Here are some events coming up in Monmouthshire, Brecon and the Forest of Dean you don’t want to miss.

For more upcoming events, please email: [email protected]

Bugsy Malone comes to Brecon next week

There’s still time to catch The Westenders’ production of Bugsy Malone, which opens at Theatr Brycheiniog next Thursday.

The Brecon-based amateur dramatic group is staging Alan Parker’s much-loved musical comedy from September 10 to 12, with performances at 7pm on Thursday and Friday, followed by two shows on Saturday at midday and 5pm.

Set in the Roaring Twenties, the story follows rival gangs as friendships are tested and characters chase dreams of fame and fortune.

The young cast will bring plenty of energy, comedy and memorable musical numbers to the stage, including Fat Sam’s Grand Slam, My Name Is Tallulah, Bad Guys and You Give a Little Love.

Tickets are available from Theatr Brycheiniog via the website or by calling 01874 611622.

Powerful dance double bill goes on tour

National Dance Company Wales is bringing a new double bill of contemporary dance to Hereford and Newtown as part of a tour across Wales and England.

Blue | Glas features the return of Theo Clinkard’s acclaimed Ordinary Courage, alongside Untamed, a new work by Olivier Award-nominated choreographer Alesandra Seutin.

The company will perform at The Courtyard in Hereford on Tuesday, September 29, at 7:30pm, before heading to Hafren in Newtown on Friday, October 2, also at 7:30pm.

The wider tour opens in Malvern on September 11 and also includes performances in Cardiff, London, Mold, Tewkesbury, Bangor, Bournemouth and Aberystwyth.

Ordinary Courage explores grief, loss and human connection and was first created in 2012 following the death of Clinkard’s mother.

The piece uses movement to reflect the experience of grief, while also looking at the comfort and strength people can find in one another. Music by Alan Stones combines original material with works by Scarlatti and Bach.

Clinkard said the work explores “the uneven terrain of grief”, the human need for connection and the possibility of finding joy.

The second half of the programme is Untamed, commissioned by National Dance Company Wales and inspired by the human urge to run.

Seutin’s work draws on the athleticism of runners and the mental battle of competition, using running as a metaphor for escaping the past and moving towards something new.

The performance combines high-energy dance with striking costumes and lighting. Its soundtrack features Welsh instruments and voices, with composer Randolph Matthews working alongside Welsh harpist and vocalist Sam Frankie Fox.

National Dance Company Wales artistic director Bakani Pick Up said the two works offered “very different stories with shared themes”, adding that both should appeal to regular dance-goers and those experiencing contemporary dance for the first time.

For more information, visit: ndcwales.co.uk

Spin through history at Tretower

Visitors to Tretower Court and Castle will have the chance to learn a traditional textile skill at a special event this month.

“Spinning Through Time” will take place at the historic site on Saturday, September 12, with two sessions running from 10am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 4pm.

The two-hour sessions will introduce participants to the use of a drop spindle, an historic tool that has played an important role in textile production for centuries.

Tickets cost £20 per person.

Tretower Court and Castle is managed as a historic monument and visitors are advised to check opening times and facilities before attending.

Further information about the event and the site is available at: cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/tretower-court-and-castle