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Aberystwyth celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl!

In 2016, people across the globe will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl, one of the most significant literary figures of the twentieth century. His contribution to the fields of children’s literature, poetry and screenwriting are unparalleled, and his subversive, humorous and darkly clever tales continue to entertain and thrill children across the world.

The Roald Dahl 100 celebrations coincide with ‘Wales: Year of Adventure’ in 2016 and Roald Dahl himself was no stranger to adventure, as a child getting up to well-documented mischief in the local sweetshop in Llandaff or as a young pilot during World War Two.

Aberystwyth is joining in the celebrations with a series of events taking place throughout the summer at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, National Library Wales and Ceredigion Museum.

Wales Millennium Centre and The Aloud Charity present Land of Song: Roald Dahl 100 Celebration, Monday 6 June, 11am at Aberystwyth Arts Centre.  Join thousands of school children across Wales to celebrate the life of the world’s greatest story teller, Roald Dahl. Using songs from his associated works and celebrity narrations of some of his most famous books, this fully interactive concert is part of the wider Roald Dahl 100 Celebrations. 

Sell a Door Theatre present James and the Giant Peach at Aberystwyth Arts Centre 26 – 31 July 2016.  Roald Dahl’s classic tale follows the adventurous, young James and his friends – Miss Spider, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybird and Earthworm.  Beginning at the end of the story, like all great tales do, James and his friends are living in the giant peach stone in Central Park, New York, but the real story lies in how they got there, all the way from the White Cliffs of Dover.  Join James and his new found insect friends on their extraordinary journey fraught with enemies, dangers and excitement, which will take them halfway around the world in a giant peach full of friends, music and laughter.  James and the Giant Peach is suitable for all the family – a guaranteed great trip to the theatre!

MusicFest Aberystwyth will be offering two very special performances of Roald Dahl poems as part of MusicFest Aberystwyth 2016, on the 24th and 25th July.  On Sunday 24th July Magnard Ensemble will perform a composition by Martin Butler of Roald Dahls revolting rhyme Dirty Beasts for wind quintet, piano and narrator.  The concert will also include Solem Quartet and in addition to Dirty Beasts will feature Shostakovich String Quartet No 8 in C minor, Op. 110 Barber Summer Music for wind quintet Mendelssohn String Quartet in A minor Op.13

On Monday 25th July, Ceredigion Museum will host a performance for children and their families of ‘Revolting Rhymes and Marvellous Music!’. The lively, dynamic chamber group MAGNARD ENSEMBLE and narrator REBECCA KENNY explore the world of Roald Dahl’s poetry through live instrumental music and theatre. In their presentation of the well-known tale of Little Red Riding Hood, accompany them and composer Paul Patterson deep into the forest on an interactive musical adventure. You will meet some of your favourite, familiar characters and you might even think that you know the story, but take care - in the weird and wonderful world of Roald Dahl’s imagination nothing is ever quite what it seems.

Staff from the Roald Dahl Museum will be visiting the National Library Wales to hold a special event during summer 2016. Further details will appear on their website and on social media.

Anni Llŷn, Children's Poet Laureate of Wales, will be on hand to welcome all of Mid Wales's little monsters for a session filled to the brim with fun and preposterous poetry at the National Library of Wales on the 26th August 10am – 12noon! There will be an opportunity to have a look around the exhibition and draw inspiration from the master of mischief himself, Roald Dahl. Be prepared to rhyme, compose silly lines and fall about in stitches in the workshop suitable for children aged 7-11years.

Join the National Library of Wales for a Roald Dahl tea party on Saturday 10th of September.  Creative writing workshops for Children (Years 5 and 6) will also take place during the day and children will be encouraged to take inspiration from Roald Dahl’s The BFG to create their own Welsh giants.

To book tickets for any of these events or for further information, contact the venues:

Aberystwyth Arts Centre:  01970 62 32 32 www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk

Ceredigion Museum:  01970 633088

MusicFest Aberystwyth:  01970 612 034  musicfestaberystwyth.org musicfest@aber.ac.uk

National Library of Wales:  01970 632 933  www.library.wales