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news No No Nativity
By Peter Read The sequel to the highly acclaimed Vicar Joe starring Kevin Johns, Shirley King and pupils from St. Thomas School. Christmas is approaching. Marjorie Pritchard, a governor at St. George’s School, wants to run the nativity her way, she certainly doesn’t want the Swansea City footballers around the manger as Joe has suggested. Then there is the problem of the parent who wants to be in the nativity. Vicar Joe is not happy! Grand Theatre Box Office -----------------------
Based on the story of the infamous body-snatchers, Burke and Hare, this thrilling production set in Victorian Edinburgh tells of the unholy alliance formed by the medical establishment and the criminal underworld in the supply of the bodies that were so necessary to medical research. Dr Thomas Rock, young, brilliant and ambitious, stops at nothing to ensure that the supply continues, whilst the evil Fallon and Broom literally get away with murder. But when the law finally intervenes, who will be brought to justice? The doctor or the devils? Teeming with characters that could have walked straight out of Dickens, full of the great dialogue and sharp wit of DYLAN THOMAS, directed by PETER RICHARDS, designed by EDWARD THOMAS (Dr Who, Torchwood) and starring KEVIN JOHNS, ADRIAN METCALFE and HUW RICHARDS, this exciting new production is must-see theatre. THIS PRODUCTION IS SPONSORED BY ANTUR INSURANCE
and
DIAMOND
ACCOUNTING GROUP
GRAND
THEATRE
Swansea
September 2nd -
4th 7.30pm
Matinee 3rd
2.00pm
BOX OFFICE 01792
475715
COURTYARD THEATRE
Hereford
September 9th
BOX OFFICE 01432
340555
FOREST THEATRE
Forest Of Dean
September 19th
BOX OFFICE 01594
833416
DE VALENCE
Tenby
September 21st
BOX OFFICE
01834 843568
MORGANSTOWN HALL
Morganstown, Nr
Cardiff
September 22nd
BOX OFFICE 029
20 843176
THEATR HAFREN
Newtown
September 25th
BOX OFFICE 01686
625007
----------------------- Kev is delighted to be Chairman of Swansea Bay Film Festival.
This years event,
taking place in Swansea from May 30th to
June 6th culminating in a
Gala Awards
Banquet & Ceremony at the Dylan Thomas Center which
Kev will co-host.
The Swansea
Bay Film Festival is a very high profile event which
generates tourism to the area and is an opportunity
for local film makers to gain a world wide platform.
-----------------------
KEVIN JOHNS
&
ADRIAN METCALFE
star in Divorced from his wife, Oscar consoles himself by living in the happy-go-lucky chaos with which he thrives. In the middle of one of his boozy weekly poker sessions comes Felix, separated from his wife and - so he says - suicidal. Oscar, feeling sorry for him, invites him to stay. But Felix`s fastidiousness is soon at odds with Oscar`s natural slobishness and all comic hell is let loose.
KEVIN
JOHNS stars as Oscar Maddison with ADRIAN METCALFE as
Felix Ungar. The cast also includes GEORGE ANDREWS,
DAVID DOOLEY, NAOMI MARTELL and JESSICA SANDRY.
GRAND
THEATRE ARTS WING
Swansea
28th,
29th, 30th APRIL 7.15pm
29th
APRIL 2.00pm
BOX
OFFICE 01792 475715
________
MORGANSTOWN HALL
Morganstown, Nr Cardiff
6th May
7.30pm
BOX
OFFICE
020
842561
020
843176
_________
DE
VALENCE
Tenby
7th May
7.30pm
BOX
OFFICE
01834
843568
----------------------- Book Launch Video
www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/video.html?id=13486
Kev Johns will release his autobiography in a special evening at the Arts Wing of Swansea Grand Theatre on Thursday October 23rd Kev is one of Wales’ most popular entertainment personalities best known for playing Dame at The Grand and for his weekday Breakfast Show on Welsh Radio Station Swansea Sound. Publishers Y Lolfa describe the book as ……… The extremely enjoyable autobiography of Swansea’s all-round entertainer: performer, actor, pantomime dame, radio broadcaster and football fanatic It is in the variety of roles Kev has played –both on and off the stage – which makes his life such an interesting story. He has played football with Emlyn Hughes, interviewed Tony Blair, put on children’s entertainment at the home of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster, helped with a soup run on the toughest streets of Glasgow, preached sermons, sung with Bonnie Tyler, and entertained the crowd at half-time during matches at Wembley Stadium. Kev is very generous with amusing anecdotes and personal experiences. The result, even for those who may be unaware of him, is the feeling that one knows him personally by the end of the book – or would like to get to know him better. Oh Yes it is. Kev Johns with Peter Reid is available to pre-order www.ylolfa.com Links Evening Post article http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/people-journey/article-341266-detail/article.html Launch tour Thursday 23rd Oct 7,15 Book Launch Grand Theatre Arts Wing
Saturday, 25th Oct
(11.00) Borders Fforestfach
Saturday, 1st Nov
(12.00-2.00) WHS Swansea
Saturday, 8th Nov
(12.00-2.00) Waterstones Carmarthen
Saturday, 22nd Nov
