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If you're in Cardiff this weekend and at a loose end, the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay is throwing its doors open and putting on a range of free events and activities.

The centre has teamed up with the other companies that are resident in the building, including Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Hijinx Theatre, National Dance Company Wales, TÅ· Cerdd and Welsh National Opera for a day of free events.

Wales Millennium Centre. Photo: John Evans

Activities on offer include drop-in craft workshops, the chance to learn about performance, backstage tours and a range of live stage performances. There will also be a demonstration area including costume displays, stage make-up and technical demos plus performances from the Balloonatics.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales will also be taking part in the open day, as their home is Hoddinott Hall in the centre. They will be performing concerts free of charge from noon on Saturday.

Literature Wales will also be staging events at the open day, including a heat for the 2011 John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry in the evening from 7pm. (You can buy tickets directly from for this event.)

Check the full timetable of events on .