

Friday 3 April, 7.30pm

Friday 17 April, 7.30pm

Nightcrawler

Schools Choice!

(2014) 117min – Crime | Drama | Thriller Directors: Dan Gilroy Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton

The final film choice in our spring season of Pontio film nights will be chosen by you!

Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhall), is a single deeply disturbed character in the neon drenched nighttime of modern day Los Angeles, an emotionless angel of death disguised as a young man, desperate for work that discovers his future lies in the cut throat world of crime journalism. It isn’t long before Bloom starts to blur the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own filmed and staged reality.

If you are a film fan and still in school or college then you can send us your choice of film. Make sure it’s rated 15 or under, then email, tweet or Facebook us with your choice, your name and your school by March 27, and we promise to programme the most popular local choice.

Free popcorn on the night for anyone from your school if your film is selected! #DewisFfilmChoice info@pontio.co.uk

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January

Friday 16 January, 7.30pm

Anniversaries Owain Arwel Hughes CBE Camerata Wales Soloist: David Childs Narrator: Will Thomas Owain Arwel Hughes celebrates anniversaries in music of Karl Jenkins, Paul Mealor, Dylan Thomas and more.

Karl Jenkins: Concerto Paul Mealor: A Welsh Prayer Gareth Wood: Under Milk Wood Suite: “Rum & Laverbread” Mark Thomas: What Has Become Of Him Now Camerata Wales was founded in 2005 by leading Welsh conductor Owain Arwel Hughes with the core purpose of establishing a freelance orchestra of the highest international standard. Camerata Wales has performed in some of the country’s most prestigious performance venues including St David’s Hall, Cardiff; Cadogan Hall, and at the invitation of HRH The Prince of Wales at St James’s Palace, London.

Bangor Cathedral £12 / £10 concessions / £3 student

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CONCERT

Owain Arwel Hughes

Will Thomas

David Childs

CONCERT

Thursday 29 February, 7.30pm

Franz Schubert: Winterreise James Gilchrist (tenor) and Sholto Kynoch (piano) Following last year’s inspirational performance of Die Schöne Müllerin, leading tenor James Gilchrist and pianist Sholto Kynoch return to Bangor with Schubert’s second song cycle. Winterreise follows in the footsteps of a jilted lover, who has left the city to seek comfort by travelling on foot in the solitude of the winter landscape.

James Gilchrist’s 2011 recording of Winterreise was chosen by BBC Music Magazine as their CD of the Month and by The Independent as their Album of the Week. This magical work achieves its full emotional effect in live performance. A recital not to be missed.

James Gilchrist

Powis Hall, Bangor University £14 / £12 concessions / £3 student

Pre-show talk 6.30pm

Sholto Kynoch

Wilhelm Müller’s ‘Die Winterreise’ (The Winter Journey) is best known in the context of Schubert’s song setting. Professor Tully will explore the inspiration behind Müller’s work as a product of German Romanticism and place the literary work in its broader cultural and artistic context. Central to this are the two elements of the title: winter, as the season of melancholy and decay, and the journey, as one of. the key tropes of Romantic literature. Why did

Müller choose this, and what made it so popular - including with, of course, Schubert?

Pro-Vice Chancellor Carol Tully is Professor of German at Bangor University. Her research focuses on cultural exchange in nineteenth-century Europe and she has a particular interest in German Romanticism.

Cledwyn Room 3, Bangor University Free – early booking advised 11

Saturday 7 February, 7.30pm

CIRCUS

Gandini Juggling presents

Smashed The dark art of juggling.

4 crockery sets, 9 jugglers, 80 apples. You are cordially invited to a tea party that you will never forget...

At the forefront of contemporary circus for over 20 years, and having performed in over 40 countries, Gandini Juggling bring their award-winning sensation SMASHED to Bethesda.

A mesmerising mix of circus and theatre, inspired by the work of Pina Bausch, this is a rare opportunity to catch this global SMASH-hit in north Wales.