(11.00-1.00) WHS Llanelli Others TBC -----------------------Kev says Ho Ho ….Go! The British Heart Foundation’s Swansea Santa Jog was launched today (Wednesday 1st October) by Swansea Sound Radio’s breakfast presenter Kev Johns to raise vital funds for vulnerable hearts in Wales. Kev donned his Santa Suit and signed up to take part in the event this December. The event which takes place on Sunday 14 December is a fun opportunity to for people to don their Santa Suits and complete a 2km course around the Swansea Waterfront. This is the second year the event has been held in Swansea. Last year all 500 places up for grabs were filled and this year the event hopes to attract 700 participants and raise over £23,000 for the BHF in Wales. Starting and finishing at the Swansea Waterfront Museum and the home of the Waterfront Winterland the 2km course is accessible for all ages. Participants can walk, run or jog the course - all dressed up as Santas. The event is one of eight BHF Santa Jogs taking place across the UK to raise life saving funds to fight the UK’s biggest killer – heart disease. Kev Johns, Breakfast Presenter at Swansea Sound says,” I took part in the 2007 Swansea Santa Jog and loved every minute of it. It’s just a great event for the people of Swansea to support and sign up and get in the festive spirit." Thanking Kev for his support, BHF’s Event Organiser in Wales, Mali James said: “Following the huge success of last year’s Santa Jog, we are delighted to be able to bring this event back to Swansea again this year. Registration has now opened for the event online at bhf.org.uk/santajogs or anyone interest can call 0800 783 6970 for a registration form. The event is based on a first to register basis so I urge everyone intended it sign up now to avoid disappointment. By taking part in the event participants are doing more than taking part they are saving lives. “All adults registering for the event will receive a free Santa Suit to wear on the day with all children encouraged to come along in fancy dress.” Interview Link http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Sign-new-Santa-Jog/article-368357-detail/article.html Video http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/video.html -----------------------Oh, Yes It is ... Kevin Johns - The Autobiography
Edited by Peter Read (Available: October 2008)
The extremely enjoyable autobiography of Swansea's
all-round entertainer: performer, actor, pantomime dame,
radio broadcaster, football fanatic and the guy with the
mike at all of Swansea City's home games.
It is in the variety of roles Johns has played – both on
and off the stage – which makes his life such an
interesting story. He has played football with Emlyn
Hughes, interviewed Tony Blair, put on children’s
entertainment at the home of the Duke and Duchess of
Westminster, helped with a soup run on the toughest
streets of Glasgow, preached sermons, sung with Bonnie
Tyler, and entertained the crowd at half-time during
matches at Wembley Stadium. Price: £9.95 ----------------------- I'm abseiling over 120ft off the Princess House in Swansea for NCH Cymru, the children's charity.....please support me!
If you'd like to
join us please contact Hanna Lewis on 02920 222127,
email
events.wales@nch.org.uk
or text "SWANSEA ABSEIL" to 07889 887053. www.justgiving.com/swanseasound Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure.
It is also the most efficient
way to sponsor me: NCH, the children's charity will
receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer,
an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no
cost to you.
Donating through this site is
simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most
efficient way to sponsor me: So please sponsor Kev now! Many thanks for your support-----------------------
Following a very
successful run with Toshack or Me and To Hull and Back
Kev will once again be appearing with Fluellen Theatre
Company in Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood.
The poster for this year's panto at the Grand is currently being displayed all over South Wales
Kev to appear with Fluellen Theatre Company in 2008
Kev will join up with Fluellen Theatre Company for a number of projects in 2008.
On January 31st Kev
will star again as Vicar Joe in Peter Read's play.
TOSHACK OR ME! - Fluellen`s smash hit returns for
just one performance as a prelude to - TO HULL AND
BACK by Peter Read.. Kevin again joins Fluellen to play a host of roles in this funny, moving, wonderful work. The greatest play ever to come from Wales. The Breakfast Show voted best in Wales The Breakfast Show on Swansea Sound with Kevin Johns has been voted the Best in Wales in a poll run by Merry Media. Over the past couple of months, Merry Media has been moving from region to region across the UK to find the best breakfast and drivetime shows on the radio with votes coming from within the radio industry as well as businesses and listeners. Kevin Johns came top of the breakfast show poll with his show on Swansea Sound with 14% of the votes, second place was Jase and Mel on Red Dragon FM and in third place was Tommo on Radio Ceredigion. Kevin was delighted that his programme came top of the poll. He said: "I'm delighted and quite humbled to have won the vote for the best Breakfast Show in Wales as there are so many quality shows and stations in our market place and the country." He paid tribute to the voters: "A big thank you to the Breakfast Show listeners who took the time and trouble to vote especially those who were emailing everyday to let me know how the poll was going!" His thoughts on Swansea Sound: "I'm very privileged to work at Swansea Sound, to be part of a hard working team on what was Wales first Independent Local Radio station which has launched the careers of some of Wales and the UK's most successful broadcasters."The Film Harmonic Orchestra Concert for Schools Kev returns to The Princess Royal Theatre on Friday July 13th with The Film Harmonic Orchestra Concert for Schools for the Margam Festival 2007.
