Wrexham Eisteddfod musical star Cadi Glwys from Powys

Powys County Times

4 days ago

The Powys granddaughter of a legendary Wrexham and Wales goalkeeper will be the star of the National Eisteddfod's musical show about a girl who dreams of playing football.
Young musician and actor Cadi Glwys, from Moelfre near Llansilin, will be performing, and even showcasing her football skills, on stage when the Eisteddfod - the largest cultural festival in Europe - is held on the outskirts of Wrexham from Saturday, August 2.
For Cadi, who plays Grace, the connection to the game and to Wrexham Football Club is especially close to home.
She is the granddaughter of legendary goalkeeper Dai Davies, who played for both Wrexham and Wales throughout the 1970s.
A proud member of the Gorsedd of Bards, Dai became a respected commentator on television and radio after retiring from the game. He died four years ago at the age of 72.
'It's going to be very emotional on stage," Cadi said. "He would have absolutely loved seeing me take part in this show.
'He adored his family and was incredibly supportive. Whenever he was commentating on TV, he'd always touch his ear—his little way of saying 'hello' to us.
'He was proud to be part of the Gorsedd, even though he didn't often take part in the ceremonies. But at the 2015 Eisteddfod in Meifod, I was dancing in the Dawns Flodau and he came along to be part of the Gorsedd while I was on stage.
'Just before he passed away, he gave me a book and wrote inside it that I should enjoy every performance—and that's exactly what I hope to do.'
As part of the show, Cadi will also showcase her football skills.
'I used to play football at Ysgol Llanfyllin, but the pandemic brought everything to a halt and the team never restarted," she said.
"I've been brushing up on my skills for the show, and I'm really glad Dyfed Thomas is in the cast—he's an experienced player who even signed a professional contract with Crystal Palace while he was in college.'
Y Stand, written by Manon Steffan Ros with songs by Osian Huw Williams, pays tribute to the area's rich rock music heritage, drawing inspiration from the passionate melodies heard from chapel pews to the Kop stand.
This year's Eisteddfod will be a busy one for Cadi. She's a member of Twmpdaith, a group of young musicians who tour village halls and summer festivals, bringing the joy of the twmpath - similar to a ceilidh - wherever they go. They'll be performing in Tŷ Gwerin and Maes D during the week.
Cadi will also be playing the triple harp in Tŷ Gwerin and other locations across the Maes.
'I started learning the harp when I was about eight," Cadi said.
"Robin Huw Bowen came to our school and that was the first time I saw a triple harp. I was lucky enough to have lessons with Elizabeth Bickerton, who's related to Nansi Richards, and I was even luckier to be given a triple harp of my own.'
Y Stand will be performed in the Eisteddfod Pavilion on Saturday, August 2, and Monday, August 4m at 7.30pm. Tickets and more information are available online at https://eisteddfod.cymru or via the Ticket Line on 0345 4090 800.