‘Inventive and very funny’ The Independent ‘An arresting piece of theatre. Pure pleasure. Time Out ‘A unique mix of juggling, clowning, dance and storytelling.’

What’s On Stage ‘A performance of such breathtaking ease and intimacy’.

The Stage Tour supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Arts Council of Wales.

Age suitability 8+

Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda £12 / £10 concessions

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Gandini Ju Masterclasggling s Try your skill s at Gandini mas juggling with the ters at this fr ee and exclusive Ju ggling Maste rclass.

The Gandini team are high ly experienced facilitators an d have taught at the world’s best circus schools.

Two simulta neo be led by Gan us workshops will dini perform ers: one suitable for ages 12+ and the other for ages 18+.

Tickets are fr ee booking reco but limited. Early mmended.

Saturday 7 Febr uary, 3.30pm – 4.30pm Canolfan Brails ford • FREE!

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February Tuesday 10 February, 8pm

COMEDY

Gary Delaney

Felicity Ward

Matt Rees

Gary Delaney is a razor sharp one-liner comedian - widely regarded as being the most quotable comic on the circuit. Gary is a regular guest on Mock The Week and has appeared on Dave’s One Night Stand, Comedy Central’s The Comedy Store and Comedy Blue, and on Channel 4’s Robert’s Web. “Razor sharp one-liners” Daily Telegraph @GaryDelaney

Felicity Ward is a multi-award winning, Australian stand-up comedian, comic performer, writer and actor. Felicity debuted her full-length stand-up comedy show, Felicity Ward’s Ugly As A Child Variety Show at the 2008 Melbourne Fringe. Her autobiographical show went on to become a commercial and critical hit. In 2013 Felicity relocated to London and has been performing regularly on the UK club circuit.

“Her frenetic pace and comic timing is excellent, and often her material is prophetic as well as laugh-out-loud funny.”

- Edinburgh Festivals Magazine @felicityward

Multi-award winning Welsh comedian Matt Rees has generated a huge buzz over recent years with his unique brand of well-crafted gags and acerbic delivery. Rees, from Maesteg, is a Chortle Awards nominee and is making his name on the circuit.

“A properly original comedy mind” – The Guardian @themattrees

Bangor City Football Club £10 / £8 concessions 14

CONCERT

Allegri Quartet Thursday 12 February, 7.30pm

Friday 13 February, 1pm

Haydn Op.103 (completed by Bill Drabkins) Alec Roth String Quartet No.3 Beethoven Op.127

Beethoven Op.18 Mendelssohn Op.80

One of Britain’s oldest chamber groups, the Allegri Quartet return to Bangor in this their 60th birthday year. Their programme includes Haydn’s last quartet, recently completed

by William Drabkin based on the sketches Haydn wrote, which received its first performance in London this year. The programme also includes Alec Roth’s 3rd Quartet, ever popular with audiences, and Beethoven’s epic late Eb quartet Op127.

The Quartet has recently released a CD of Matthew Taylor’s Quartet no 6 on the Toccata Classics Label, plus a further CD of the music of Bolzano-born composer Ludwig Thuille, a contemporary and friend of Richard Strauss with recently discovered, previously unrecorded material.

Forthcoming projects include invitations to Italy and Uzbekistan, two world premiers of Quartets by Alec Roth and a host of birthday celebrations throughout the UK.

The Allegri Quartet will play a lunchtime concert featuring early Beethoven, followed by a late Mendelssohn Quartet, written just after his sister died, and reflects the turmoil in Mendelssohn’S life.

“The Allegri play intensely, but also gracefully; they know when to give the music space” - David Cairns, Sunday Times, June 2013

Evening Concert

Lunchtime Concert

Bangor Cathedral £10 / £8 concessions / £3 student

Powis Hall, Bangor University £12 / £10 concessions / £3 student

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Thursday 19 February, 8pm Electroacoustics WALES presents

CelticSonic Sonic art from Wales and Scotland with Kathy Lane Kathy Lane’s work juxtaposes field recordings, archival materials, interviews and conversations, with synthesised and acoustic instrumental sounds.

