EAST meets West this week when members of an Amman Valley youth circus group perform in front of thousands of people in China.

The performance will be part of a celebration of a future twinning between Carmarthen and Xiangyang.

A crew of ten people (stage crew and performers) from Organised KAOS – a social enterprise based in Gwaun Cae Gurwen – have been invited to perform in the Xiangyang Zhuge Liang Culture Tourism Festival on Wednesday, September 26.

Under the direction of Nicola Hemsley, managing director of Organised KAOS, the crew will be performing in a 20,000-seat stadium as part of The Ceremony of Dreams and Opening Gala, which this year is entitledWisdom Lightens up the Future.

Speaking ahead of their trip to Xiangyang (formerly known as Xiangfan) in Hubei province in the People’s Republic of China, Nicola said: “Not only is this a great honour and experience for Organised KAOS, but this performance will also be special because of the future link between Carmarthen and Xiangyang.

“The Chinese people are fascinated by Wales and the legends of Merlin and King Arthur.

“They have a historical figure called Zhuge Liang, who they draw parallels with Merlin, and therefore wanted to commemorate the city’s twinning with Carmarthen by including Welsh performers telling a Welsh legend at the annual festival.”

Organised KAOS will be providing a spectacular telling of the legend of Dinas Emrys and the Dragon of Wales, supported by a troupe of Chinese dancers, Chinese drummers, and a host of special effects.

In July, Organised KAOS performed with the Zip Zap circus in South Africa in the Cultural Olympiad project Mzansi Cymru: Torch-bearers at the Wales Millennium Centre. The performance will be taken to Cape Town in November.