Latest news with #RiverfrontTheatre
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Mersey Beatles set for Newport Riverfront Theatre gig
On Thursday, June 5, the band will perform at the Riverfront Theatre, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic Shea Stadium concert. With a history spanning 25 years, The Mersey Beatles have delighted audiences worldwide, and this show promises to be their biggest UK tour yet. The performance will feature an array of classic hits from 1965, including beloved tracks from the albums Help! and Rubber Soul. Fans can also expect a journey through the psychedelic sounds of Sgt Pepper, a stroll down Abbey Road, and an homage to later masterpieces like Revolution, Get Back, and Hey Jude. Hailing from Liverpool, The Mersey Beatles were the resident tribute band at the famous Cavern Club for a decade, performing over 600 times at the venue where The Beatles first made their mark. (Image: DAVE NELSON) The current lineup includes Mark Bloor as John, Steven Howard as Paul, Craig McGown as George, and Brian Ambrose as Ringo. Looking ahead to the Newport show, Mr Howard said, "We cannot wait to take to the stage at the Riverfront Theatre. "We always have an amazing night in South Wales – the audiences are always up for a good night – so this will be an amazing night." Tickets for The Mersey Beatles at Riverfront Theatre are on sale now, available from the Newport Live website.
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Frustration over delays for medieval ship discovered on banks of Welsh river
Frustration over delays for medieval ship discovered on banks of Welsh river There was excitement that one of Wales' top attractions could soon come to fruition but more than two years on the council has so far been unable to see the project through The ship was found in the banks of the Usk in Newport in 2002 and has undergone careful restoration ever since (Image: Rob Norman/WalesOnline ) There is frustration over delays to a medieval ship in Wales becoming a premier tourist attraction. The Spanish medieval ship, discovered on the banks of the River Usk in Newport in 2002 during the construction of the city's Riverfront Theatre, remains the largest and most complete section of a 15th-century European vessel to date. After 20 years of restoration work, in 2023 archaeologists began carefully reassembling the ship, which would have travelled long-distance routes of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. There was excitement then that one of Wales' top attractions could soon come to fruition, but more than two years on Newport council has so far been unable to see the project through while there are no concrete plans for the ship's base. While the council has tried to capitalise on interest around the ship by offering medieval ship themed history and craft sessions at the ship's visitor centre at the Estuary Road industrial estate, where some of the ship's timber remains are sited, Tory council opposition leader Matthew Evans told full council this week that the city needed the ship on display as soon as possible. "We shouldn't be talking about doing long term strategies 20 years later – we just need to get on with it," Cllr Evans said. "Newport needs something to bring people into the city centre." He proposed seeking support from the Welsh Government or National Lottery's heritage fund for a local project, or finding a third-party operator which could mirror the National Trust's involvement at Tredegar House. Article continues below "There are lots of potential sites – but until you find a site, you can't continue with the plans and the funding," he said. Friends of Newport Ship's Phil Cox in a climate controlled storeroom with sections from the ship (Image: Tom Martin/WALES NEWS SERVICE ) Newport council responded by saying it is committed to finding a lasting location for the ship and that expert advisers have been brought on board to plan for its future. The council said the work by external specialists is almost finished and they will "consider all options for the future ownership and governance of the project" which includes identifying appropriate sites. But the council ruled out the previous suggestion of displaying the ship in the Riverfront Theatre's lower level as "the space is not suitable for the reassembly and display of the artefact". The annual cost to manage the ship's timbers, stored at the visitor centre, stands at £100,000, and the council highlighted that budget constraints would impact its ability to develop the restored ship into a permanent exhibit. Never miss a Newport story by subscribing to our newsletter here "The context of funding to local authorities being cut in real terms over the last decade and a half, and our duty to protect frontline and statutory services, means that we cannot do this alone," a spokesperson for the council explained. The opposition leader has asked Newport council's cabinet why a permanent home hasn't been identified for the ship (Image: Friends Of Newport Ship ) "We will need support from partners to take this project forward. Once we have considered the appraisal we will begin discussions with the relevant partners to determine the next steps." Originating from northern Spain around the mid-15th century, historians believe the trading vessel which likely operated between Britain and the Iberian peninsula was likely hauled into Newport for repair works but met instability before refurbishing could start. The intriguing story of the ship continues to garner fascination, made evident in 2023 as historian Dan Snow described the return of the last restored pieces to Newport as heralding a "unique" and "exciting" chapter for the city. Article continues below
