CRICKHOWELL’S CL ARENCE HALL NEWSLETTER & WHAT’S ON
Crickhowell Walking Festival
Each March, the Crickhowell Walking Festival brings walkers of all abilities to town to explore the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog and Black Mountains
With more than 80 guided routes, from family-friendly options to night walks, it’s become a much-loved fixture in the local calendar. Alongside the walks, the Festival offers a programme of evening events and this year Clarence Hall is pleased to host one.
On Saturday, 7 March, mountaineer and photographer Tim Kington, together with LOWA, presents Everest: It’s a Long Way Back Down — an engaging, honest look at what it really takes to climb Mount Everest
Tickets are £7 from this link. The Clarence Hall Bar will be open for this event.
A month of drama, fun & laughter…
January at the Clarence Hall offered a rich mix of drama, family entertainment and comedy, bringing people together during the heart of winter.
The month opened with the return of Rareseed Theatre, who brought In the Bleak Midwinter to Crickhowell. Written by local author Charles Way, the play blends poetic imagery with earthy, spoken dialogue to create something both accessible and moving.
Inspired by the medieval mystery plays and set in the Welsh Border country, not far from Bethlehem, the story follows Zac, a stargazing shepherd, and Miriam, his pragmatic wife, as they journey through the Black Mountains to register for the poll tax. Performed with original live music and staged on the floor rather than a raised stage, the production created an intimate atmosphere that drew the audience in. The response was warm and appreciative, with particular praise for the writing and the immediacy of the performances — community theatre at its best.
Family fun followed with this year’s pantomime, Treasure Island, which proved a real highlight of the month. The production by Crickhowell and District Players delighted audiences of all ages, filling the hall with laughter, music and a strong sense
of shared enjoyment. From the opening scenes, the energy on stage carried the audience into a world of pirates, adventure and playful mischief.
Standout performances came from the dastardly Long John Silver and his sidekick Scallywag, alongside the comic trio Brass, Knuckles and Bones, while the goodies — Jim Hawkins, Felicity, Ma Hawkins, Martha and Squire Trelawny — brought warmth and heart to the story. Captain Corker’un, the Fairy Godmother and Polly the Parrot each added their own sparkle.
Behind the scenes, lighting, sound, costumes and scenery combined to create a lively production. Above all, Treasure Island was a celebration of local talent and community spirit, with packed houses and generous applause throughout its run.
The month closed on a high note with the Hall hosting two sold-out nights for the Black Mountains Comedy Festival, bringing warmth and laughter to dark January evenings. The weekend showcased a strong mix of established and emerging voices. Friday featured Mike Bubbins, Huw Davies, Samantha Day, Paul Hilleard and Sully Jones, while Saturday welcomed Ed Byrne alongside Blank Peng with Ross Smith and Raj Poojara completing the line-up.
As part of the events, the Black Mountains team also shared a video highlighting another side of their work - the dementia-friendly performances with the Kitsch n Sync Collective that they bring to local care homes. It was a moving reminder that buying a ticket to the Comedy Festival not only gives you a good night out but also helps create moments of connection and happiness for others. A fitting close to an uplifting month at the Hall!
Looking ahead, February is already shaping up to be just as varied. Theatre Adhoc return with an Agatha Christie mystery in Black Coffee, alongside the first visit from Baby Darling, bringing sparkle and showmanship to the Hall. There’s family-friendly wrestling with British Kingdom Pro-Wrestling, a Rug Sale, and a drop-in session with Powys Teaching Health Board. Community music-making features with a Come and Play Rachmaninov Day with Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra, before February rounds off with a high-energy concert from Hayseed Dixie. With something for every age and interest, the month ahead promises another lively chapter at Clarence Hall.
Coming up at Clarence Hall
Crickhowell u3a
Join Crickhowell’s thriving u3a for its next meeting on Tuesday, 3 February. Coffee is served from 10.00am, with announcements and U3A business matters at 10.30am. Nonmembers are welcome to attend monthly meetings free of charge. Further information at this link
Theatre Adhoc in Black Coffee
Theatre Adhoc returns at 7pm on Thursday, 5 February, with a gripping Agatha Christie mystery, Black Coffee. Poirot fans will be swept into an evening of deception, brought to life by a talented local cast. Bar available. Book now at this link
Baby Darling
Baby Darling makes her first appearance at the Clarence Hall on Saturday, 7 February with a brand-new show blending stand up, storytelling and live music. Doors open at 7.30pm, with the Clarence Hall bar open for drinks before the show. Tickets available from Ticketsource
Family Friendly Wrestling
British Kingdom Pro Wrestling returns to Crickhowell on Sunday, 8 February and promises an afternoon of thrilling, live wrestling. There’ll also be an opportunity to meet and greet the wrestlers after the event. Doors open at 3pm with the high flying action starting at 3.30pm. Tickets from this link
Community Health Drop-in
Join Powys Teaching Health Board on Thursday, 12 February, from 3pm to 6pm, for a Community Health Drop-in, offering an opportunity to talk about local health services and future plans. There’s no need to book and people are welcome to drop in at any point for a chat.
Come and Play Rachmaninov
Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra’s 2026 workshop will take place on Sunday, 22 February. Conducted by Michael Bell MBE, this event presents a rare opportunity to explore Rachmaninov’s Symphony no. 2. Further information and booking at this link
Hayseed Dixie
Global Promotions present Hayseed Dixie, pioneers of the rock grass genre of music, supported by Fargo Railroad Co. at the Clarence Hall on Saturday, 28 February. Doors open 7.15pm. Tickets from Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau at the Clarence Hall on 01873 812177 and from this link