Kathy explores the relationships between people, place, history and environment, often focusing around ideas of home, migration and dislocation.

The six works on The Hebrides Suite have grown out of a long-standing love affair with the Outer Hebrides, a remote 130-mile long archipelago of islands about 40 miles off the north-west coast of Scotland.

Each work uses a mixture of field recordings and spoken word collected through interview and conversation as well as oral history material from national and local archives in Scotland with the aim of investigating aspects of island life through the medium of composed sound.

Reichel Hall, Bangor University £10 / £8 concessions / £3 student

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SONIC ART

Saturday 28 February, 7.30pm

Bangor University Symphony Orchestra

CONCERT

Chris Collins and Steffan Morris (conductors) Pontio and the School of Music celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Jean Sibelius with a performance of the Finnish composer’s First Symphony. It is a magnificent work, in turns brooding and uplifting, which evokes the wide open spaces of the Finnish landscape, an the power and mystery of Nordic mythology. The orchestra will also be joined by the winner of the School of Music’s concerto soloist competition.

Steffan Morris

We are delighted to welcome talented cellist Steffan Morris back to Bangor this year, this time as guest conductor to share the stage with Chris Collins.

Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University £10 / £8 concessions / £3 student

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March

Tuesday 10 March, 8pm

Andy Robinson Andy Robinson has gigged 2000 times and all over the country at Glee Clubs, Comedy Stores, Highlights and Jongleurs and off the beaten tracks.

Andy has worked on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Shooting Stars, Later with Jools Holland, Jonathan Ross as well as dozens of others you may know… and some you definitely won’t.

‘Andy Robinson is an absolute joy to work with… self-deprecating, generous, very funny and relaxed’ – Jo Brand

Bangor City Football Club £10 / £8 concessions 18

Suzi Ruffell

Phil Jerrod

Fresh from supporting some of the UK’s top comedians on their sold out tours including Channel 4’s Chatty Man, Alan Carr, star of The Last Leg, Josh Widdicombe and Scotland’s finest, Kevin Bridges, Suzi Ruffell, is currently on the road with her hotly anticipated second show Social Chameleon. In it the ‘stand-up gem’ (The Guardian) questions why she spent twentyseven years trying to make anyone and everyone like her.

‘Completely won over, thoroughly enjoyable’ – British Comedy Guide

Phil Jerrod began his stand-up career underneath an Angus Steakhouse in 2012.

Since then he has failed his PhD, walked out of his job in publishing, and been entertaining audiences up and down the country with his elegant rants on the often unfathomable problems of modern life.

Recently nominated for the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award 2014, he was also semi-finalist in So You Think You’re Funny New Act of the Year and quarter finalist in the Amused Moose Laugh Off.

@suziruffell

“A fantastic set of perfectly delivered, perfectly timed and perfectly glorious comedy.” - Broadway Baby

@PhilJerrod

Thursday 12 March, 7.30pm

CIRCUS

Circus Geeks present

Beta Testing Beta Testing is a hotchpotch remix of juggling subculture and influences such as TED talks, The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy and a fear of the haddock.

Circus Geeks began life as a blog, set up after a late night conversation about juggling, art and how to make the perfect pizza.

Beta Testing has grown out of some of the blog’s most popular posts, which have international interest in a niche corner of the internet. Join the cast of 3 as they trawl through the archives to find the most absurd bits and share them you.

Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda £10 / £8 concessions

Stuart Leech

Suitable for ages 12+

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Sunday 15 March, 1.30pm

WNO Artists: The String Orchestra

LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Vivaldi/Piazzolla - The Eight Seasons Director and Soloist - David Adams Join us for a performance of perhaps the best-loved piece of classical music performed by members of one of Wales’ finest orchestras. Everyone knows Vivaldi’s Four Seasons but you will never have heard it quite like this.

