Light up the night

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, November 3, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

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Light up the night 

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS heads to Swansea's Fireworks Display at St Helen's Ground. 

WHY? Sparks In The Dark is Swansea's largest fireworks display. Thousands of people turn up to enjoy the annual fireworks extravaganza at St Helen's Rugby Ground in Swansea every year.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? This year the spectacular show includes entertainment from Nation 80s before the display including dynamic dance from Nu Sxool, music from local band Where’s Wally and former X Factor winner Joe McElderry, who rose to fame in 2009 when he beat Ollie Murs and Stacey Solomon to win the title. The event also includes a large circus skills workshop, where people have the opportunity to have a go at juggling, stilt-walking and unicycling.
ANY HISTORY? On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was caught guarding explosives placed beneath the House of Lords and arrested. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure. WHAT TO TAKE? Advanced tickets are priced at £15 for families (2 adults and up to 3 children), £4.50 standard, £3.50 concessions and £3 Passport to Leisure. Tickets purchased on the night are £20 for families (2 adults and up to 3 children), £5.50 standard, £4.50 concessions and £3.50 Passport to Leisure. Accompanied Under 3s go free. Candy floss, hotdogs, burgers as well as glow sticks and other glow in the dark toys will all be available to buy on the night. Spectators should dress appropriately for the time of year as this is an outdoor event.
LOOK OUT FOR? The show will see Swansea Bay light up with a spectacular fireworks display and The Wave and Swansea Sound will be on stage with live music, special guests and entertainment throughout the night. Fire jugglers and children's entertainers will also be at St Helen's to provide pre-fireworks fun on the night.
WHEN TO GO? Gates for fireworks extravaganza open on Monday November 5 at 5.30pm with entertainment starting at 6pm. The evening will finish with a spectacular fireworks display choreographed to music at 7.30pm.
TELL ME MORE: The fireworks display will be held at St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. For sat nav users the address and postcode is: 1 Bryn Road, Brynmill, Swansea, SA2 0AR. Tickets can be purchased online at www.swansea.gov.uk/fireworks or by calling Swansea Tourist Information Centre on 01792 468321. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased in person from a number of venues including Swansea Tourist Information Centre, Mumbles Tourist Information Centre, Swansea Civic Centre and any Active Swansea Leisure Centre. Tickets can also be purchased in person on the night on the gates at St Helen's Ground.
Visit Richard Thomas's website at www.richardthomas.eu.

Get in a spin on track

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 13, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

 
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Get in a spin on track

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS heads to Skidz Karting in Swansea. 

WHY? Skidz Karting is Swansea’s only indoor go karting track. With karts and tracks suitable for all ages and abilities, drivers young and old will have a great time trying to beat each others best lap time on the tracks.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? Measuring 330 meters in length and consisting of an exciting mix of tight bends, sweeping curves and great long straights, the 6 meter wide main track allows for plenty of overtaking opportunities and provides plenty of challenges for even the most experienced go karter. There’s also a great track for younger drivers, providing plenty of fun but still nice and safe with a secure pit lane area for safe pit stops. Children as young as three can take part. There are three types of kart available: electric KIDZ KARTZ that travel up to 6 miles per hour for three to eight year olds, SODI FUN KID petrol karts for eight to twelve year olds, and the worlds most popular kart the SODI GT4 for adults. LOOK OUT FOR? Along with two great tracks there is also a games room with driving simulators where you can get some practice before you go on the track, a pool table, air hockey table, and a cafe serving light refreshments to check out. ANY HISTORY? Skidz Karting opened last year. Although a popular sport in Europe today, go karting first began on the other side of the Atlantic. Art Ingels is thought to have built the world's first go kart in 1956 in California. Go karting quickly caught on with tracks built in many towns and cities across the United States.
WHAT TO TAKE? Drivers will have to make a one time purchase of a balaclava for hygiene reasons, but these only cost £1.50 each and are yours to keep and bring back next time. All the other kit, including a helmet, overalls, gloves and a detailed safety briefing are provided for. Prices are £20 for 25 minuets during off peak times and £25 for the same during peak times, Monday to Friday after 4pm, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.
WHEN TO GO? During the school term the go karting tracks are open daily between 12pm and 8pm, except Mondays when the tracks are closed. During school holidays Skids Karting is open seven days a week from 10am to 12pm. TELL ME MORE: For sat-nav users the full address and postcode is: Unit 1, Rear of Queensway, Swansea West Business Park, Fforest-Fach, Swansea, SA5 4DJ. To book a place call 01792 580927. More information about opening times, prices and the go karting tracks can be found on the Skidz Karting website at www.skidzkarting.co.uk.
Visit Richard Thomas's website at www.richardthomas.eu.

