All sorts of everything
EISTEDDFOD PAVILION LINE UP IS SO VERSATILE
COMEDY, classical and popular music and a commemoration of the First World War feature during the evening line-up at this year’s National Eisteddfod.
Details of the main pavilion line-ups have been unveiled along with some of the bands appearing at Maes B and the plays to be staged at the two theatres.
The National Eisteddfod is being held this year at Bodedern, Anglesey, and local fundraisers have already smashed their £325,000 target with five months to go until the festival.
Eisteddfod Organiser Elen Elis said: “The new pavilion has given us an opportunity to look again at our evening programme and to be far more ambitious than in the past.
“Last year was a chance for us to experiment with the pavilion gig and we are delighted that the gig is returning again this year, with Yws Gwynedd, Yr Eira, Alys Williams and Mr Phormula performing with the Welsh Pops Orchestra to finish the week on Anglesey.
“The Eisteddfod begins in a very different way as we present the premiere of a brand new work, ‘ A Oes Heddwch?’, remembering the First World War as we commemorate the centenary of Hedd Wyn and the Black Chair.
“Gwyn Hughes Jones, one of Anglesey’s best-known opera stars, returns to the Pavilion on Saturday evening.
“The Cymanfa Ganu (congregational singing) with Mari Lloyd Pritchard, Gwyn Evans, Beaumaris Band and organist, Grês Pritchard, is held on Sunday night and highlights the tercentenary of hymn writer William Wiliams Pantycelyn’s birth.
“It’s the Noson Lawen in the pavilion on Monday evening, with a mixture of famous faces and young performers ready to entertain us. It’s sure to be a great night for the family with plenty of singing and laughter.
“And we’ll definitely have plenty of laughter on Tuesday night as Tudur Owen, Dyl Mei and Manon RogersThomas present ‘Hynna Be Di O – the Stage Show’. The popular presenters have relocated their radio studio to the pavilion stage and who knows what will happen during the evening! There’ll be lots of music, too, with Osian Huw Williams and the house band.
“So, there’s a good mix of new and creative ideas and some traditional evenings, which will hopefully appeal to local people as well as our national audience.”
In the drama village, Theatr Bara Caws will celebrate their 40th anniversary with a production of Emlyn Gomer’s play Dim Byd Ynni (Nothing To It) for five evenings at Theatr y Maes.
In Y Cwt Drama Theatr Genedlaethol present Estron (Strangers) by Hefin Robinson. The play won the Drama Medal at last year’s festival.
Wales’ main bands will perform on the Maes B stage, which this year celebrates its 20th birthday.
Maes B organiser Guto Brychan said: “The scene is very strong at the moment and lots of the bands have large followings.
“It was very important for us to make sure we’ve got strong line-ups this year as we’ll be celebrating #MaesB20. And I think we’ve managed to organise a programme which shows the scene at its best.”