I've Never Seen Star Wars (at Aberystwyth Arts Centre)
Watch your first play, go to live opera, or try tango. Do something different… for free!
Perhaps you always meant to try a trip to the theatre, but haven't had the time, the courage or possibly the inclination.
This is your chance to do something different. Choose an event at the Arts Centre, something you’ve never tried before and we’ll do our best to get you a free ticket. All you have to do is write a short piece about what you’ve seen and give it a star rating. What your write will be posted on our website and our facebook page, and displayed in the Arts Centre.
To find out what we have lined up for this season look on our website or pick up one of our brochures.
If you would like to see the form we would need you to fill in please click here for a copy: 
If you would like to take part in ‘I’ve never Seen Star Wars (at Aberystwyth Arts Centre) please contact us: 
Here's some things other people have tried:
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Name: Jack Jackson Occupation: Graphic Designer
Age: 50
What did you go to see? Wyrd Sisters, Aberystwyth Arts Centre Castaway Community Theatre on Friday 5 February What sort of thing do you usually go and see? Film / Plays / Dance / Opera / Music
What did you like/dislike? Thought it was excellent
Was it what you expected? No!
Would you go again? Would you recommend it to a friend? Yes / Yes
I was new to Castaway’s productions and Discworld. I’d heard stories and rumours about it but had never experienced it first hand. I knew I’d arrived well before the lights faded. The audience were slightly eccentric and less than conventional, adding to my expectation and possibly their knowingness, which contrasted ominously with the opening scene of Death amidst the castle towers of Lancre.
The dynamic, colourful and convincing portrayal of the three main characters, the Wyrd Sisters, left me certain that it wasn’t the first time they had conspired. Most of the rest of the cast gave the production weight and played out their characters with conviction. Use of a range of colloquial accents only helped bind them further to the futuristic feudal system in which they lived.
I’d become fully submerged in the strangely real world of Terry Pratchett.
Interspersed with ‘metal’ charged set changes that were as smoothly executed as a lead singers satin pants, ha!; the play was constantly powered-up with further anticipation at the end of each chapter.
The statesman of the cast, delicately hinged Duke Felmet, performed convincingly, bringing with him the weight of a Shakespearean ‘villain of the piece’.
The intermission was cleverly arrived at by way of an embrace that was to last 15 years (i.e until the second half).
With such a convincing performance who can doubt the town and folk of Lancre do exist. As the hilariously unfunny Fool quotes "The past is what people remember, and memories are words”. Definitely an evening I won’t forget.
How many stars would you give your experience? ***** |
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Name: Emma Harrison
Occupation: Director, Careers Advisory Service What did you go to see? Four Thousand Winters (28th November)
The Arts Centre is one of the jewels in the University’s crown and, although I don’t manage to see everything that interests me, I do try to get to as many events as I can – usually folk and world music gigs and a wide range of films and plays.
…songs and stories of frost, snow, polar bears, trolls, princesses and firesides…
‘Four Thousand Winters’ was an evening of music and storytelling – a collaboration between Joglaresa (an early music group) and storyteller Sally Pomme Clayton. To be honest, this is the sort of event to which I am usually drawn - but was about to miss as a result of just having too much else going on. I have to say, however, that I am exceedingly grateful to the Arts Centre for suggesting that I went to see it as part of the Star Wars project and therefore for ensuring that I didn’t miss out. The evening was even better than I had expected and, after weeks of drab November weather, it was wonderful to be transported to the ice and snow of Scandinavia, to be immersed in tales of pre-Christian Finland and surrounded with hauntingly beautiful music from medieval England.
The evening began with a Creation story from the national epic, the Kalevala, which helped us make the transition from the mundane and into the magical world of the extended fairytale which followed. Accompanied by Belinda Sykes and the highly talented group of musicians who form Joglaresa, Sally spun a web of magic out of which she pulled a king transformed into a polar bear - and a resourceful princess who overcame impossible challenges to free him and to melt the ice and snow which had frozen the land. A seemingly simple tale, the story was underpinned with spiritual, moral and psychological meanings and, although the audience was small, I think we all felt the magic of the night and felt closer to the pagan heart of midwinter.
The music, played largely on harp, fiddle, dulcimer, kantele and drums, formed a haunting backdrop to the tale, and the songs which interspersed sections of the story, whilst from a variety of medieval/folk sources, were carefully chosen to enhance what was happening in our imaginations. The music was actually so beautiful that I bought three CDs afterwards…one of which has since been playing almost constantly at home as I have prepared for Christmas…or should that be Yule?
Four Thousand Winters was only playing in Aberystwyth for one night and it was awful not to be able to recommend it to anyone else. Having said that, I have evangelised to friends across the border in the hope that they will be able to catch it on tour…this was a magical and brilliantly timed performance and I cannot praise it highly enough.