Each of Vivaldi’s seasons is followed by a passionate, tango fuelled response by Argentinean composer, Astor Piazzolla injecting South American heat into a Welsh spring evening.

Come and join us for tea, coffee and bara brith at Powis Hall after the concert for a chance to meet the musicians in an informal setting.

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Photo: Brian Tarr

Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University £14 / £12 concessions, £5 student

Sunday 15 March, 7pm

CONCERT

Codi’r To! 1st Birthday Concert Inspired by the hugely successful and famous El Sistema programme from Venezuela, Codi’r To is a social programme which works with primary schools and communities to deliver regular musical experiences and instrumental tuition, working with a whole year group of children.

Come and celebrate our first birthday with the talented young musicians of Year 4 Ysgol Glancegin, Bangor, as they raise the roof with their choir, brass band and lively percussion ensemble!

Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University £4 / £2 concessions

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Tuesday 17 – Friday 20 March, 7.30pm

DRAMA

National Theatre Wales, Out of Joint & Arcola Theatre with Sherman Cymru present

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage Written by Robin Soans Directed by Max Stafford-Clark

“I was doing something nobody had done before, and if you’re the first to do something, you have to be prepared to take the sh*t for it.”

On the eve of one of the most important games of his career, Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas received a warning: The Sun newspaper was going to “out” him as gay.

This is the story of two Welsh names bruised, but not beaten, by media speculation; Gareth “Alfie” Thomas, 105 caps for Wales, once its captain, now the world’s most prominent gay sportsman; and his hometown, Bridgend.

Working with Alfie himself, and young people in Bridgend, two of the UK’s most exciting theatre companies - National Theatre Wales and Out of Joint - have teamed up to tell a great Welsh story about sport, politics, secrets, life and learning to be yourself.

Suitable for ages 14+ An English language production.

Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda £14 / £12 concessions, contact box office for school bookings

#ntwalfie

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£8 Student offer: Tuesday and Thursday performances only, ticket includes free bus transfer from Canolfan Brailsford 6.30pm and Main Arts Building 6.40pm.

Tuesday 17 March

Post-show talk FREE Take the chance to talk to Artistic Director Max StaffordClark and members of the company about the working methods of Out of Joint and their latest National Theatre Wales co-production, Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage.

Wednesday 18 March, 7.30pm

Audio captioned performance Captioning provides access to the theatre for deaf, deafened or hearing-impaired people. The script is relayed to a screen on, or near the stage by a trained captioner. Captioning also includes additional information such as music, sound or special effects. The caption screens should not prove a distraction to other members of the audience.

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Wednesday 25 March, 7.30pm

DRAMA

Mai oh Mai Productions presents

The Harri-Parris: The Big Day

By Llinos Mai A brand new comedy musical from the same creative cow shed that brought you The Harri-Parris: The Leaving Do. The Harri-Parris are a west Walian farming family. Hilarious and dysfunctional, they love nothing more than having visitors round. And that’s you! Anni, the farm’s only daughter, is getting married and so the Harri-Parris want to celebrate the big day with you. Well, not the actual big day, they’re not made of money. How about the night before?

The night they’re going to meet Anni’s new English, vegetarian, indie musician fiancé for the first time. What could possibly for wrong?!

Dust off your posh hats and join the Harri-Parris for a thoroughly entertaining evening of songs, stories and cake. Lots of cake.

In partnership with Chapter, Torch Theatre and Little Wander.

Supported by Arts Council Wales and Bristol Ferment. @TheHarri_Parris An English langauge show Suitable for ages 14+

Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda £12 / £10 concessions 24

Warren Orchard

“Loved the show! Moving, funny and original!” Les Dennis on ‘The Leaving Do’.

