CRICKHOWELL’S CL ARENCE HALL

NEWSLETTER & WHAT’S ON

Crickhowell Walking Festival

This year’s Crickhowell Walking Festival takes place between 4-12 March in the magical surrounds of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.

The exciting programme offers 82 guided walks from 3 to 16 miles, from valley strolls to demanding all-day routes on the high tops. There will be old favourites, new challenges, themed walks and the complete fourday Usk Valley Walk. Add to that an entertaining and informative programme of evening events and excellent hospitality and you have nine days of the very best our wonderful National Park has to offer!

Regrettably, the evening event planned for Festival Eve, a Musical Night in aid of Ukraine, has been postponed until later in the year. Apologies to all who were hoping to join us for this.

Here comes Spring!

Always at the heart of the community, the Clarence Hall is set for a busy Spring! We’re delighted to be hosting a wide range of events that will showcase talent, both local and national.

These include: Crickhowell High School’s performance of Shrek Jr; Mischievous Cows’ Vintage, Antiques & Makers market; AAODS’ senior production of Little Shop of Horrors; a Welsh Folk Night, as part of the 27th Crickhowell Music Festival; a celebration tea for the Coronation; Torfaen Arts’ Exhibition as part of the Open Studios Weekend; and Limehouse Lizzy in Concert!

All this, alongside our regular Lunchtime Recital Programme, Bingo evenings, Persian rug sales, ESOL classes, U3A meetings, Dance Beats classes and Cantorion Phoenix rehearsals.

Work is also continuing on the Hall’s redevelopment, with the initial focus on the refurbishment of the kitchen and toilet facilities.

Keep an eye out for posters, social media updates and the What’s On page of our website to find out more –there’s something for everyone!

A generous start to the year!

Our fundraising efforts got off to a good start in 2023 thanks to the continuing generosity of the Crickhowell community. Following the success of our January event with Ryland Wallace, John Webb and Dame Shân Legge-Bourke, Crickhowell & District Players returned to the Clarence Hall after a Covid-enforced absence of two years with their annual pantomime!

The outstanding performance of Aladdin was a show by a local society for the local community and provided thrills, spills, fun and laughter for the whole family. All the performances were well attended, with a mixed age audience turning up in droves to support the talented cast, which comprised many well-known faces. A number of Clarence Volunteers ran the refreshment stand throughout, helping to raise a considerable amount of money for our Refurbishment Fund. Once again, we are hugely indebted to you all!

Bringing laughter to Crickhowell!

On 3 & 4 February, the Black Mountains Comedy Festival returned to the Clarence Hall, bringing light, laughter and warmth to Crickhowell!

This year’s line-up was a collection of faces more usually seen at The Apollo and Edinburgh Festival, alongside rising stars on the comedy circuit, with four comics performing each night. In addition, Saturday day time events for families and friends ensured that the festival catered for all ages.

Commenting on the event, festival organiser Gerard KilBride said: “It was amazing to see the Clarence Hall full of people having such a great time together. It’s unusual for such a brilliant line up of comedians to perform in a small town like Crickhowell and as well as our local audience, people came from far and wide to see the shows.”

Congratulations must go to the organisers for an excellent festival that provided us with the opportunity to enjoy some of the UK’s top acts right in the heart of the Black Mountains. We’re excited to announce that we already have a Diary Date for next year’s festival - 2 & 3 February 2024, so make a note of this!

Crickhowell High School perform Shrek Jr!

Lunch-time Recital

Supporting local performing artists, the Clarence Hall lunch-time Recital Programme continues on Saturday, 18 March from 12.30-1.30pm. Ian Cooper and the Uskulele Group will bring a smile to our faces with the many differing styles of music the group performs. Admission is free but there will be a collection for the Clarence Hall Refurbishment Appeal.

Crickhowell High School are proud to present their first school show since ‘Les Miserables’ in 2019 … ‘Shrek the Musical JR’!

Show times are 7:30pm on Thursday 23 March, Friday 24 March and Saturday 25 March at the Clarence Hall, Crickhowell.

Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek the Musical JR, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. It’s a ‘big bright beautiful world’ as everyone’s favourite Ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairy tale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek JR is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.

Crickhowell High School pupils have worked consistently hard to bring you a wonderful show that is not to be missed!

Tickets went on sale on Monday 27 February and are available either from Crickhowell High School reception or by phoning 01873 813500.

Vintage, Antique & Makers Market

The Vintage, Antique & Makers Market, organised by Mischievous Cow Events, returns to the Clarence Hall on Saturday, 8 April, 10am-4pm. Entry is free. Hope to see you there!

Little Shop of Horrors

AAODS are coming to the Clarence Hall on 19-22 April with their senior production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’. With music by Alan Menken (other works include Beauty & the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin) and a story based on the comedy musical film, this isn’t one to be missed! Tickets available via the link or from Bookish in Crickhowell High Street: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ abergavenny…/e-xaovqz…

Eyes Down!

Monthly Bingo returns to the Clarence Hall at 7pm on Thursday, 16 March to raise funds for our refurbishment project. Admission £10 which includes a bingo book of six games, a pen and your first drink. More information at: https:// www.clarencehallcrickhowell.o rg.uk/monthly-bingo-11/