There will be two performances with a capacity audience of local schoolchildren featuring music from popular films including Harry Potter, Superman and The Wizard of Oz.
There will also be plenty of laughs
and prizes with Kev. TOUCHES OF SWEET HARMONY
April 23rd is Shakespeare`s birthday and in 2007 and
Kev will be joining with Fluellen Theatre Company
to celebrate it in style at the
Grand Theatre Arts Wing
Swansea.
Touches of Sweet Harmony
is a new entertainment devised by
Francis Hardy
which will feature music, prose and poetry written
and inspired by Shakespeare.
Hosting proceedings will be
Kevin Johns
with many regular Fluellen actors being joined by a
number of surprise guests.
The evening is being directed by
Penny Dixon
and
Peter Richards
with
Delyth Jenkins
as Musical Director.
There will be just one performance of
Touches Of Sweet Harmony,
so early booking will be essential
TOUCHES
OF SWEET HARMONY
Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea
April 23rd 2007 @ 7.45pm
Tickets £8 (£6 concessions)
BOX OFFICE: 01792 475715
Toshack or Me.
After the success of Toshack or Me at the Grand
Theatre Arts Wing and the De Valence Theatre in
Tenby the show returned to the main stage of the
Grand in Janury.
Again this new Fluellen Theatre production of Peter
Reade's comedy starring Kev as Vicar Joe was an
outstanding success.
The latest news is there will be a follow-up which
will open at the end of January 2007.
Peter Reade will also write a one man show starring
Kev and directed by Peter Richards which will tour
theatres in the Spring of 2008.
Review for Toshack or Me at The Swansea Grand Theatre Arts Wing
YOU don't have to
be obsessed with football to live in Swansea, but it
helps - and the same applies to this splendid
comedy, written by Peter Read and directed by Peter
Richards.
This is a brave departure for the Swansea-based Fluellen Theatre Company, whose productions are normally adapted from classic works and performed in the round. This one is unashamedly populist, set in the Golden Age of Swansea City Football Club and revolving around football-crazy Dave (Rhodri Miles) and his totally unsympathetic wife Holly (Charlotte Rogers). Kevin Johns scores heavily in an amusing subplot as a footie-crazed vicar called Joe, whose clash with the Bishop (George Andrews) provides some of the play's most diverting moments. Jessica Sandry is also fabulous as Holly's veggie friend Sarah - who turns out to be a closet Abba fan - while Eloise Howe turns in a richly comic performance as New Age counsellor Natalie. One of the most refreshing aspects of this production is its wide-ranging appeal. Not only did the opening night attract a vast proportion of those who had clearly never before set foot in a theatre, but the involvement of Peter Read - best known in and around Swansea for his frequent appearances at the Dylan Thomas Centre - attracted the city's literary set. Video footage and an abundance of strong visual gags are among the features which set this production apart, and it is heartening to see a company so adept at presenting theatrical classics getting to grips with new territory. Ticket sales have been phenomenal, and rightly so. Everyone can identify with obsession in one form or another, and Read's script taps into this character trait with a remarkable degree of insight and skill. Kev extends contract with Swansea Sound
Kev is
delighted to have signed an extension to his
contact at Swansea until the end of July 2008.
‘I am
delighted to be able to commit myself to Swansea
Sound for the next two years as I believe that
the station is about to see its greatest years.’
We
continue to be one of the most successful Medium
Wave stations in the UK and the fact that sales
of DAB Digital radios are soaring is more great
news for Swansea Sound.
We have
a great Station Director in Carrie Moseley and
Steve Barnes whilst being a dear friend is a
fantastic Programme Controller, both Carrie and
Steve have a real passion for the station.
Swansea
Sound has a great team and I’m looking forward
to all the challenges that the next few years
bring.
Kev will be appearing with
Theatre Company Wales in the Autumn for their
production of the Mal Pope musical about the 1904
Welsh Revival 'Amazing Grace.'
Kev will play Will Hay who was
a Union Leader for the Mine Workers and not a
supporter of the Revival.
Co-incidentally Kev lives in
the area where the revival broke out under Evan
Roberts and is delighted to have this opportunity to
be in the show.