CONCERT

Friday 27 March, 7.30pm BBC National Orchestra of Wales present

Fate and Celebration By the time he wrote his Fourth Symphony, Tchaikovsky was obsessed by the idea of fate. From the powerful opening fanfare, right through to the majestic ending, it’s as dramatic as you’d expect from the master of Russian symphonies.

By contrast, Shostakovich’s Festive Overture is almost carefree, brimming with unbridled joy. Also featured are two of the most popular of trumpet concertos, by Haydn and Arutiunian.

Shostakovich Festive Overture Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto Haydn Trumpet Concerto Tchaikovsky Symphony No 4 Conductor – Ben Gernon Trumpet – Tine Thing Helsesh

Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University £15 / £13.50 concessions Family Tickets: £12.50/£18 Students: £3

After the concert

Jam in the Bar Following on from the success of our first Jam in the Bar in October join us once again at the Teras bar after the concert for something a little ‘extra’ with some of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ finest performers. A Pontio and BBC collaboration.

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Saturday 28 March, 11am & 2pm M6 Theatre Company in association with Polka Theatre presents

Whatever the Weather Written and directed by Gilly Baskeyfield M6 Theatre’s imaginative new production for the very young is set in the charming world of a traditional Alpine Weather House.

This quaint ornament tells us what weather to expect today.

When the little woman comes out it’s going to be sunny!

When the little man comes out it’s going to rain! The two characters couldn’t be more different.

But what happens when the winds of change blow? Blow so hard that everything becomes topsy-turvy? What will our lovable pair learn in their new and unfamiliar conditions?

It might rain, it might get a bit windy, but the show must go on whatever the weather!

Suitable for ages 3+

Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda £5 / £3 concessions

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FAMILIES 1ST THEATRE

Tuesday 31 March, 7.30pm

DRAMA

Pum Cynnig i Gymro

by Dyfan Roberts The late John Elwyn Jones accomplished an astonishing feat- he escaped five times from German prisoners-of-war camps during the Second World War. His other feat was recording his story in a volume bursting with adventure and derring-do, in a wonderful literary style.

“An intrepid character, stubborn, funny, determined and utterly forthright” – this is author Nesta Wyn Jones’s memory of him. In this show Dyfan Roberts will get to grips with the Dolgellau hero, with Meilir Rhys Williams portraying the younger John Elwyn. Searching into John Elwyn’s “FIVE ATTEMPTS FOR A WELSHMAN” and his autobiographies, as well as talking to those who knew him, Dyfan will delve into what drove this unique character, and his unabated need for escape…

Cast: Dyfan Roberts and Meilir Rhys Williams Director: Betsan Llwyd A Welsh language production.

Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda £10 / £8 concessions

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April Tuesday 14 April, 8pm

Tom Wrigglesworth Ivo Graham

Ed Gamble

Yorkhire funnyman Tom Wrigglesworth is an established comedian, Radio and TV presenter and voice-over artist from Sheffield. Tom is best known for his live storytelling shows and BBC Radio comedy programmes which take a comical and emotional look at family relationships.

“The gods of comedy chose Tom Wrigglesworth for greatness” - Scotsman

Ed Gamble began performing at university and took several sketch shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. Over the last five years, Gamble’s most prominent work has been alongside Ray Peacock, with whom he has presented two different series of podcasts, totalling over 100 episodes.

He has also appeared on television, performing a fifteen-minute set on the extended version of Russell Howard’s Good News in late 2010.

@tomwriggleswort

In his first year of performing, Ivo Graham was awarded the acclaimed So You Think You’re Funny New Act Competition at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe and was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Chortle Awards.

While still at university in Oxford he began doing professional gigs around the country and also performed abroad at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and the Hollywood Fringe.

