Swansea Bay media supports young Haiti helpers

Look out for a new star of the Swansea radio airwaves this week.

Kayte Marsh is a rather chipper teacher at a local comp and is also a key player in the city's excellent Class Act Theatre School (CATS).
On March 13, at Pontardawe Arts Centre, she's due to co-direct a CATS production which will help Haiti.
To publicise the effort by her young charges, she's been invited into the Swansea Sound newsroom for interview. Hopefully, a news item will follow.
The Arts Centre show will evoke memories of another human tragedy - Aberfan.
It will feature children aged seven to 10 and mini-monologues recalling the 1966 coal-tip disaster.
The young actors are all members of CATS. Their hour-long showcase takes place at on Saturday from 2pm.
Entry to The Sixties v The Noughties is free but those attending will be invited to donate to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Haiti fund.
Kayte told Media Master: “Our young students have a really moving piece which remembers Aberfan. It involves movement, speech and some lovely character work.
“As January’s earthquake will become part of Haiti’s history, Aberfan will always be a key moment in the story of Wales. Both tragedies will never be forgotten.”
The Aberfan disaster, in October 1966, saw 144 people die, 116 of them children. The Haiti disaster claimed the lives of many thousands; millions of pounds of aid has been donated by the public.
The latest CATS performance brings together devised pieces, improvisation, song, dance, poetry and humour from more than 40 of the school’s youngest pupils.
Co-director Hannah Dunne said: “There seemed to be a real community spirit and team ethos in the 1960s and we’re eager to illustrate that it remains today amongst our young people.”
Music featured in the show includes The Who’s My Generation and the song Welcome to the 60s from period musical Hairspray.
I urge you to take a trip up the valley to enjoy the experience and the skills of the young stage personalities.

Swansea Bay media loves a good panto

News reaches Media Master of a happy extension to the Swansea Bay panto season.
My man in the know - South Wales Evening Post cricket XI star Robin Wood - says that Ostreme Theatre Players plan to make a real impression with their Aladdin.
He's been working hard on the publicity and has secured the support of the Evening Post.

Good luck to you, Robin - I was involved in plugging the Class Act Theatre School (CATS) panto in November and December, and the Post were good allies.
We managed a string of good published stories in the lead-up to Cinderella at the Pontardawe Arts Centre (there's one on the right) ... and 5,000 tickets were sold. Not bad for an all-amateur youth production, albeit of an exceptionally high standard.
Ostreme's first PR blast centres on their dame - they'll break with tradition when, instead of a fella playing Widow Twankey, it'll be the job Anna Parton.
Anna is chair of the Mumbles-based group.
She said: "The director thought it'd be fun to tinker with the traditional format. It's working really well in rehearsals."
Aladdin is played by Beth Pearl, Wishee Washee is Mair Griffiths, Princess Mandarin is Ellen Shields, So Shy is Ennea Smith,  the Emperor is Ian Hagain and evil magician Abanazar is played by David Morris.
Performances begin on February 17 at 7.30pm and run for four nights, with added 2.30pm shows on the Friday and Saturday.
Tickets: 01792 404713.