A YOUNG and talented music student was called up on stage by superstar Alfie Boe to duet on the first night of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

It really was a dream come true for Shea Ferron, 19, from Ruabon, who attended with his mum and dad, Sharon and Damian, along with sister Niamh.

The duo performed 'Bring Him Home' from the musical Les Miserables, which is Alfie's signature song, making the occasion even more memorable.

The Leader:

Shea, a tenor and a student from the Performing Arts at Manchester's Institute for Contemporary Theatre, is a regular at Llangollen's iconic Eisteddfod where he has been one of its army of volunteers since he was just 14. 

He is also a member of the John’s Boys choir which reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent.

Shea said: "I had a line translated into Welsh for Camilla King, the Director of the Eisteddfod, and I cheekily texted asking if she could get me on stage with Alfie Boe and she laughed and said, ‘No’.

“Then earlier yesterday I met him on the Maes and we were chatting and I just wanted to get a selfie with him and my friend said, ‘This lad does a mean Bring Him Home ’ and Alfie replied, ‘No pressure then’.

“Last night I was sitting in Block H right at the front and right in Alfie Boe’s eyeline and he looked at me and remembered me and got me up and we duetted on Bring Him Home – it’s my greatest achievement.

“Afterwards I gave him one of my cards and told him that if he gets fed up with singing with Michael Ball he knows who to call.

“It was pretty special. My phone has been going non-stop since.”

The Leader:

According to Camilla, it was the perfect way to start the Llangollen Eisteddfod where around 3,000 competitors from 19 countries on five continents will be taking part.

She said: “It was a really great night and Alfie Boe just kept singing and when Shea was called up it was just one of those magical Eisteddfod moments.

“We had joked about him singing with Alfie but for it to actually happen was incredible.

“It was a brilliant experience for him and he harmonised with Alfie which was really nice."

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Each day of the Eisteddfod features a full programme of competitions in the famous pavilion and a line-up of stalls and exhibitions on the field. 

Visitors will be able to “go around the world in 80 minutes” in the new Globe Food Court with stalls serving food from different countries including India, Greece, Jamaica, Mexico, Germany and Italy.

At 4.30 pm on Thursday (July 6) the Parade of Nations will be making a joyous comeback when a cavalcade of colourful competitors will march through the town.

A famous radio broadcast by poet Dylan Thomas about Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is being recreated to mark its 70th anniversary between 2-3pm on Friday. 

Camilla said: “Sunday is going to be a very special day because we’ve got outdoor performances and entertainment all day. And we’ve changed the evening concert entry so it’s now free to attend with a Field ticket, from £10. We wanted to give audiences a thank you treat.

“That final concert includes the final round of Voice of Musical Theatre (Welsh of the West End have had former winners), performances from our best international dance groups, and lots more.

“Also just announced today is that on Sunday we have former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin coming to talk about her new book and do a signing session from 12.15pm.”