Centre full of history

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 20, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

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Centre full of history 

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS heads to Swansea Museum’s Collections Centre at Landore. 

WHY? Swansea Museum operates over four locations. The Collections Centre is a fascinating place to visit because it houses the museum's reserve collection which include some extraordinary exhibits from Swansea’s industrial and maritime past.
WHAT'S THE BUZZ? The Collections Centre is housed in an historically important building on the former Hafod/Morfa Copper Works site in Landore, parts of which date back to 1830. The former copper rolling shed and warehouse building has been transformed into a public-access store and collections centre. The building is now home to the reserve collections of both Swansea Museum and the Maritime and Industrial Museum, providing more opportunities for the public to see some wonderful gems from history.
ANY HISTORY? In the mid-19th century the Hafod/Morfa copper-smelting complex was the centre of world copper smelting activity. Little evidence remains of this industrial past, however, save for the buildings on the site.
QUIRKY HISTORY? Considering the age of the building and the exhibits inside, ghost hunters won’t be surprised to learn that staff have even reported hearing “loud whistling” when nobody else should have been in the building.
WHAT TO TAKE? Admission is free but don’t forget to bring a camera with you.
LOOK OUT FOR? Some of the most popular items in the collection at Landore are the old vehicles like a traveller's van, lorries, a fire engine and also boats. There are even two lifeboats; the Naomi Beatty and the William Gammon. Gifted to the museum in 1992, the William Gammon was named in memory of the coxswain of the Mumbles lifeboat, who lost his life along with the other seven crew members on April 23, 1947, whilst attempting to rescue the crew of the Samtampa. The collection from the former Maritime and Industrial Museum in Swansea is also at the Landore site.
WHEN TO GO? Swansea Museum Collections Centre opens to visitors every Wednesday between 10am to 4pm.
TELL ME MORE: The Collections Centre can be found next to the Park and Ride car park, opposite the Liberty Stadium, on the Cross Valley Link Road, Landore, Swansea, SA1 2JT. For more information about exhibitions and events at Swansea Museum you can visit their website at www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseamuseum or phone 01792 653763.
Visit Richard Thomas's website at www.richardthomas.eu.

Spooky tour of caste

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 27, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

 
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Spooky tour of caste 

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS heads to Swansea Castle. 

