Porthcawl Elvis Festival does Live Art Development Agency's DIY10.

Surely there is nothing more bizarre than discovering that you grew up in the same town and went to the same school as Nigel Barrett. But there is something more bizarre: your childhood town is now home to Europe's biggest Elvis Festival. And over and above that, what's even more bizarre is that you are now walking down the prom with a bunch of live artists, theatre makers and performers and someone has just suggested going to Streets - the nightclub where you met your husband 15 years ago. To top all that, you were in Streets that morning to watch Elvis tribute karaoke, and they still have the same wallpaper on the walls that they did 15 years ago. 

To say that Porthcawl is the Twin Peaks of Wales would be something of an understatement. I crossed back over the bridge on Monday feeling like I had just left the Twilight Zone. Ever had an in-depth conversation with the producer of SMASH LAB about the protracted and unresolved "why doesn't Porthcawl have a swimming pool" saga? I have. Ever sat in the Prince of Wales on Station Hill discussing Elvis, blood letting in performance art, and the Yard's Autumn schedule? I have. It's pretty mind bending I can tell you.

For me the weekend was a clash of worlds: two universes colliding in one all mighty boom of creativity. Dissecting the experience is taking some time, but dissect it I will, not least because we will be at Experimentica at Chapter Arts Centre in November to present our responses to the weekend. So far I have: my truly awful Elvis moves (sorry Juan!), colour changing Tommee Tippee spoons, a six-degrees of separation presentation, glitter, and a confession. I'll keep you posted. 

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