Performance Summer School

Guided tours of St Donats Castle
12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25 August
2.30pm, 3.30pm (extra tour on 25 August at 1.30pm)

Once a year only, St Donats Castle opens all its doors to the public – and what a sight beholds the visitor! Antique ceilings, facades, a moat and portcullis, dungeons ...

Tours begin and end at the St Donats Arts Centre’s café, which will be open for tea and cakes.

£4.50 (adults) £2.50 (children)

Tours on Bank Holiday Monday are part of Atlantic College
Open Day (1pm – 5pm, £10 per car).
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William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale
Sun 24, Mon 25 August 6.30pm



St Donat’s Arts Centre is thrilled to welcome Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, one of the most prestigious arts organisations in the UK with its unique style of open-air performance to Wales for the very first time. These exclusive performances will be staged on the beautiful Renaissance lawns set against the gloriously dramatic backdrop of St Donats Castle that sits majestically overlooking the sea. The lawns will be open beforehand so pack your sun cream and enjoy a pre-performance picnic while live musicians play music from Shakespeare’s time.

Wales’ audiences will be treated to the first-ever open-air performances in the country by the world-renowned company, Shakespeare’s Globe who kick off St Donats Arts Centre’s new season during August Bank Holiday weekend.

The prestigious company was founded by the pioneering American director Sam Wanamaker after being disappointed not to find a memorial to one of the world’s greatest playwrights. They will perform The Winter’s Tale in front of St Donats Castle overlooking the sea on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August at 6.30pm.

The centre’s community arts programme also kicks off in August with a unique new Summer School for children from the local community, a group of Wales’ visually impaired and blind young performers and international students. The week will involve acting, singing and dancing classes before finishing with a performance, and is the first of its kind in Wales. It runs from 11th to 14th August and will be led by ex-Hollyoaks actor and director, Bernie Latham.

Live music and theatre continues with the highly sought-after Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, the Vale of Glamorgan Festival of Music featuring the work of Henryk Górecki, Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle, the wonderful folk duo, Show of Hands, one of the world's foremost jazz singers, Stacey Kent and an expanded season of the ever-popular café concerts by professional musicians.

At Christmas, the ‘Cinders’ story is a treat for the under 7s, the most popular masterpiece in the choral repertoire, Handel's Messiah will be performed in St Donats’ Castle and the annual Crafts for Christmas Fayre returns with hand-made ideas for Christmas gifts not found in the shops. The day will be accompanied by Santa, Welsh food and music from the dynamic jazz band, The Amigos.

The centre is also launching its expanded community arts programme. New weekly contemporary dance classes (for 4 to 14+ years), music theatre choir classes, ballroom dancing classes and music showcase nights by young singers and musicians will run alongside the popular art classes and tea dances, the International Storytelling Festival every other year and the annual programme of education work in schools and communities around Wales and in areas of disadvantage.

Janet Smith, General Manager at St Donats Arts Centre reports that, “tickets are already selling extremely well. In partnership with Atlantic College in whose grounds we are based, we are delighted that Wales’ audiences and students will experience high quality, internationally-renowned companies such as Shakespeare’s Globe performing here on home turf!”

“We also know from the huge support we received earlier this year that people from around Wales and the local community love coming here. Our vision is for the centre to continue to be used by an ever-wider range of people, including children and we look forward with great excitement to our new summer school bringing together visually-impaired and sighted local children,” she said.

“We also give huge thanks to 2,500 supporters who signed our petition and 3,500 people who sent postcards on our behalf following the announcement of a withdrawal of funding by the Arts Council of Wales earlier this year. Following our subsequent successful appeal against the decision, our most ambitious season will take us to the end of the year as we continue to work with the Arts Council to secure this amazing venue’s future,” she said.

Tickets are available on 01446 799100 or on-line at www.stdonats.com

Tickets £15 concessions £14

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Atlantic College’s Fun Day
Monday 25th August

Atlantic College’s popular Fun Day is back, so bring along the family to St Donats for a great day out! On Monday 25th August, the College will be flinging open its doors to the public and everyone is invited to come and enjoy the stunning coastal scenery and exciting activities on offer.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early at 1pm and spend the day exploring the castle grounds and facilities.  There will be a range of activities to suit all ages, from face painting for the little ones to guided tours of the historic 12th century St Donats castle, which was famously owned by American billionaire William Randolph Hearst in the 1920s.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy walking in the College’s immaculate Renaissance gardens while more adventurous visitors can have a go at activities such as mountain boarding, climbing wall, ropes course and archery.  Weather permitting, the staff and students who make up the RNLI lifeboat crew will demonstrate a lifeboat launch in the Bristol Channel and both the indoor and outdoor pools will be available for swimming.

Activities run from 1pm – 5pm and entry costs £10 per car with all money raised going towards the Atlantic College scholarship fund.