What I can do, however, is to encourage everyone to step outside their comfort zones and try out something different – the ice can melt…
How many stars would you give your experience? ***** |
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Occupation: Student
Age: 21
What did you go to see? If We Go On, Wednesday 25th November
Normally, I visit the arts centre to see live music and stand up comedians, on this occasion I went to see a production called ‘If We Go On’. Through miniature dances and stuttering songs and extended exits, If We Go On embraces uncertainty, hesitancy and not knowing with a dark, intelligent humour explained the write-up. True to its word the show incorporated all of the above though; the performance seemed not to have a clear storyline leaving it very open to interpretation. It seemed to confuse but encourage the audience to think about other underlying issues in the show. The stage set and props were simple but used very well, lighting and sound were key elements which seemed to keep the interest and curiosity of the audience high throughout, despite the power-cut half way through. The seats in the theatre were comfortable which heightened my enjoyment of the show. It was a deliberately humorous performance in parts and the audience reacted well on every occasion. Would you go again? I enjoyed the show and would defiantly go and see another performance like it in the future.
How many stars would you give your experience? **** |
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Occupation: Director, Sports Centre
What did you go to see? Salsa Celtica on Wednesday 11th October
‘Aberystwyth University Arts Centre’ – having lived in Aber for 20 years it’s something I mistakenly take for granted - but what if it ceased to exist? Well, apart from losing the fab cake choice and slightly less fab child dance fees – I would miss out on exhilarating evenings of dance and music the like of which Salsa Celtica served up with their heady mix of Latino and Celtic vibes.
Tempted by the allure of this unusual blend, I forsook my Champion’s-League–night-in and headed for the atmospheric lighting, pulsating music and gyrating hips with a spring in my stride and wife by my side.
Things weren’t quite as I expected. We were seated at tables with fellow salsa enthusiasts – creating a more intimate club/bar-like feel to proceedings – not at all like the regimental rows of seats experienced at my previous visits to the venue. I took my seat – ready to have my appetite sated. I wasn’t to be disappointed. The Champion’s League may deliver goal-mouth action but dance floor action was the order of this night. Chico, Rodriguez, Fergal, Angus and others (15 in total!) provided the musical backdrop.
It’s time to come clean - I’m no stranger to the salsa dance floor – the problem is my experience has generally been one of staring at it (or more accurately my feet) and counting aloud to eight whilst pondering whether a further glass of wine will provide the illusion of competence I so evidently need. Tonight’s exemplar of Latin moves simultaneously confirmed that my reservations are well-founded but equally inspired me to dust-off my Cuban heels and give it another go!
From the first beat to the last an infectious energy consumed the auditorium as each pulsating beat and step transcended the last. I was exhausted. Fortunately my fellow dancers were made of sterner stuff and demonstrated athleticism worthy of any Champion’s League.
So don’t be a couch potato – put on your glad rags – visit the Arts Centre and be a dancing-dorito (or similar) for the night – my only reservation? Not sure bagpipes embellished my salsa dip! How many stars would you give your experience? **** |
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Occupation: Housing Officer
What did you go to see? Hot Mikado on Saturday 7th November
**** I haven’t been to the theatre for a couple of years, the last time was to see the play “A Bridge too Far” which was very enjoyable. However, if anything is going to entice me to the theatre again it would have to be something like the Hot Mikado. I thought it was full of fun and energy and truly entertaining. My foot was tapping from the first note. All those on stage were extremely talented and versatile and looked as though they were enjoying the performance every bit as much as the audience. How anyone can tap dance so brilliantly whilst playing a musical instrumental equally well, amazes me!
Would you recomend it to a friend? Although it wasn’t quite what I expected this jazzy adaptation of the Mikado certainly didn’t disappoint and I feel privileged to have been lucky enough to see it. I have already advised friends to hot foot it to see the “Hot Mikado”! How many stars would you give your experience? ***** |
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Occupation: Research Scientist
What did you go to see? Hot Mikado on Saturday 7th November
Would you go again? I would go to this type of evening again and will invite my friends with me, definitely. How many stars would you give your experience? ***** |
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Occupation: Department of Computer Science
What did you go to see? Zombina and the Skeletones on Friday 6th October This was a free concert arranged to celebrate the start of the Abertoir Film Festival.
Zombina was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and the Skeletones wore Wolfman masks and lumbejack shirts. Their trademark was loud , high energy rock, occasionally bordering on thrash. They brought with them a number of hard core fans (presumably all the way from Liverpool), and watching them dance and shout along was almost as much fun as watching the band. If you'd have asked me beforehand, I'd have said that Horror Rock was a pretty limited genre, but with songs of brain stealing, serial killers, wolfman attacks and flaming skulls, they managed to fill a set without resorting to Monster Mash (which Youtube records that they can do a good version of).
The band were one of the hardest working bands that I've ever seen, and my thanks go out to the Arts Centre for putting on a rip-roaring free gig.
How many stars would you give your experience? ***** |
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