A talented young musician has been inspired to write a new song by a love of chocolate and Welsh culture.
Gethin Juckes-Hughes, 17, will be singing the song at a fund-raising event for the National Eisteddfod that’s coming to his hometown of Denbigh next year.
The young guitarist will also be performing two songs from the hit film, Chocolat, which is being screened at Theatr Twm o’r Nant on Saturday, November 24.
As a curtain raiser, there will be a children’s matinee in the afternoon when the 1971 film version of the Roald Dahl classic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, will be shown.
Willy Wonka himself is due to make an appearance at the afternoon show which starts at 2.30pm.
He will be joined by fellow cast members from a production of the a musical being put on by the theatre school, Stagecoach Denbigh.
They will be giving a sneak preview of a few numbers from the show ahead of their opening night at Theatr Elwy, in St Asaph, on December 1.
In the meantime, a poetry and drawing competition is being organised for under 11s and under 16s to win tickets to the film matinee. Two tickets are up for grabs in both categories.
The chocolate-themed extravaganza is being organised by a partnership of Denbigh Chocolate Shop, care organisation Pendine Park, public relations company Ceidiog Communication and Denbigh Film Club.
The event is being “proudly supported” by the HSBC bank that has a branch near the Chocolate Shop on Vale Street as well as the Buckley-based printers, EWS.
The organisers want to help the Denbigh and District National Eisteddfod Appeal Committee to raise £70,000 for the cultural event which last came to the town in 2001.
Gethin, a sixth former at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, in St Asaph, is studying for A levels in Music, Music Technology and Physics.
He said: “I love chocolate and it’s important to support the Eisteddfod which is one the highlights of Welsh life, especially because it’s coming to Denbigh next year.
“I really like composing. A lot of what I come up with is heavy with a lot of blues but I can come up with songs which are a lot lighter.
“As well as the song I’m writing for the fund-raising event, on the night I intend to play couple of songs from the film, Minor Swing and Caravan, which are in a gypsy jazz style.
“The song I’m writing will be in the same style and I’m also trying to get a traditional Welsh element into it. It should be interesting.”
Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft, who lives in Denbigh, believes they’ve hit upon a winning combination.
“Willy Wonka and Chocolat are both classic films in their own different ways so I am sure it’s going to be a real joy and hopefully we can raise a lot of money for the Eisteddfod in the process.”
Mark Young, the chocolate-mad proprietor of Denbigh Chocolate Shop, can’t wait.
He said: “We think it’s fantastic that the Eisteddfod is coming to Denbigh again – we have very fond memories of its last visit which is why we are so keen to contribute to its success next year.
“Most of our staff are bilingual and I do think the bilingual element with the staff gives the shop another dimension.
“We just need to make sure now that we can showcase what a great area it is to work rest and play.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Lil Jones, from Denbigh Film Club.
She said: “Much of the fund-raising so far has been done by a relatively small core of people so we’re hoping to reach out to a whole new audience with the chocolate extravaganza.”
Ceidiog Hughes, Managing Director of Ceidiog Communication, is a keen film fan and lover of chocolate.
He added: “It’s a wonderful way to spend an evening while raising money for one our cultural institutions at the same time.”