Author: Rhys Gregory

Thank you to the Swansea Grand Theatre for inviting us along in exchange for this review. Swansea Grand Theatre takes the classic story of Peter Pan and reimagines it in this year’s pantomime.  The fairytale begins in the bedroom of Wendy, John and Michael. Nana the dog makes a brief appearance, much to the delight of the audience, before Peter Pan swoops in search of Tinker Bell. I must say, the laser lighting and pyrotechnics used to give the illusion of the fairy’s arrival is subtle, but a powerful one. Not long after arriving, Peter Pan offers to take Wendy…

Canine companions have been getting into the Christmas spirit in Cardiff Bay today for a fancy dress competition. Dolled up in their best festive fancy dress, canines from across South Wales were out in style in Mermaid Quay. Dogs and their owners met by Santa’s Grotto, outside Demiro’s restaurant, ahead of judging at 2.15 pm. Five cash prizes worth £700 were up for grabs by the owners of the best dressed dogs. The competition was free to enter, but donations were encouraged to Opt to Adopt and Newport City Dogs Home, who were there, showcasing a selection of dogs up for rehoming.…

CHILDREN in Dinas Powys can embark on outdoor adventures and let their imaginations run wild at a new play area. The bespoke designed facility*, which is also a piece of public art, forms part of the new housing development, The Woodlands, on Cross Common Road. It was commissioned by Edenstone Homes and developed by Studio Response in collaboration with artist Tim Norris and Green Play Project. Children from Dinas Powys Primary School officially opened the play area. Sales director Adele McCoy said: “When we plan our developments we don’t just think of the people who are buying our homes but…

Local employer and Wales’ only FTSE 100 company, Admiral, have signed a new sponsorship deal with Techniquest to support its upcoming ‘After Hours’ events. Techniquest is renowned for its cool exhibitions, one-of-a-kind planetarium shows and as the go-to place for a family day out. But what if someone told you that you could party there until late, grab a drink from the licenced bar and experience a completely different vibe to your normal Techniquest visit? Well now you can exclusively at After Hours. After Hours started at Techniquest 8 years ago, and with its string of unusual themes grabbing visitors’…

BGB Scaffolding has enjoyed its “best-ever year” by growing its workforce to 26 people and receiving top industry prizes. Led by Managing Director Ben Badham, the Kinmel Bay-based firm was named Business of the Year (Under 100 staff) at the second annual Welsh SME Business Awards in Cardiff. They also took home the overall winner prize, and in past weeks trainee Jamie Hargraves won the Apprentice of the Month title at the CITB National Construction College (NCC) in Birmingham. BGB Scaffolding has also reinforced its partnership with Orsted, the global leader in offshore wind, supplying and constructing scaffolding on the…

A team of entrepreneurial school pupils from Port Talbot have been named Wales’ ‘Young Business Dragons’ after winning a national competition for their creative solution to tackling the climate change crisis. Students from Ysgol Bae Baglan in Port Talbot picked up the top title at the Young Business Dragons competition out of over 4,500 year 9 pupils from schools across south west Wales who all took part in the three competition rounds. The annual Young Business Dragons competition, which is organised by Young Dragons and this year was sponsored by Welsh Government, University of South Wales Trinity St David’s and…

An enchanting twist on the classic two-act ballet has opened at the brand-new International Convention Centre Wales. Following sold out seasons at the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium, award-winning international troupe, The Imperial Ice Stars, wowed the audience on opening night, Wednesday 11th December, to begin a run of 35 performances of the spectacular ice show. Set against a backdrop of colourful projections, opulent costumes, magic tricks and special effects, the 23-strong cast of World, European and National Championship-level skaters dance to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score on a frozen stage at the 1,500-seat tiered theatre. The Imperial Ice Stars’…

LEADING finance, accountancy and law firms have joined forces to give talks and advice at a series of free business events. Edward Hughes Solicitors, Bowden Financial Planning, Knox Commercial & Insolvency Solicitors and Williams Denton Accountants are among the most recognised and respected companies in North Wales. They have united to organise Business Four North Wales, an event to be held by the four companies four times a year, with four separate topical themes. The first will take place at Porth Eirias restaurant in Colwyn Bay on Friday January 24, and includes networking, refreshments and the opportunity to sit down…

A WREXHAM schoolboy with severe speech and learning disabilities was a VIP guest at the official opening of a Santa’s grotto which is raising money for the specialist charity centre which helps him and his family. Callum Roberts, 10, who is a pupil at Alexandra School, Wrexham, was there with his mum, Zara Chetwynd, to be one of the first to meet the man himself at Eagles Meadow shopping centre where all the free Christmas activities on offer will be raising money for Dynamic. Dynamic, a Wrexham-based centre for children and young people with disabilities, supports more than 100 young…

Latest figures from a leading trade body reveal that Wales has continued to retain its top position for sales performance at builders’ merchants across Britain. Throughout 2019, the Builders Merchants Federation’s Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) has pitched Wales top out of 11 areas nationwide, in quarter one, two and now quarter three. The latest BMBI report puts Wales in first place nationally for quarter three, with 4.2 per cent year-on-year growth in total builders’ merchant value sales. The BMF’s BMBI is seen as a gold standard in the building materials sector to measure sales activity. International analytics specialist GfK…