Pan creator's play

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, February 9, 2013, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

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Pan creator's play

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...

The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea.

WHY? The Dylan Thomas Centre is a beautiful building in the in the Maritime Quarter near to Swansea Museum. The Dylan Thomas Centre has a permanent exhibition on Dylan Thomas and his life and is also home to many literary events throughout the year.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? The Dylan Thomas Centre regularly hosts different events, films and talks in its conference rooms and theatre. This February there are lots of events and exhibitions to look forward to, one of the big highlights at the centre are the "Theatre-in-Focus" presentations, which are all script-in-hand and preceded by a talk about the playwright. Next Saturday (February 16 ) Fluellen Theatre present J.M. Barrie's "The Old Lady Shows her Medals", a play set in 1916 about four ladies who are bragging about their sons, who are away fighting in the Great War, except that the biggest boaster, Mrs Dowey, isn't what she appears to be. From the creator of Peter Pan, this glorious and pointed comedy isn't too be missed. The play starts at 1pm, tickets cost £5. To book call 01792 463980.
ANY HISTORY? Formerly the city's Guildhall, which was originally built in 1825, the Dylan Thomas Centre building was restored and refurbished to host the UK Year of Literature and Writing in 1995. The centre was opened by former US President Jimmy Carter, one of the world's most famous Dylan Thomas enthusiasts.
WHAT TO TAKE? Tickets are available online from Ticketsource at www.ticketsource.co.uk/dylanthomas. Food and drink are available in centre’s restaurant and bar. There’s also a bookshop café.
LOOK OUT FOR? As well as hosting artistic events, the centre also houses the permanent "Man and Myth" Dylan Thomas exhibition, the largest collection of memorabilia of its kind in the world. This exhibit is designed to appeal to the Dylan Thomas expert and interested visitor alike. And just a short walk away from the centre is the Meridian Tower, the tallest building in Wales, where on the top floor diners can enjoy first class Mediterranean cuisine and spectacular views of Swansea in the Grape and Olive.
WHEN TO GO? The Dylan Thomas Centre is open 10am to 4.30pm seven days a week.
TELL ME MORE: For sat nav users the centre's address and postcode is: Somerset Place, Swansea, SA1 1RR. For information about the different events and start times at the centre visit www.dylanthomas.com.
Visit www.richardthomas.eu.

Searching for spooks

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, December 15, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

 
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Searching for spooks 

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS goes ghost hunting in Swansea. 

  
WHY? In the classic Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old business partner Jacob Marley, as well as three other spectres, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. In fact, telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve was a tradition back in the Victorian era. So why not visit some haunted places and revive the tradition by telling your friends and relatives what you found this Christmas?
WHERE TO GO? Swansea is home to some of Wales' most haunted places. Swansea Castle which dates back to about 1106 is supposed to be haunted by a woman in a blue dress. The castle in the city centre according to local legend is also said to be connected by an underwater tunnel to Oystermouth Castle in Mumbles, where the ghost of a similiar spectre, this time dressed in a white dress has been seen numerous times. It is Swansea Museum which has gained a reputation as being perhaps the most haunted building in Swansea, however. Staff and visitors alike have experienced spooky activity in the main building on Victoria Road, next to the LC2. According to one member of staff a mysterious "hooded figure" has been seen on several occasions on the stairs and strange tapping, cold spots and even whistling have also been reported in the museum. More paranormal activity has also been reported at Swansea Museum's collection centre in Landore.
WHAT TO TAKE? Admission is free at Swansea Museum. You’re not allowed to photograph some of the exhibits at the museum, but don't forget to bring a camera to try and get some ghost photos where you're allowed.
LOOK OUT FOR? The cloaked figure who has been seen haunting the staircase at Swansea Museum is allegedl the ghost of someone who committed suicide on the lightship Helwick, one of the museum's three floating exhibits which can be seen at Swansea Marina.
WHEN TO GO? Swansea Museum is open from 10am to 5pm every Tuesday to Sunday. Last admissions are at 4pm. The museum is closed Mondays and bank holidays. Swansea Museum Collections Centre opens to visitors every Wednesday between 10am and 4pm. To contact Swansea Museum phone 01792 653763. Swansea Castle and Oystermouth Castle will be closed until next year.
TELL ME MORE: For more information about all these haunted sites go to www.para-news.info.
 Signed copies of Richard Thomas's new book Para-News: UFOs, Ghosts, Conspiracy, Cryptids And More are available from www.richardthomas.eu.

Tower is real highlight

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, August 4, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

 
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Tower is real highlight

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS heads to the top floor of the Meridian Tower on Swansea's Marina. 

WHY? Towering over Swansea at 107 metres tall the Meridian Tower is the tallest building in Wales. With 29 floors it is twice as tall as former tallest building in Swansea, the BT Tower completed in 1970. On the top floor of the Tower is the Grape and Olive restaurant, offering diners first class Mediterranean cuisine and spectacular views of Swansea. The elliptical design of the Tower means that from the top floor you can see the whole of the city, from Kilvey Hill and St Thomas, to the city centre and Mumbles. People who are a little afraid of heights might feel a bit dizzy sitting next to the enormous windows, but the views are hypnotic and most people will just want to stare out at them for hours.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? The Tower is located in the heart of the Marina and only 50 metres from the promenade that borders the bay from the Marina to Mumbles Pier. The city centre and all of it's activities and attractions is only a ten minuet walk away. There are several museums including the National Waterfront Museum across the basin and the newly refurbished LC leisure centre and water park is also only a five minute walk away.
ANY HISTORY? Construction work on the Tower was begun in 2006 and completed in 2009 at a a cost of £40million. Sadly, on 26 January 2008, one of the construction workers died after falling three storeys from the Tower.
WHAT TO TAKE? There are some special offers available on the menu at the Grape and Olive. Monday to Friday between 12pm and 5pm they offer two courses for £11.95. Hot drinks and delicious Tu Vita muffins, cookies and home made cakes are also on offer. Don't forget parking in the car park by the LC is free on Sundays but there is a minimum charge of £2 for two hours the rest of the week.
LOOK OUT FOR? The Marina has several shops, cafes and restaurants. There is an amusement arcade where you can try your luck on the slot machines and nearby is the Dylan Thomas Centre where just outside you can have your photo taken with a statue of Swansea's greatest poet. Swansea Museum also keeps three floating exhibits at the Marina: the lightship Helwick; a tug boat called Canning; and the Olga, a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter built in 1909.
WHEN TO GO? On a sunny day the view alone is well worth the journey up the lift to the top floor of the Tower, even if you're only having coffee and cake. The The Grape and Olive is open Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 11pm. Friday and Saturday the restaurant is open 10am to 12am. They are open for coffee from 9am daily.
TELL ME MORE: The Grape and Olive can be found on the 28th floor of the Meridian Tower by Swansea Marina. For sat nav users the postcode is SA1 1JW. Go to www.grapeandolive.co.uk or phone 01792 462617.


Richard Thomas's new book Sci-Fi Worlds - Doctor Who, Doomwatch, Battlestar Galactica And Other Cult TV Shows is available from Amazon. Visit www.richardthomas.eu.