Author: andreagaini

Fashion, Features, Food

FOR Cardiff – the gift card that supports independent businesses in the Welsh Capital

by Molly Wyatt Come rain or shine, I am a sucker for shopping, window shopping or real shopping. So, when an opportunity arose to explore CardiffÔÇÖs arcades I was pretty darn keen ÔÇô and the days I spent working so hard buying and eating things, were a real treat. Nearly 200 hundred years old, the beautifully designed arcades nestled in the high streets of Cardiff … Continue reading FOR Cardiff – the gift card that supports independent businesses in the Welsh Capital

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Culture, Music

Elvis Costello & The Imposters review: a banging Closing Night to #FoV2018

by Dylan Graham ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå This yearÔÇÖs Festival of Voice welcomed numerous wonderful artists from a wide range of countries, genres and backgrounds. However, all good things must come to an end, and this yearÔÇÖs festivities closed with a mammoth set from the British legend that is Elvis Costello. Costello, along with his band The Imposters, were the only act of the evening. Their performance lasted … Continue reading Elvis Costello & The Imposters review: a banging Closing Night to #FoV2018

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Culture, Music

Utopia review: Festival of Voice turns imagination into reality

by Andrea Gaini ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà IÔÇÖve always been fascinated by the idea of a utopia. A magic place where everything is just perfect, everything is consistent and pure, there are no mistakes and people are simply happy. In my head, utopia meant ÔÇÿimpossibleÔÇÖ. Something that would never happen in this world. But then, I met Utopia, the show-gig curated by Charlotte Church, and realised what utopia … Continue reading Utopia review: Festival of Voice turns imagination into reality

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Culture

Rhondda Rips It Up review: a magical commemoration of the suffragettes movement

by Olly Hearn ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå The term ÔÇÿFeminismÔÇÖ gets thrown around a lot these days, and people who identify as a feminist are all too often met with prejudices of trouble making and self-righteousness. By its very nature, the feminist movement is controversial; as any other political or cultural movement, it aims to disrupt and recalibrate the status quo, which those that are ÔÇÿcontentÔÇÖ are predisposed … Continue reading Rhondda Rips It Up review: a magical commemoration of the suffragettes movement

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Culture

Double Vision review: an elegant and inclusive show

by Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå Loosely based on Alfred Hitchock and Ernest LehmanÔÇÖs unfinished script, ÔÇ£The Blind ManÔÇØ, Double Vision is a thrilling Murder mystery/ gig which is new on the scene at the Festival of Voice. Co-produced by the Millennium Centre and Cardiff Theatre Company Gagglebabble the female-led production showcases GagglebabbleÔÇÖs signature dark humour and haunting original scores. From the moment we step in the … Continue reading Double Vision review: an elegant and inclusive show

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Culture, Music

Susanne Sundf├©r + Novo Amor review at the Festival of Voice

by Maxwell Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå Novo Amor The night opened with Welsh singer-songwriter Novo Amor (ails of Ali Lacey), who skilfully provided a beautiful performance built on the foundation of vocal harmony and gorgeous, airy, guitar tones. His quietly emotional delivery added weight to the atmospheric music to create a mesmerising sonic experience. Ali Lacey himself was self admittedly nervous being a Cardiff based musician who … Continue reading Susanne Sundf├©r + Novo Amor review at the Festival of Voice

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Culture

Interviewing Jonny Costen from the National Theatre Wales production “English”

by Hannah Marie Stait As part of Festival of Voice at the Wales Millenium Centre, The National Theatre Wales are performing a production inspired by language and the way in which it connects people in this ever-changing world. Jonny Costen performs the piece which explores the theme of identity, talking about who we are as people and how we say who we are to the … Continue reading Interviewing Jonny Costen from the National Theatre Wales production “English”

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Culture, Music

Gruff Rhys review: #FoV2018 bringing out the voices of Wales

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Jessica Heap To start the evening we were treated to H. Hawkline, a Welsh singer-songwriter not dissimilar to Rhys himself and from my seat, almost identical bar a maroon shirt. Perfectly timed, Hawkline delivered multiple songs with no introductions to fit as many in as possible, including 3 whose lyrics were written that morning. As a solo act, Hawkline offered a different sound … Continue reading Gruff Rhys review: #FoV2018 bringing out the voices of Wales

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Culture, Music

Camille O’Sullivan shines at Festival of Voice with her new show “Cave”

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Maxwell Modell There is something uniquely beautiful about the love we have for musicians and their music. Over time they become some of the most important emotional figures in our lives, remaining prominent through lifeÔÇÖs highs and lows. They never leave our sides, never question us and always embolden us. Yet, this relationship is entirely unrequited and internal. As such, it is something … Continue reading Camille O’Sullivan shines at Festival of Voice with her new show “Cave”

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Culture

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang review at the New Theatre

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Sarah Thompson As somebody who recently saw the Millennium centre performance of this show, the New Theatre had a lot to live up to in my eyes. First of all, I want to announce that this performance has 2 dogs in it, and that immediately makes it worth watching. ThereÔÇÖs no denying that this show was often lacking in set design and props, … Continue reading Chitty Chitty Bang Bang review at the New Theatre

