Welcome

Equity has a vital network of branches throughout the UK which give members a voice in the union and much more. Branches hold regular meetings in their local area and all members and student members are invited to attend these to share views and experiences, discuss issues that are of importance to them and put proposals to Equity's ruling body - the Equity Council. Branches also organise a programme of social events and raise money for local charities.

If you are an Equity member or student member based in the area you are able to join the branch (no charge) so please get in touch with the Branch Secretary. If you are a member or student member visiting the area you are very welcome to drop into the next branch meeting and get to know some of your fellow members.

=========================================
This site was last updated on 12-06-2008
=========================================

The next branch meeting is on 17th June - Still at the British Legion Club in Neath. For the forseeable future, our meetings will be held as usual at this venue on the third Tuesday of every month. The usual rallying call applies of course. Please make every effort to attend - especially committee members

I am "down under" in Australia for the next few weeks so I have to rely on variable internet access to update this site but we should mangage


=========================================
*** ARE WE JINXED? ***
=========================================

Would you believe it!
The Smiths Arms at Neath Abbey, which has been our new official home for Branch meetings for the last… em… ten days or so, has been closed down already! We are not doomed though. We have come to an arrangement - for the time being anyway with the British Legion Club at Stockman’s Corner in Neath. We have a room there for £10.00 per night. Not as good as the Smith’s as that was free with the added promise of free sandwiches thrown in. But hey - a home is a home and for the time being at least, we have one!

=========================================

Shelli Dawn sums up our adventures nicely in her report to the Branch Secs meeting in London this week. For those who love a good yarn, here it is:

Secretary’s Report for April 9th
Guild House – 11.00AM
It has been a real nightmare this last two weeks. Our regular venue, The Farmers Arms at Skewen was suddenly closed down with no warning just ten days before our annual AGM.
With only days to go, we obtained the use of a function room in a nearby pub, The Rock and Fountain, only to be informed on the eve of the AGM that it too was closing its doors that very night.
After some more frantic running around, and with less than twenty four hours before the AGM got under way, we obtained the use of yet another function room in yet another pub. This time at The Smiths Arms - which is still in the same area. I managed to contact around forty members to keep them informed and our webmaster Tony Richards was certainly on the ball with what almost amounted to a running commentary on our website!
The meeting that almost never happened eventually turned out to be rather excellent. Around twenty members managed to find us and about the same number passed on their apologies. Actor Bernard Latham was our guest for the night and he kept the meeting rolling with laughter as he enlightened them with some of his more colourful experiences as an actor of many years standing.

This year’s officers and committee remain unchanged.

Update:
1 We thought that the storm clouds had finally lifted but there was more to come. The Landlady of the Smiths informed us that she was leaving that very week but the replacement manager might provide us with a permanent home. I spoke to the new manager who was indeed happy to let us have the room. However, after only a few days, The Smiths is now mysteriously closed and likely to remain that way for some time.
2 We have come to an arrangement - for the time being anyway with the British Legion Club at Stockman’s Corner in Neath. We have a room there for £10.00 per night. Not as good as the Smith’s as that was free with the added attraction of free sandwiches thrown in. But hey - a home is a home and we now have one! Who wants to be a Branch Sec?

=========================================

Ok. This is how you get there:

The British Legion
Stockman’s Corner
Eastland Road
NEATH
SA11 1LA

Approaching Neath from the A465:
Second of the two roundabouts and the club is in front of you.
There is a car park behind the club. Take the third exit off the roundabout

The next meeting is on Tuesday 15th April. Please make a special effort to attend. We just may be able to look back on the month and laugh by then

=========================================
Forthcoming Meetings
Tuesday 15th April
Tuesday 20th May
Tuesday 17th June
Tuesday 22nd July
=========================================

+++ THE AGM WAS A GREAT SUCCESS... BUT WHAT NOW? +++

The AGM that almost didn’t happen – Well it did! And in great style for those who managed to track us down at our new emergency control room, deep in the bowels of Neath Abbey

We’ve certainly had our share of problems over the last few days – with our regular venue, the Farmers Arms calling it a day, and our replacement venue the Rock and Fountain suffering the same fate with no notice on the eve of our most important meeting of the year. It looks like we will never find out what life at the rock would have been like. Anyway, by Monday night - with the AGM less than twenty four hours away, we were stuck without a venue. It was enough to drive a Saint to drink!

However, after much frantic running around, we were rescued by an angel in the form of June Thomas from the SMITHS ARMS at Neath Abbey. June and her trusty sidekick Sara Morgan made the Smith’s function room available at no cost and no notice. More than that, they bent over backwards to see that our every whim was suitably catered for. If you girls ever get to read this, Equity’s South Wales Variety Branch salutes you!