“A very convincing set from this erudite comedian” **** – The Independent @IvoGraham

Bangor City Football Club £10 / £8 concessions 28

@EdGambleComedy

Thursday 23 April, 8pm

SONIC ART

Electroacoustics WALES presents

Lumínico

Mexican interdisciplinary trio Lumínico use real time video, new technology, illumination, sonic diffusion, and electronica to create a seamless blend of sound and image. This astonishing multidisciplinary experiment uses synesthesia to stir the senses and pierce the conscience.

With flautist/composer Alejandro Escuer, composer/sound artist Rodrigo Sigal and visual artist José Luis García Nava.

Reichel Hall, Bangor University £10 / £8 concessions / £3 student

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Saturday 25 April, 11am & 2pm Peut-être Theatre presents

FAMILIES 1ST THEATRE

Shh… Bang!

A dance-theatre performance for children and their adults which playfully explores silence and noise.

“Quiet” lives in a muffled world of clouds and softness.

Right next-door “Loud” collects more and more noises and wild sounds. In drawers and suitcases there are boings, splashes, bangs and swooshes. How can Quiet & Loud possibly find a way to listen to each other?

Peut-être Theatre create interactive work for young audiences using strong visuals, physical movement and music.

Suitable for ages 3+

Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda £5 / £3 concessions

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Benyounes Quartet

CONCERT Friday 1 May, 1pm

Lunchtime concert for children – Papa Haydn

Thursday 30 April, 7.30pm

Evening Concert Schubert String Quartet in D minor D.880 ‘Death and the Maiden’ George Crumb ‘Black Angels’ Barber Adagio Winners of the 2012 1st International Sandor Vegh String Quartet Competition in Budapest and 2nd prize winners at the 2014 Orlando International String Quartet Competition; the Benyounes Quartet is gaining a reputation as one of the most engaging, dynamic and successful young quartets to have emerged from the UK in recent years.

Powis Hall, Bangor University £12 / £10 concessions / £3 student

Who exactly was PaPa Haydn? And why Papa Haydn?

For Key stage 2 pupils (Years 5 and 6) A lunchtime concert for children – an hour of chamber music by the composer who is regarded as the father of the symphony and the string quartet.

He wrote 83 string quartets in all – and the Benyounes Quartet will bring us closer to the music and the man himself, immersing us in excerpts from his string quartets, Benyounes will introduce us to his wicked sense of humour and more thoughtful moments through mischievous rhythms but also more elegant passages The Benyounes Quartet are experienced in offering interactive music experiences for children. This is an opportunity to learn more about rhythm, tempo, melody, ensemble skills, character, mood and even silence! 60 minutes of learning about music and an hour of pure enjoyment in the wonderful atmosphere of our Cathedral.

Bangor Cathedral £4 During their stay with us the Benyounes Quartet will lead music workshops and performances in a variety of community settings 31

May Saturday 2 May, 7.30pm

Bangor University Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Graeme Cotterill, Chris Collins and Matthias Wurz (conductors) The University’s massed forces are joined by a cast of professional soloists for a performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony – a wonderfully evocative score to words by the American poet Walt Whitman, depicting the sea in all its moods. The concert opens with two famous Beethoven overtures, Coriolan and The Creatures of Prometheus, and the programme also includes a concerto performance with a soloist from the School of Music.

Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor University £10 / £8 concessions / £3 student

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CONCERT

Caban

PUBLIC ART

Caban is a piece of public art by the international Dutch artists Joep Van Lieshout. His sculpture, to be located in the Pontio landscape, will be a modern day interpretation of the quarrymen’s caban, and a meeting place for formal and informal performances: a place to have fun!

This will be a place for everyone – students, residents, children and visitors alike. As artist Bedwyr Williams put it: “Pontio’s Caban will be something that celebrates the way the workers transformed what was basically a hut into myriad different uses, to perform, to argue, to discuss and to dream.”

As part of the Pontio build there will be an exiting In 1995 Joep Van Lieshout founded Atelier programme of public art which Van Lieshout, a studio which has attained will include the CABAN. international recognition for objects that balance on the boundary between art, architecture and design. These works of art are practical, uncomplicated and substantial.

