May-August 2023 Artistic Brochure

What’s

Featuring ...

DakhaBrakha, Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Ballet Cymru, Creigiau Geirwon and more!

on

May - August 2023

Canolfan Celfyddydau ac Arloesi

Arts and Innovation Centre

Bangor

DAKHABRAKHA

Saturday 22 April, 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£22 / £20

DakhaBrakha is a music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, the “ethno chaos” band creates a world of unexpected new music.

DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art “DAKH” by the avant-garde theatre director – Vladyslav Troitskyi – and given the name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. Theatre work has left its mark on the band's performances – their shows are always staged with a strong visual element.

After experimenting with Ukrainian folk music, the band has added rhythms of the surrounding world into their music, thus creating the bright, unique and unforgettable sound of DakhaBrakha. They strive to help open up the potential of Ukrainian melodies and to bring it to the hearts and consciousness of the younger generation in Ukraine and the rest of the world as well.

BLAS BACH PRESENTS

Y CWMWL / CLOUD

Thursday 4 May, 7pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£4.50 - £20

Storage full? No problem, just use the Cloud...

A devised show by BLAS Bach. Developed during their weekly drama sessions, the show brings the children’s ideas to life, led by Gwion Aled Williams and Sarah Mumford.

MUSIC THEATRE WALES PRESENTS

THE SCORCHED EARTH TRILOGY

Friday 12 May + Saturday 13 May, 10pm

Outside Pontio

£3

Opera as activism, projected on walls as street art. They may make you laugh but may also make you demand change.

Music Theatre Wales are presenting a new series of three short street art operas which reflect on the environmental disaster we are facing, and the lack of serious climate action.

All presentations will take place outdoors, with the audience listening to the operas on wireless headphones–provided by us.

COSI FAN TUTTE

Friday 12 May, 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£18 / £12

True love lasts a lifetime? Don't be so sure!

A new production of Mozart’s comic masterpiece about the frailty of love. In a witty Welsh translation, this production boasts an exceptional cast of the younger generation of singers including Erin Gwyn Rossington

and John Ieuan Jones alongside the experienced talents of Rhys Jenkins and Leah-Marian Jones. Come and see the trials and tribulations of a love story that doesn't quite stick to the script, and the attempts of two youths to prove the loyalty of their lovers.

Y MAB DAROGAN

Saturday 13 May, 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT!

To celebrate 40 years of its existence, the company are touring a new production of the show which is centred on the uprising of Owain Glyndŵr, one of our foremost heroes.

OPRA CYMRU PRESENTS

CWMNI THEATR MALDWYN PRESENTS

SISTEMA CYMRU CODI’R

TO

9TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT

Thursday 18 May, 1pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£3 (Free for children)

Inspired by the hugely successful and famous El Sistema programme from Venezuela, Sistema Cymru - Codi'r To is a community project which works with local primary schools and their communities to deliver regular musical tuition, working with whole year groups of children. Join us to celebrate our 9th Birthday with pupils from Ysgol Glancegin as they raise the roof with their choir, brass band and lively Samba band!

VRï

Friday 19 May, 8pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£15 / £13

Three-part harmonies, stunning fiddle playing and the unusual addition of cello forge the VRï sound that is totally unique. Since forming in 2016, the trio have been in search of an elusive 'chamber-folk' aesthetic – pumping out their native footstomping dance tunes whilst maintaining the poise and elegance of a string ensemble.

RICHARD HARDISTY: SILLY BOY

Saturday 20 May, 8pm

Studio

£12

In his intimate and highly-anticipated debut hour, Rich Hardisty (Channel 4, Netflix, BBC) takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of his unusual life.

BROADWAY AND BEYOND

Sunday 21 May, 4pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£15 / £10

The students of Ava Williams renowned Stage school have been working hard all year to bring you their end of year spectacular.

"Broadway and beyond" is the perfect mix of song, dance and drama. Join us on our journey with hits from Hairspray, Matilda, Beauty and the Beast along with some of your favourite hits from today.

Scotsman

Our show is all about local kids Taking 2 The Stage... don't miss their big moment to shine!

“Silly Boy is hard to beat, a tale that's by turns eyeopening, deeply affecting and candidly hilarious”

TAKE 2 THE STAGE PRESENTS

Open7 Days a Week

SINEMA CINEMA

PONTIO BANGOR

Ticket Prices: £5.50 - £7.50

70 showings a month

1 stage for the best in live opera and theatre

Monthly cinema programme - pick up in the centre

Weekly email bulletins:

Sign up at www.pontio.co.uk

Mon-Wed at 2pm £5.00

Afternoon Films only

NT Live: GOOD

Thursday 20 April, 7pm

Sunday 23 April, 2pm

David Tennant (Doctor Who) stars in a reimagining of one of Britain’s most powerful, political plays.