WHY? What better way to spend Halloween than to take a tour of a haunted castle?
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? Following the success of last year’s tours, Swansea Castle is again opening to the public for Halloween. Several vaulted rooms of the medieval fortress, cells of the 18th century prison and the whole of the first floor will be open to the public as part of Swansea’s Spooks in the City event. Other activities too, including lantern making, apple bobbing, face painting and workshops in Oxford Street, as well as Halloween crafts and Big Cook Little Cook sessions in Swansea Market will also be taking place as part of the event.
ANY HISTORY? Swansea Castle dates back to around 1106 when it was founded by Henry de Beaumont, the first Earl of Warwick. De Beaumont is said to have accompanied William the Conqueror on his campaign in the Midlands in 1068 and was later given the Lordship of Gower by his friend and ally Henry I. The original castle consisted of earthworks and timber defences. After various unsuccessful attacks made by the Welsh, first in 1116, then again in 1192, the castle finally fell in 1217 when it was razed to the ground. It was later restored to the English control in 1220 as part of the settlement between Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and Henry III of England. Today’s stone castle was built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries by the de Braose lords of Gower William II and his son William III as a set of private apartments for the de Braose family. One of their victims was the Welsh warrior William Cragh, who was executed within sight of the castle in 1290 for killing 13 men. By this time the castle had lost much of its military importance and has since served many other purposes. In the 16th century a town hall was located in the area to the front of the castle and in the 18th and 19th centuries parts of the castle were variously used as a town market, a police station, a drill hall and a debtors’ prison. In 1941 the castle was damaged during the “Three Night Blitz”. After decades of being closed to the public, tours of the castle began last year following funding from the Welsh Government.
LOOK OUT FOR? According to local legend an undersea tunnel connects Swansea Castle to Oystermouth Castle in Mumbles, famous for its White Lady. A similar sceptre dressed in blue robes is said to haunt Swansea Castle.
WHAT TO TAKE? There is no charge but there is a maximum of 20 places on each tour. To book a place phone 01792 637300.
WHEN TO GO? Spooks in the City is being held in Swansea City Centre on Wednesday 31 October between 10am and 4pm. The start times of the castle tours are: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. TELL ME MORE: For more information go to www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseacastle.
Richard Thomas is the author of Para-News: UFOs, Ghosts, Conspiracy, Cryptids And More, available from www.amazon.co.uk and all good book retailers. Visit www.richardthomas.eu.

Hothouse gets spooky

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 6, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

 
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Hothouse gets spooky 

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS heads to Plantasia in Swansea. 

WHY? The superb all weather attraction in the heart of Swansea houses a huge variety of unusual animals and exotic plants, some of which are extinct in the wild. On October 30 and 31 Plantasia are holding Halloween Spook Night.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? The tropical paradise is housed inside a unique glass pyramid and is just bursting with plants and wildlife. The hothouse contains three climate zones: Tropical with a rainforest, Arid and Humid. The collection includes over 5,000 plants ranging from banana plants, giant bamboo, coconuts and collections of ferns and cacti. Along with the plants there are several species of fish, exotic insects and other animals to see. These include piranhas, a bearded dragon, a chameleon, tarantulas, snakes and even tamarin monkeys. In the butterfly house butterflies can be seen flying freely and viewed at various stages of development.
ANY HISTORY? Plantasia opened in 1990. In recent years the hothouse has been used as a filming location for two Doctor Who episodes, The Doctor's Daughter and Cold Blood.
WHAT TO TAKE? There is an admission charge into Plantasia of £3.35 for adults and £2.35 for children. Under 3’s visit for free. Family tickets and annual membership are also available. There is no charge, however, to just sit back and relax in their coffee shop or browse through their fantastic gift shop while others enjoy the exotic plants and animals. Afterwards, you can all enjoy a Joe’s ice cream or fresh donates sold in the stores by the Plantasia entrance.
LOOK OUT FOR? On October 30 and 31 there’s Halloween Spooy Night when Plantasia opens its doors after dark and lets children dressed in Halloween costumes take part in a ghost trail and explore the depths of the hothouse at night! Pre-booking is essential due to popularity. Tickets cost £4.50 per person. WHEN TO GO? They are open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. Last admissions at 4.15pm.
TELL ME MORE: Plantasia is located in the Parc Tawe retail park. For sat nav users the address and postcode is: Plantasia, Parc Tawe, Swansea, SA1 2AL. To book phone 01792 47455 or for more information visit www.plantasia.org.

A centre of attraction

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, September 29, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

 
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A centre of attraction

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS heads to The Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea. 

