If I had a penny for every time I've heard a local mayor or

council leader start a speech with a comment on the quality of

young talent in this area then I wouldn't be short of a bob or

two.In fact, I've lost count at the number of times I've said

it myself.

I must say that everytime that I've heard or used that

phrase then it has been true and those commented on deserve to

be described as incredibly talented.

In fact, this coming Panto season will be the third year

that our principal boy or girl will be a former winner of the

City and County of Swansea Talent Show.

Two years ago it was Craig Gallivan, whilst last year it was

the turn of Craig's sister Hayley,

Later this year another former winner of that competition,

Nia Jermin, will play the title role in Cinderella.

Many of the young local performers who are now enjoying

successful careers are former pupils of Gorseinon College's

Performing Arts Department.

My first encounter of Gorseinon College was in 1993 when I

went to see the final year students perform an incredible play

called Hindsight.

The play was about villagers in France who were murdered by

Nazis during the Second World War, and despite its difficult

theme, it was an amazing performance by young performers.

I must confess that I went because the college used my then,

three-year-old daughter Bethan to play a young child in the

show.

Over the last two years I've seen many Gorseinon College

productions as my now 18-year-old daughter has been a student

on that same Performing Arts Course.

This year the Final Year students were involved in two

separate productions, both performed at the Grand.

One a production of the popular musical Oklahoma, the other

a play, the Greek Tragedy, Antigone, which my daughter appeared

in.

Both shows were a triumph but I was just so amazed at the

talent of the 12 girls who took on Antigone.

They were of course helped by their excellent director

Robert Barton, a lecturer at Gorseinon College who has

performed in the Royal Shakespeare Company, The National

Theatre, and The Wales Theatre Company. He is also a former

student of Gorseinon College.

Add to Gorseinon similar courses at Swansea College and

Neath and Port Talbot College, all responsible for turning out

some amazing talent, on stage and back stage.

Long may they continue to do so!