This will be Joep’s first UK public art commission.

During August 2014, local Coleg Menai BA student Anna Milner worked as an intern with the artist in Rotterdam as he started to create the major public art piece for Pontio.

Follow the story by visiting Anna’s blog: http:// cabanprojectrotterdam.wordpress.com/ The project is funded by Arts Council Wales, Bangor University and Gwynedd Council.

Artists Impressions 33

A Year in the Life of Pontio’s BLAS Project Bryn Terfel at Pontio

We started 2014 on a high, singing and signing Anfonaf Angel with world famous opera star Bryn Terfel at the Pontio site. It was a beautiful performance with many present moved to tears. Check it out on Pontio’s Youtube channel!

Gŵyl PICS and Zoom Young Filmmaker Award

Bendigeidfran and Spike

BLAS had the chance to create their very own puppets. With the help of Owen Glynne Davies and Joannah Munton from Cwmni Cortyn both schools created their very own 6foot dragon (Bendigeidfran from Glancegin and Spike from Hirael) to parade through the streets of Bangor during the Carnival.

The short film Ofn Fy Het by children from BLAS at Hirael School was nominated for two awards and they received the red carpet treatment at the award ceremony at Galeri. Jac Brown and Christopher Jones were chosen to represent the film in Bridgend for the Zoom Young Filmmaker Award.

Lion King

Animation Project

In May BLAS went to the opening night of Lion King at the Liverpool Empire. Although there were many famous faces in the audience, it was the show, full of fantastic songs, costumes, puppets and brilliant dance routines, that enchanted us.

Thanks to Ffilm Cymru BLAS was able to develop their movie making skills further - this time, in the world of Animation working with professional animator Meical Roberts and newly graduated Caryl Burke. Composer Dr Owain Llwyd and music student Gethin Griffiths helped the children to compose their very own music scores with student Alex Bailey creating the soundscape. The score was kindly recorded in real Hollywood fashion by the Bangor Session Orchestra and huge thanks to students Emily Knowles and Jo Arvanitis for organising the whole event.

What is BLAS?

Pontio’s fun weekly drama workshops to develop theatre and performing skills hosted at Ysgol Hirael and Glancegin since January 2013. We also create devised performances and offer the young talent of Bangor an opportunity to perform.

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Soundscape Workshops With Ed Wright

Renowned Sonic Art composer Ed Wright has worked with local schools to create a unique musical experience with the brilliant NoFit State Circus for when Pontio opens.

The electroacoustic piece received it’s premier at Powis Hall in the presence of some very important people – the children who helped composed the piece: Year 6 Ysgol Felinheli, Ysgol Llandygai, Our Lady and Cae Top.

BLAS is moving and changing…

BLAS as a project at Hirael and Glancegin schools has now come to an end. Mared and Manon would like to thank both schools for their amazing support and dedication to the project since January 2013.

It is sad to say goodbye - we are very excited about the new direction of BLAS…

BLAS drama tutors Mared and Manon have visited the schools of Bangor hosting drama workshops and promoting BLAS.

Weekly drama and performance workshops Why? To develop confidence, performing skills and fun Where? Hirael Community Hall When? Every Monday night Who? 5pm - 6pm, years 3 and 4 6.15pm - 7.15pm, years 5 and 6 7.30pm – 8.30pm, years 7, 8 and 9

80 Children, 8 Schools, 3 workshops, 2 halls

The workshops will be held mainly in Welsh but it is not essential to be fluent and we welcome everyone of all language ability.

BLASU

Children from Cae Top, Faenol, Glanadda, Glancegin, Hill Grove, Hirael, Our Lady schools took part in these one off workshops at Powis and PJ Hall: Firenza Guidi artistic Director of NoFit State: HaDAsyniaDA workshop Sarah Mumford, Choreographer: Physical Theatre Workshop Ben Brodie, Street Dancer: Street Dance Workshops.