ROH Live: SLEEPING BEAUTY

Wednesday 24 May, 7.15pm

Sunday 28 May, 2pm

Be swept away by Tchaikovsky’s ravishing music and Oliver Messel’s sumptuous designs with this true gem from the classical repertory.

NT Live: BEST OF ENEMIES

Thursday 18 May, 7pm

Sunday 21 May, 2pm

David Harewood (Homeland) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) play feuding political rivals in James Graham’s (Sherwood) multiple awardwinning and critically acclaimed new drama.

ROH Live: IL TROVATORE

Tuesday 13 June, 7.15pm

Adele Thomas’s energetic staging sets

Verdi’s tale in a Hieronymus Bosch inspired universe of medieval superstition. On the podium, Antonio Pappano conducts Verdi’s dramatic score.

COLEG MENAI PRESENTS

Wednesday 24 May, 7pm

Thursday 25 May, 2pm + 7pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£10 / £8

Inspired by a true story and based on the hit movie, Made in Dagenham is the uplifting British musical comedy about friendship, love and the importance of fighting for what is right, brought to you by the students of Coleg Menai.

A THEATRAU SIR GÂR PRODUCTION

GOLYGFEYDD O’R PLA DU

Tuesday 23 May, 7.30pm

Studio

£15 / £13

1348, Pentreufargirec. A new chaos has arrived - Plague. God has betrayed the people, and a frenzy of finger-pointing, cat-hunting and heretic-burning has drowned the village in the toilet. To con-artist Twm, everything is ripe for the picking. A mischievous, black (death) comedy about crisis and corruption. Welcome to the Black Death – there’s nothing funnier.

Suitable for ages 14+

Sibrwd available for Welsh language learners

Events for Families!

FROGS IN BOGS

Saturday 27 May, 11.30am + 2.30pm

Studio

£7.50

Family of 4: £26

Suitable for all ages

Join Frogs in Bogs, the superhero frog plumbers, to crack a clogging crime and defeat the evil Cwac Tŷ Bach in Familia's new, hilarious, all-jumping, all-dancing, blockbusting show for all the family.

Bilingual show

BALLET CYMRU PRESENTS

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD & THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

FROM ROALD DAHL'S REVOLTING RHYMES

Friday 16 June, 7.30pm

Saturday 17 June, 2pm

(RELAXED PERFORMANCE)

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£13 / £11

Suitable for all ages

Relaxed Performance Family Tickets: Family of 4: £40

Family of 5: £50

The most popular storyteller in the world, Roald Dahl, set to music by outstanding composer Paul Patterson and danced by the incomparable Ballet Cymru.

Featuring glorious costumes, amazing dancing, and stunning video projections, this laugh out loud production was a huge hit for Ballet Cymru in 2016 and is an exquisite classical ballet for adults and kids alike.

ARAD GOCH PRESENTS JEMIMA

Monday 19 June, 10am + 1pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£7

AGE: 7+

Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch are known for producing plays for children; here’s a brand new, exciting production about one of the most important women in Welsh history – Jemima Nicholas. History, music, a little mischief and a lot of fun as we put the spotlight on this Welsh hero from Pembrokeshire.

THE CONJURER OF CWRTYCADNO

Saturday 8 July, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm

Studio

£7.50

Family Ticket for 4: £26

AGE: 3+

The Conjurer of Cwrtycadno is an accessible adventure for families taking place in and around Pontio. Part treasure hunt, part theatre production, the show features integrated BSL and live audio description. Join us for this curious tale-a celebration of Welsh folklore, magic and the changing of the seasons.

English language show

TAKING FLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS

ROYAL LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Friday 2 June, 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£25 - £10

Vaughan Williams Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus

Mozart Concerto No. 5 in A major for Violin and Orchestra

Beethoven Symphony No. 7

The wonderful Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra returns to Pontio in June 2023. One of our audience favourites, enjoy a programme conducted by Jonathan Bloxham, accompanied by Jonian Ilias Kadesha on the Violin.

