Wales YFC News

Young People aged 10-28 with their varying talents will represent their clubs and entertain audiences during the Wales YFC Entertainment Feast weekend, which is making its home this year at Pontio, Bangor.

The event gives members the opportunity to perform on a professional stage with fantastic facilities and technical equipment and the support of professional tech teams.

On Saturday the 4th of March, the English Entertainments will be taking place, with seven counties competing for the title of Wales Champions and the opportunity to represent Wales in the NFYFC finals. The first session, commencing at 12pm will include Radnor, Carmarthenshire and Montgomery federations. The second session following an interval, starting at 5.30pm will include Brecknock, Gwent, Glamorgan and Pembrokeshire.

We will continue our feast on Sunday the 5th of March with four Welsh language Entertainments. The session will start at 2pm with Pembrokeshire, Montgomery, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Ynys Môn performing.

Our adjudicator in the English section will be Robert Meadows, who began his adjudicating career more than twenty years ago. Since then, he has adjudicated finals of British and Irish Full Length and One Act Play Competitions and has had the privilege of working for over one hundred theatre festivals across the UK. He is keenly interested in new writing for the theatre, having been involved in writing and producing many site-specific dramas for Heritage Lottery as well as having work produced by professional amateur groups. For many years he had his own Murder Mystery Company and so has enjoyed the cut and thrust of staging plays. Drawing on the experience of teaching and examining drama in schools and universities up to 2000, Robert went on to work as a keynote speaker on creativity and arts learning for Arts Council across the UK and abroad. He continues – very occasionally, these days – to offer business development support to art and cultural organisations.

Robert told Wales YFC;

“I have always enjoyed the Young Farmers’ Competitions. There is a passion and energy that is hard to beat, and I have seen some very impressive work in competitions – including new writing – over the years. And you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more supportive and enthusiastic audience. Very much looking forward to this year’s event.”

In the Welsh Section we welcome Myfanwy Alexander who joins us from Montgomeryshire. Myfanwy has written a wide range of things, including for radio and television programmes and her series of fictional novels. The fifth novel in the series will be launched at the Royal Welsh Show this year. She has also worked in community drama, especially with the YFC Movement which helps develop her eye for comedy: she won the Sony award for satire. Myfanwy is the mother of six girls who have all benefited from the opportunities provided by YFC.

Also during the weekend we will hold our annual Junior and Senior member of the year competitions and the result of the prestigious award will be announced from the stage.

The judges for the Junior member of the year competition include; Anwen Orrells, Jan Lloyd and Iestyn Pritchard. And the panel judging the Senior member of the year competition include: Bethan Wyn Williams, Sioned Edwards and Rhiannon Dafydd.

Tickets are available via the Pontio, Bangor website. CLICK HERE

We extend a warm welcome to supporters and friends of the movement to join us in Pontio, Bangor or if you are a keen follower of theatre, this is the perfect event for you!

We would also like to acknowledge with grateful thanks, our sponsors; Wynnstay, the sponsors of the Wales YFC Entertainment Feast, Kuhn, sponsors of the English entertainment awards and JCP Solicitors for sponsoring the member of the year competitions.