With a flaming beacon lit at the entrance of the grounds, the real star was the diverse, even eccentric music itself. Kick started with a blaze of colour, sambas and theatre blended smoothly with the powerful voices of the Aberhonddu Male Choir leaving audiences swaying and tapping their toes all night.
Compare, Owen Money delivered a magnificent stand up performance, keeping the audience entertained with jokes from his hometown of Merthyr Tydfil and tales of his twilight years in the National Park.
The Red Kite Theatre Company performed a specially written play for the event, looking at the sacking of Llangorse Crannog in 916 by Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians. The bare bones of the story were taken from the Anglo Saxon Chronicles and other contemporary writings, but these had been ‘worked on’ by their talented young members to come up with their own take on what might have happened.
As the evening drew to a close, the magnificent rhythms of the Samba Galez Samba Band led a jubilant applause, leading the majority of the audience to do what they had been itching to do all night – CONGA!
Christopher Gledhill, Chief Executive for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, said at the event: “The recent rain over the last few days have undoubtedly affected the attendance here tonight, but only serve to emphasise the fortitude of those who love great music and theatre.
“My sincere thanks go out to everyone for making this Picnic in the Park evening a tremendous success. There are so many talented performers and artists who have given up their valuable time to be here this evening, and who have given first class performances.”