FRÂN WEN AND SHERMAN THEATRE PRESENTS

IMRIE

Wednesday 7 June, 7.30pm (with BSL)

Thursday 8 June, 1.15pm + 7.30pm

Studio

£15 / £13

A new fantastical Welsh language drama by Nia Morais (A Midsummer Night's Dream Sherman Theatre), is a magical story for young adults and upwards about hope and bravery.

Directed by Gethin Evans (Woof, Ynys Alys, Galwad).

Welsh language production

13+

EXPERIENCE AN OPEN DAY IN 2023

Saturday, 01 July

Sunday, 20 August

Sunday, 08 October

Sunday, 29 October

Sunday, 26 November

bangor.ac.uk/openday

CREIGIAU GEIRWON

Thursday 22 June, 7.30pm (PREVIEW)

Friday 23 June, 7.30pm

Saturday 24 June, 2.30pm + 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£16 - £8

By Wyn Bowen Harries

Eryri’s rugged rocks are the home of the Snowdon Lilly, one of our rarest flowers. It’s one reason why all sorts of people have been attracted to Eryri’s slopes for over 300 years.

Come and meet the early mountain guides who led the botanists, plant collectors, geologists artists and poets across the mountain slopes and peaks. This show combines drama, humour, music and vertical dance on ropes!

We meet the visitors, including some famous names, through the eyes of the local people who were employed to guide them, people such as William Williams, or ‘Wil Bŵts’ of Llanberis. The guides themselves will share some of their stories and experiences, their achievements and the competition

between them to entertain, feed and shelter the visitors at the summit of Yr Wyddfa. Did they appreciate the importance of the rare mountain plants, and how does the future look for the Lilly?

This is Cwmni Pendraw’s third production. The company specialise in combining science and history in creative and surprising ways, using drama, music, and for the first time, vertical dance.

This is a co-production by Cwmni Pendraw, Vertical Dance Kate Lawrence and Pontio. Sponsored by the Arts Council of Wales, Eryri National Park and the Carneddau Landscape Partnership.

Suitable for Ages 8+

CWMNI PENDRAW, VERTICAL DANCE KATE LAWRENCE AND PONTIO PRESENT

Keep an eye out for announcements of Creigiau Geirwon pre-show talks and additional events over the coming months

MATILDA

Thursday 29 June, 7pm

Friday 30 June, 7pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£15 / £12

Ysgol Friars brings the ever-popular musical, Matilda, to Pontio! Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR., a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.

SNEB YN BECSO’ DAM!

Wednesday 5 July, 7.30pm

Thursday 6 July, 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£12 / £7

A show based on the songs of Edward H Dafis. The main character, Lisa, is desperate to see the world. Songs from the 70’s, but young people’s problems are the same today.

YSGOL FRIARS PRESENTS

YSGOL DAVID HUGHES PRESENTS

“Don’t know what I’m looking for but it’s not here”.

MYND I’R COED

Friday 14 July, 7.30pm

Saturday 15 July, 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£15 / £12

A colourful, brand new musical for all the family by Cefin Roberts, Steven Evans and Sioned Webb, based on the feedback from the pupils about polution and global warming.

MUSIC FROM THE HEART

Tuesday 18 July, 7.30pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£22.50 - £5

Revel in some of opera’s most romantic and luscious melodies ever written.

WNO Orchestra and conductor Matthew

Kofi Waldren team up with tenor Trystan

Llŷr Griffiths and soprano Nadine Benjamin in an electrifying programme which features a selection of magnificent arias, duets and orchestral numbers that capture the intensity of love, lust and heartache.

CIRCUS FUN DAY!

Saturday 22 July

Keep an eye out for announcements regarding a day of workshops and performances for families!

WNO ORCHESTRA

YSGOL GLANAETHWY PRESENTS

CYNGERDD BLYNYDDOL GWASANAETH CERDD YSGOLION GWYNEDD A MÔN

Monday 3 July, 7pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£9 / £3

Join the Gwynedd and Anglesey Schools

Music Service to celebrate the work of their cross-county ensembles. There’ll be plenty of variety in this fabulous showcase of the musical talents of Gwynedd and Anglesey’s young people.

MAES -G SHOWZONE PRESENTS

Our BIG Variety Show 2023

Saturday 29 July, 7pm

Theatr Bryn Terfel

£12

‘Step Up’ and ‘Be Our Guest’ at Our Big Variety Show! ‘Be Prepared’ for a ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ evening of song and dance by the cast of MaesG ShowZone! You will feel the beat running through your feet, from start to end because ‘We Rock!’ So get ‘Ready for the Ride’ as this will surely be a night to remember!