Principal Neil Richards said: “The students look forward to our community Open Day each year, and have been busy planning a lot of activities for all the family.  Atlantic College plays a very active role in the local area as community service is a key element of the International Baccalaureate diploma programme. The students give over 52,000 hours of service to the community each year through volunteering in homes and schools, and running rescue and lifeguard services along the coast. The Open Day is their opportunity to invite our neighbours to the College and showcase the service activities which they work so hard at during the school year.”

Opened in 1962, Atlantic College was the first international sixth form college in the UK and the pioneer of the International Baccalaureate diploma. Students from over 70 countries around the world come to Atlantic College each year to study, serve and live together for two years in South Wales. The College is committed to accepting students on merit regardless of ability to pay, and to make this possible funds are raised from graduates, friends, foundations and businesses.

For more information please visit www.atlanticcollege.org
or phone 01446 799 278.

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Vale of Glamorgan Festival of Music 2008
Sat 6 – Fri 12 September

This festival - an annual celebration of the work of living composers - takes place in stunning venues in and around the Vale. This year's focus is Polish music, in particular Henryk Górecki, the internationally acclaimed Pole who celebrates his 75th birthday this year. Events include beautifully atmospheric programmes by the Silesian String Quartet, Estonian vocal group, Vox Clamantis and performances in our Bradenstoke Hall on Sunday 7 and Friday 12 September.

Full details of this year's programme:
www.valeofglamorganfestival.org or 01550 721565
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Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Sat 27 September 7.30pm

Michael Palin calls them “The Best of British.” The Independent describes them as simply “the best musical entertainment in the country”; HRH Princess Anne and Sir Paul McCartney are huge fans – these black tie dressed, perfectly polished musicians command the stage with their musical absurdity, tongue-in-cheek audience banter, merciless puns, wry humour and astonishing musical virtuosity.

Move fast for the last few remaining tickets! £20, £19
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Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle
Sat 4 October 8pm

Jacqui McShee and Pentangle are legendary names. They revolutionised 60s music as the “the greatest and most adventurous acoustic supergroup of their time”. The voice of the iconic artist, Jacqui McShee was described as, “a voice of shatterproof crystal”, and “the ultimate folk voice - the most wonderful voice I've ever heard.”
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Charlotte’s Web Film Study Day
Thurs 23rd October 9.45am - 2.15pm

The study will begin with a screening of the film followed by exercises and a workshop to enable students to deconstruct film language, understand how meaning is created and explore how the written text and the film text differs.

Students do not need to have read the book before the workshop.
£3.50 per student, teachers free

CAFE CONCERTS These popular matinee concerts are lovely afternoons spent in the relaxed music café atmosphere of our beautiful Glassroom with, of course, free tea and cake and stunning coastal views! £5. Tim Kliphuis with Gary Phillips 2 Sept 3pm (£6) Dutchman Tim Kliphuis, one of the world’s finest jazz violinists is the named the successor of Stéphane Grappelli. Tim’s spirit and style are reminiscent of the late, great jazz fiddler: virtuoso playing with a great love for melody. “Stephane Grappelli’s style is alive and well in the hands of Tim Kliphuis” Nigel Kennedy ............................................................................................................. Heather Jones 16 September 3pm Heather has been a professional singer since the 70s. After many TV appearances she was awarded her own series on BBC Wales. Enjoy a mix of folk songs, original songs and few traditional Welsh songs too. ............................................................................................................. Musicians from United World College 7 October 3pm ............................................................................................................. Sapriste String Quartet 28 October 3pm This quartet of highly accomplished musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and The Welsh Sinfonia are also great friends and the warmth of their playing is always felt. ............................................................................................................. CINEMA Sex And The City (15) Tues 23 September 7.30pm, Weds 24 1.30pm, 7.30pm The Edge of Love (15) Tues 30 September 7.30pm, Weds 1 October, 1.30pm, 7.30pm Mamma Mia (15) Tues 7 October 7.30pm, Weds 8, 1.30pm, 7.30pm Leatherheads (15) Tues 14 October 7.30pm, Weds 15, 1.30pm, 7.30pm The Oxford Murders (15) Tues 21 October 7.30pm, Weds 22, 1.30pm, 7.30pm Happy Go Lucky (15) Tues 28 October 7.30pm, Weds 29, 1.30pm, 7.30pm Evening films £5.10, £4.10. Matinees £4.10 includes free tea and cake! ............................................................................................................. EXHIBITIONS Marten Post Exhibition 1 August – 26 September Down The Bay Exhibition 1 – 30 October ............................................................................................................. ART CLASSES 10am – 4pm One Stroke Watercolours Thurs 18 September Photography with a Digital Camera Sat 27 September Planning your Painting with Peter Cronin Thurs 16 October Fabric Painting for Landscape Quilting Sat 18 October £20 (available in advance from Sally Perini, Cowbridge Community College, Old Hall, High Street, Cowbridge CF71 7AH 01446 773831 and 01446 799100).