Kev says, ' I'm particularly
pleased to be working with Mal Pope as we've been
friends for over 30 years. In fact Mal and I first
appeared in a musical together at school in 1978
when Dynevor School produced Hoseph and the Amazing
Technicolour Dreamcoat.
As well as being a friend of
Mal I consider myself a fan as I love his music and
rate him as one of Wales best contemporary
songwriters.
I'm also looking forward to
working with Wales Thetare Director Michael Bogdanov
- who wouldn't! He's one of the theatre industry's
finest!
The venues and dates for
Amazing Grace are as follows
Swansea Grand
Theatre 26th-29th October 2006
Aberystwyth Arts
Centre 30th Oct -4th November 2006
Swansea Grand
Theatre 6th-11th November 2006
Wales Millennium
Centre Cardiff 13th-18th November 2006
Llandudno North
wales Theatre 20th-25th November 2006
Kev completes his first 10k run!
Kev completed his first 10k on Sunday as he
joined with 14 friends from
Rob Clarke's Gym in Gorseinon to run the
Llanelli 10k.
It was Kev's first major fitness test since he
started a training and diet regieme that has
helped him lose 4 stone in weight!
Kev's time not one to set the Athletic world on
fire but admits that his time of 01:18:29 was a
massive personal achievement.
Kev who admits that he would have encountered
major health problems had he not lost weight
will now join Rob Clarke on the British Heart
Foundation this Sunday - this time its 29 miles!
Kev to open for The Spencer Davies Group at the Grand Theatre
Its' been confirmed today
that Kev will open for The Spencer Davies Group
at the Grand Theatre on Monday October 9th this
year.
Spencer Davies who had hits with Gimme Some
Lovin and Keep on Runnin is a native of Swansea
and by coincidence he and Kevin are both Old
Dyvorians (former pupils of Dynevor School
Swansea)
Spencer has been a regular guest on the Kevin
Johns Breakfast Show.
Kev says, 'I am delighted at being asked to
introduce the show for Spencer as I am a huge
fan. His music in incredibly popular, in fact my
16 year daughter Bethan is a masive fan of the
The Spencer Davies Group.
Kev involved in Adult Learners Week
This
week is Adult learners’ and
Thursday is Learning at Work
Day.
On
Thursday Kev will be
experiencing a day of learning
and it was up to listeners to
the Swansea Sound Breakfast Show
to decide where he would spend
his work experience.
Listeners had a list of a
variety of jobs to choose from
including A Travel Agent with
The Travel House, Car Mechanic
with LHT Garages or a school
School Crossing Patrol with the
City and County of Swansea.
Another option was a Traffic
Warden with South Wales Police
or Lord Mayor of the City and
However after the votes were all
counted Kev is off to be a
travel agent and will be helping
holidaymakers get a great deal
on Thursday afternoon at the
Travel House in Brynhyfryd.
Kev
says, ‘I’m delighted that the
travel agent option came our on
top because I voted for that one
myself. I love travel and
watching travel shows on TV so
I’m looking forward to learning
more about the travel business
from the experts'.
‘I’m
also delighted that I’m at the
Brynhyfryd Travel House because
I born and brought up in
Plasmarl, which is just around
the corner
Kev’s shift will start at the
Travel House at 1.30 on Thursday
afternoon.
Kev will be taking part in the British Heart
Foundation South Wales Bike Ride on July 2nd.
Kev will tackle the 30 miles course around Gower on
Sunday July 2nd with trainer Rob Clarke.
Kevin kick- started his fitness regime by being one
of the first to register for this year's Hearts
First South Wales Bike Ride. The popular British
Heart Foundation event was launched recently at the
city base of sponsor cosmetic giant Alberto Culver.
And Kev declared his intention to get in the saddle
on July 2 for the 22nd annual ride, "I've always
wanted to complete the route but this year I'm
actually doing it.
"I now feel fit enough and I'm starting my cycling training now and will be ready by July 2. "I am urging people to join me on the day to bike with me along the route. It's such a great cause and a fantastic event. I can't wait to get on my bike." Kev taking part in the Swansea Bay Stroll Kev will also be once again taking part in the Swansea Bay stroll organised by the Evening Post on June 11th.
Kevin, who took part in the inaugural walk last
Summer, said he was looking forward to joining the
event again this year.
"I had a great time last year," he said. "The nice thing about it is that it is not a race, people can just walk at their own pace. "And it is such a social thing - everyone is out burning calories and getting a bit of exercise but also having a chat and meeting people. "I am really looking forward to this year's walk and I hope lots of Evening Post readers will join me." Kev's
in
'Toshack or Me?' Kev's Cooking
A Fun day with a twist for
adults is being run at a Swansea school at the start of
next month. Activities have been arranged at Cwm
Primary, on March 1, to go with advice sessions on
training and employment opportunities. |