BLAS is Pontio’s Youth participation programme and gives children and young people a ‘taste’’ (‘blas’ in Welsh) of the arts.

WEEKLY DRAMA WORKSHOPS

Mondays

Year 3 and 4 – 5-6pm

Year 5 and 6 – 6.15-7.15pm

Wednesdays

Year 7, 8 and 9 – 6.30-7.30pm

Year 10-13 – 7.45-8.45pm

For more information please contact Mared Huws, m.huws@bangor.ac.uk

Our partners in 2023...!

Here are some of the people and communities we’ve been working with this year...

Ballet Cymru

Beddgelert Community

Eryri National Park

Hirael Community

Eisteddfod

Genedlaethol

Cymru

Annedd Ni

Penrhyn Castle

TRAINEE TUTORS

Our trainee tutors programme gives young people the opportunity to shadow professional arts practitioners and visiting touring companies in various participation projects. Buddug and Manon are our current trainee tutors.

Buddug Roberts

I’m Buddug Watcyn Roberts, and a 22-yearold PhD student in Creative Writing at Bangor University. As well as following a PhD, I work as a Trainee Tutor with Pontio, and have had the opportunity to work on various projects with BLAS. My favourite part of working with BLAS is watching young people take on the arts, and use the arts as a form to make their voices heard, watch their confidence grow and develop as they take their place on the world’s stage.

Manon Gwynant

I’m Manon Gwynant, and a PhD student in the School of Welsh at Bangor University. I’ve been a Trainee Tutor with BLAS since 2019 and have had the opportunity to be a part of a number of projects over the past few years, including shadowing professional arts practitioners, lead sessions and working on developing and bringing exciting projects to life. My favourite memory of working with BLAS is on a project called ‘Clwb Darllen’, in partnership with North Wales Africa Society. Listening to the ideas of the young people, and watching their confidence grow over the weeks was amazing, and the icing on the cake was seeing the work in a book at the end of the project.

ART

May – September 2023

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

MANON DAFYDD

12 – 30 June

Until 28 May

A multidisciplinary exhibition communicating multiple perspectives on trees and inter-relationships with people, wildlife, and the wider environment. Visit our website for more information.

Artwork developed with Ysgol Pendalar pupils inspired by Ballet Cymru’s performance here at Pontio.

Thursday 4 May, 7pm - 9pm

Art Kiosk night on the bar stage with talks and performances by the artists of ‘Tree Sense’ including Anthony Morris, Joe Roberts and Utopias Bach.

BREATH OF FRESH AIR

July – September

A playful, multimedia exhibition with artworks by Ella Jones, Esyllt Lewis, Mia Roberts and Gwenllian Spink.

Workshops

Lunch on the Fly

Every other Monday, 12pm

£6 / £40 for 8 sessions

16+

Yoga with Ceri Lloyd

Mondays, 8pm

£8.50 / £30 for 4 sessions

Sessions are held in Welsh

Caffi Babis

First Friday of the Month, 10am

£3

Suitable for children

upto 24 months old

Dance For Parkinsons

Tuesdays, 1.30pm

£3.50

Suitable for anyone living with Parkinson’s

To come this Autumn …

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN

Saturday 30 September 2pm + 6pm

Family Tickets available! Suitable for the whole family!

BRIDGET CHRISTIE

Thursday 28 September, 7.30pm

TRIALS OF CATO

Friday 13 October, 8pm

General information

Group Bookings

We cater for groups and schools and can occasionally offer great discounts. Please contact our Box Office for more information on 01248 38 28 28.

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

Postal Charges

£1 mailing charge is applied 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 pre-bought tickets can be collected from the box office or printed at home.

Families

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 18 unless stated otherwise.

Concessions

Wherever concessions are denoted for Pontio events, the following categories are included in that definition, unless otherwise stated:

students and those over 60.

Children and young people include anyone under the age of 18. Children under 2 years of age go free.

Hynt Card

Hynt cardholders are entitled to a ticket free of charge for a personal assistant or carer at Pontio and all the theatres and arts centres participating in the scheme. Visit hynt.co.uk or www.hynt. cymru to find a range of information and guidance about the scheme.

A resource for teaching, research, public education and enjoyment

Treborth Botanic Garden comprises planted borders, species-rich natural grasslands, ponds, arboretum, Chinese Medicinal garden, ancient woodland, and a rocky shoreline habitat Six glasshouses provide specialised environments for tropical, temperate, orchid and carnivorous plant collections

We organise regular talks, plant sales, specialist workshops, crafts and more!