Also thanks are due to Martin Broad from the Farmers who did some scouting on our behalf and pointed us in the direction of our new friends at the Smiths. Without these people, this year’s AGM would have never happened. Unfortunately, in another cruel twist of fate, June is leaving the Smiths next week so we are at the mercy of the gods again. Next month’s meeting may or may not be at the Smiths. Please keep an eye on this site and I will break the news in true BBC24 fashion – as it breaks

We have much thinking to do regarding a new permanent home for future meetings so any suggestions from members is more than welcome. Also, as our destinies are being altered at breakneck speed, I would very much appreciate you keeping other members who may not have access to this site up to date as best as you can

============================================================

All this excitement should not distract us from the interesting and often hilarious talk delivered by our guest of the evening Bernard Latham who was truly superb. A report on the meeting, including the showbiz antics of Bernard and more seriously, his selfless work with visually impaired children, appears on the Branch News page

There are also some pictures taken on the evening which I have published on the external graphics page. Access this page from “links.” Click on “SW Variety Picture Site”
If that doesn't work, copy the following text into your browser address bar. http://swalesvb.bravehost.com
IF YOU STILL CAN'T GET IT TO WORK, CALL ME!

=========================================

WHAT A NIGHT!

Our Christmas dinner at the Farmers was a rip-roaring success. Our thanks go to everybody who helped to make it possible and to all those party people who attended

There are some excellent photos flying about and some of these picis have been posted to a new - more graphics friendly site. There is also some information on downloading pictures to your computer

CLICK ON THE "links" PAGE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE AND CLICK ON:

SW Variety Picture Site

If that doesn't work, copy the following text into your browser address bar

http://swalesvb.bravehost.com

IF YOU STILL CAN'T GET IT TO WORK, CALL ME!


Finally, if anybody who was at the sharp end on the night has any decent pics, please send some to me and I will publish the best of them



*********************************************************************
*
* Hi everybody,
*
* This is the brand spanking new website of Equity’s South Wales Variety Branch.
* We are indeed moving along with the times.
*
* Hopefully, we can make this site a place that our members can be proud of.
* Somewhere that you will want to visit regularly for information, education,
* entertainment, silly stories or indeed anything else that takes your fancy. (Within
* reason of course - I do have my job to think about!)
*
* My name is Tony Richards and I can be contacted at tony.rich@ntlworld.com
*
* I am your webmaster for the foreseeable future so if you have anything at all to
* contribute, let’s be having it my way and I will publish it for you. Without
* your contributions we don’t have a site so come on – somebody set the ball rolling.
*
* Amongst other things, we have set up a member’s directory page where you can
* indulge in a bit of blatant self-promotion. There are still a few bugs to iron out but
* by and large, things are looking good. We are up and running and with a good
* wind behind us, we are unstoppable.
*
* Wish us well
*
* Tony
*
*
**********************************************************************

Support From Afar - Where Will it end?

The West of England Branch has expressed its support for our new website project. Branch secretary Mary Lane said, “Please let your members know that the West of England Branch wish them well. (And we do hope that Shelli Dawn is getting better)

The West of England Branch is of course involved in a similar project and we in South Wales Variety wish them similar high-quality fortune

Mary suggested that we place reciprocal links on the websites. “Great idea,” I said.

So if you want to see what the West of England branch gets up to, click on the “links” page

==========================================================

We in South Wales currently hold meetings at The Farmers Arms (Update: Not any more - we are on the lookout for a new location. Hopefully to be announced soon) - generally on every third Tuesday of every month but check 'What's On' for a list for dates. All our members and student members, be they actors or variety artistes are always welcome to attend.

These get-togethers provide members with a voice by allowing them to put proposals to Equity's ruling body - the Equity Council. Additionally, they are also an invaluable opportunity for members to their share views and experiences or maybe discuss issues that are important to them.

We also organise regular social and fund-raising events.

If you are member / student member based in South Wales and not yet on the branch register (registration is free) please contact Branch Secretary Shelli Dawn.

Or you may be a member or student member just visiting the area. You are of course still welcome to drop into the next branch meeting and we will introduce you to some of your fellow members.

Just in case none of the above is tempting for you, perhaps I'd better mention that The Farmers boasts a rather cosy and well stocked bar! (Update: Not any more but we will restore the status quo some time soon - watch this space!)

==========================================================

DUE TO FORMATTING LIMITATIONS ON PARTS OF THIS SITE, YOUR ON-GOING EVENTS WILL BE PLACED BELOW FOR THE TIME BEING

Tony

==========================================================

The Grand Magic Club

The Swansea based Magic Club, which started from small beginnings in July 2001, is going from strength to strength each term. It is open to anybody from eleven years upwards to adults of any age. A professional magician is on hand to assist those in need of help.

We work in a workshop environment. First we show an effect followed by a step by step instruction on presentation etc. If you are interested in learning the art of performing magic tricks, come and join us. You do not have to be professional… We have loads of fun!

Our meetings are held on the last Thursday of every month, excluding December and January, at The Swansea Grand Theatre. Make your way to The White Room. (It’s on the first floor in the Arts Wing)

The meetings start at 7:15pm and the fee per session is £3.00.

More details: 01792 233 517.

==========================================================