What?

Register on the Pontio website or call 01248 382828. First come, first served. There will be a discount for children living in the LL57 1ST postcode area. Proof of address will be required.

For more details email Mared: m.huws@bangor.ac.uk

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Volunteer with Us Pontio will be a busy venue, with hundreds of events and screenings every year.

A team of dedicated volunteers are needed to assist in ensuring that our audiences have an enjoyable and positive experience.

What are the benefits of volunteering with Pontio?

• A chance to meet a diverse range of people.

• An opportunity to learn, develop and apply new skills (communication, customer service, teamwork, time management).

• Bangor University Students can receive recognition for the skills they develop whilst volunteering with Pontio - XP can be claimed towards the Bangor Employability Award.

• Canolfan Bedwyr will offer language tuition as well as provide sessions on language policy.

For more details please email: volunteers@pontio.co.uk or call 01248 382666.

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Since the launch of the Profi challenge last Autumn, teams of young people from Anglesey secondary schools have been working hard to develop solutions to problems facing their communities. The hands-on learning and mentoring programme, facilitated by Bangor University Students and supported by local employers, widens horizons, develops employability skills and boosts the confidence of young people taking part. The programme will culminate in a pitching event hosted by Pontio in February 2015, where teams will pitch their solutions to a panel of judges, each hoping to win a cash prize for their school to put their ideas into action.

For further information, please contact Elen Bonner, Profi Project Manager on 01248 382813 or e.bonner@bangor.ac.uk

Profi is based on Bangor University’s flagship undergraduate experiential learning programme “Enterprise by Design” and is funded by the Esmèe Fairbairn Foundation with generous support from Horizon Nuclear Power, Santander, through its Santander Universities global division, and Magnox. The activities have been co-produced by Pontio, Chris Walker - People Systems International, Bangor University students and pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni.

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Pontio Gift Voucher The perfect gift for any occasion With a wide range of events available at Pontio, from drama and circus, to world music, gigs, ballet, pantomime, film and much more - buy a gift voucher for £10, £20 or £50 from our website, pontio.co.uk by telephone on 01248 382828 or visit our Box Office in person.

We're sure you'll find something to suit everyone.

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How to Book

By Phone

Postal Charge

Concessions

Bookings for Pontio events can be made by telephone where indicated on: 01248 382828. Our telephone bookings operate a fully bilingual service from Monday-Friday: 10am-5pm, Saturday: 10am-3pm.

No booking fee will be charged when you buy tickets, but a £1 mailing charge will apply if you request tickets by post.

Tickets by post can only be requested until 10 days before the event to ensure they reach you on time. After this all prebought tickets can be collected from the box office.

Wherever ‘concessions’ is denoted for Pontio events, the following categories are included in that definition: children under 18 years of age, students and those over 60. Carers and children under 2 go free.

We recommend you arrive for events 30 minutes prior.

All bookings are subject to our standard terms and conditions. Please visit our website for more information. www. tickets.pontio.co.uk/online/term

In Person Can be purchased at the Pontio Shop on Bangor’s High Street. Opening hours: Mon, Tues, Weds, 10am-5pm, Thurs, Fri: 9am-5pm, Sat: 10am-3pm.

During the transition period, Pontio’s Box Office will operate from the Pontio Shop on Bangor High Street, before moving in to the centre during the Opening Season.

Online

Families Pontio is committed to providing high quality performances and events for young people and their families.

Concessionary rates are available for young people. Where a family ticket price is denoted, the offer is available to a group of four. A minimum of one member of the group must be under 16.

Group Bookings We cater for groups and can occasionally offer great discounts. Please contact our Box Office for more information on 01248 382828.

Online booking is available for Pontio events at: tickets.pontio.co.uk For events at Neuadd Ogwen you can also book online through neuaddogwen.com 39

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Pontio, Prifysgol Bangor, Freepost, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2BR

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