WHY? The Taliesin Arts Centre is a very popular venue presenting a wide variety of performances and exhibitions. Open throughout the year the centre host a broad programme of events including cinema screenings and a wide variety of live performances. With a programme ranging from children's events to opera, there's something to suit all tastes.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? The Taliesin hold over 50 live performances per year. On October 11, the Live Stream National Theatre presents The Last of the Haussmans, a new play by Stephen Beresford about a family that’s losing its grip starring one of Britain’s best-loved and most versatile actors, Julie Walters. The highly anticipated play is sold out but there are many other performances to look forward o at the centre. Choreographed by Arthur Pita, God's Garden is a new dance theatre piece co-commissioned by DanceEast and ROH2. Set on the Portuguese paradise island of Madeira and based on the parable of the Prodigal Son, the golden boy of the Costa family is under pressure to marry a local girl but flees on his wedding day to avoid his duty. After returning, he discovers his jilted bride must have her revenge.
ANY HISTORY? The Taliesin first opened in 1984 and is named after the 6th century Celtic bard or poet of the same name. According to legend Taliesin sung at the court of King Arthur and other British kings. WHAT TO TAKE? Tickets for Performance Arts God's Garden cost £12 and are only £10 for under 25s. School prices are £7 per head.
LOOK OUT FOR? The Ceri Richards Gallery inside the Taliesin hosts regular touring exhibitions and stocks an excellent range of greetings cards as well as jewellery, ceramics and other craft items. The Taliesin also houses the Egypt Centre, a museum of Egyptian antiquities. There are over 4500 items in the collection. Egypt Centre staff have published over 100 online pages concerning individual items, which you can find on the Egypt Centre website at ww.swan.ac.uk/egypt.The funerary items on display in the House of Death are one highlight. These include amulets, shrouds, statues, coffins and fragments of coffins, and even canopic jars, which were used by the Ancient Egyptians to store and preserve the internal organs of the deceased for their journey through the afterlife.
WHEN TO GO? The Taliesin is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. On Saturdays the centre is open 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. The box office remains open until 8pm on performance evenings. Unless otherwise stated screenings begin at 7.30pm. More information about event times and dates can be found on the Taliesin website. Just go to www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk and click "diary".
TELL ME MORE: The Taliesin Arts Centre can be found on the campus of Swansea University at Singleton Park. For sat nav users their address and postcode is: Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PZ. For more information and to book tickets call 01792 602060.
Visit Richard Thomas's website at www.richardthomas.eu.

Circus fun in big top

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, September 22, 2012, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

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Circus fun in big top

A big day out! 

RICHARD THOMAS heads to the Moscow State Circus in Swansea. 

WHY? This month the award-winning Russian circus troupe are bringing their most spectacular show yet to Swansea, the Babushkin Sekret. Inspired by The Twelve Chairs, a satirical novel about a treaure hunt in 1920s Russia, the sensational extravaganza involves a mammoth cast of Russia's greatest and most talented circus artistes.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? Housed inside a chapiteau big top, the spectacular production consists of a cast of twenty-five performers, including clowns, trapeze artists, aerial acrobats, jugglers and contortionists. The newly devised show includes the beautiful Queen of Russian Circus, Yana Alievia, on a revolving ariel chandelier. There are also the breathtaking Stalkions, a team of three men and two girls, who perform unbelievable aerial feats on the high wire. And if all that isn't enough the clowns Alik and Valerik will have you falling over with laughter.
ANY HISTORY? The latest production of the circus, the Babushkin Sekret, was inspired by the 1928 Russian novel The Twelve Chairs by Soviet authors Ilf and Petrov. Set in Soviet Russia in 1927, a former member of Russian nobility is working as a desk clerk, that is until his grandmother reveals on her deathbed that her jewellery had been hidden from the Bolsheviks in one of the twelve chairs from the family's dining room set. Expropriated by the government after the Russian Revolution, the desk clerk tries to track down the family jewellery before the Bolsheviks.
WHAT TO TAKE? Popcorn, candy floss and other snacks are available. Don't forget to bring a camera to take some snaps of the performances. Parking costs £2.50.
LOOK OUT FOR? The Whirlwind Rubsovsm troupe who acrobatically catapult themselves high into the big top at breakneck speed and the juggling Sherbakovs, are two other highlights of the show.
WHEN TO GO? The circus will be at the Recreation Ground Car Park on Mumbles Road from Wednesday 26 until Sunday 30 September. For sat nav users the postcode is SA2 0AR.
TELL ME MORE: Tickets range from as little as £11, but a Ringside ticket costs £30. To buy tickets go to www.moscowstatecircus.com or phone Ticketmaster on 08448440444.
Visit Richard Thomas's website at www.richardthomas.eu.