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Culture

ÔÇÿArtÔÇÖ, the comical canvas of emotion

A play that goes beyond white men arguing over a white painting. ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Jess Warren Among a crowd of grey hairs and balding heads, one would assume that ÔÇÿArtÔÇÖ was going to be an un-relatable production. Sat in the audience as the lights dimmed and the play began, it would have been easy to predict the performance as being a sitcom of the bygone … Continue reading ÔÇÿArtÔÇÖ, the comical canvas of emotion

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Culture

Review: Healthcare Drama Society, ÔÇÿAnd Then There Were NoneÔÇÖ at YMCA Theatre

by Lianne Potts ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Healthcare Drama SocietyÔÇÖs first ever production opened to a sold-out theatre last Friday night, and itÔÇÖs safe to say they pulled it off in spectacular fashion. As a newly-formed society which has been running less than a year, a lot must have been riding on this debut performance, but IÔÇÖm happy to report that all its membersÔÇÖ hard work truly paid … Continue reading Review: Healthcare Drama Society, ÔÇÿAnd Then There Were NoneÔÇÖ at YMCA Theatre

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Culture

Closer: Sophisticated production pulls off witty and tragic play

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Alice Lintern After watching The Rise and Fall of Little Voice the week before, I had high expectations for Act OneÔÇÖs production of Closer. I was not disappointed. First performed in 1997, Patrick MarberÔÇÖs play holds, at its core, the philosophical narrative that to love another person authentically is to understand them wholly. And that wanting to be loved is the desire to … Continue reading Closer: Sophisticated production pulls off witty and tragic play

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Culture

REVIEW: Little Voice; Big Success

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Molly Wyatt Act One have pulled it out the bag yet again with their incredibly produced show of Little Voice. Written in the 1990ÔÇÖs, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartwright was a huge success with a film that followed to be just as popular, so it goes without saying that the amateur production, directed by Emma Lewis had a … Continue reading REVIEW: Little Voice; Big Success

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Culture

Cathy review: visceral, poignant and compelling documentary theatre

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Maxwell Modell I remember receiving a flyer for Cathy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year. It was a show I wished I could have seen then, but short on time and money, I couldn’t fit in into my schedule. Fast forward 8 months and itÔÇÖs at the Wales Millennium Centre and I finally had my opportunity to see it. It didn’t disappoint. … Continue reading Cathy review: visceral, poignant and compelling documentary theatre

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Culture

Shrek review at the Wales Millennium Centre

by Hannah Marie Stait ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Throughout my childhood all the way through to now as I pretend to be an adult, my all time favourite movie has always stayed the same – Shrek! The 2001 Dreamworks animation has been a classic to so many 90ÔÇÖs kids and still continues to be the favourite of so many children today. ItÔÇÖs a fun-loving comedy with an important … Continue reading Shrek review at the Wales Millennium Centre

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Culture

CA125 review: amusement and emotionality by the Act One’s latest production

by Rachel Nurse ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà No words can describe the perfection of Act OneÔÇÖs CA125 performance. Not a single Act One show has been a disappointment of any kind, yet no other show IÔÇÖve seen ever has made me laugh until it hurts and then cry a bucketful of tears to the extent CA125 did. Sally is a 45-year-old who develops ovarian cancer which relates to … Continue reading CA125 review: amusement and emotionality by the Act One’s latest production

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Culture

Accidental Death of an Anarchist review: Act One goes Green-White-Red with Fo’s political farce

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Jamie Bains Director Raj Chand states in the productionÔÇÖs programme ÔÇÿI wanted to direct something that would impact the audience, perhaps even spark a debate.ÔÇÖ There wasnÔÇÖt many a better choice for both cast and crowd than Dario FoÔÇÖs 1969 political farce ÔÇÿAccidental Death of an AnarchistÔÇÖ. The show follows a clumsy and corrupt police force in 1960s Italy in their attempts to … Continue reading Accidental Death of an Anarchist review: Act One goes Green-White-Red with Fo’s political farce

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Culture

Cannonballista review: “Dirt and Glitter. Lights and Sounds. Grief and Laughter”

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by┬á┬áRimant─ù Ella Bivainyt─ù On 8th of March, International WomenÔÇÖs Day, the Sherman Theatre hosted the powerful play Cannonballista by Liz Clarke. Cannonballista is a one-woman show about grief, coping with sorrow and an explosive alter ego called Betty Bruiser. Just before the show, the audience encounters an interesting setup: a little wooden shed in the corner and three piles of dirt. The main actor … Continue reading Cannonballista review: “Dirt and Glitter. Lights and Sounds. Grief and Laughter”

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Culture

Review: Rent

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Gemma Gibson The classic 1993 rock musical Rent was taken on by Act One earlier this week, and every night greeted by laughter, tears, and standing ovations, the UniversityÔÇÖs acting society have created and performed yet another masterpiece. A combination of love, hardship, work, friendship, and a need for equality and acceptance, all coated with a sprinkle of 80s flair, Jonathon LarsonÔÇÖs Rent … Continue reading Review: Rent

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