A LOCAL arts charity is appealing for djembe drums to loan to a group of Zimbabwean performers coming to Pembrokeshire for Narberth's Civic Week. Span Arts has secured funding for Bulawayo-based Grassroots Theatre Company - a group of storytellers, musicians, singers and dancers - to fly in from Africa and host a week of free dance, music and drumming workshops for young people, as part of the Civic Week celebrations. The company will also present a show at the Queens Hall during the festival, which runs from July 23 to July 29. Although generous, the funding for Grassroots' visit - which has come from The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust, The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust and The Arts Council of Wales - does not stretch to cover the additional carriage fees that would be incurred if the group brought a number of drums with them to the UK. "We're appealing for community-minded djembe- owners to lend us their drums during this week, so that we can make full use of Grassroots' skills at the workshops," said Span's events co-ordinator, Declan Connolly. "Several local musicians have already been kind enough to offer us drums, and we hope that other individuals or organisations will follow their lead." If you would like to lend Grassroots a drum, or for more information on the free workshops, please call Span Arts on (01834) 869323.
