Author: Hannah Hopkins

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Review: Le Vin herb├®, Wales Millennium Centre

Le Vin herb├®,┬áThursday 16th February, Wales Millennium Centre, Reviewer: Ellie Philpotts As students, ever-hungry for entertainment, and, well, actual food, itÔÇÖs been drilled into our brains that saving the pennies where possible is a sensible thing to do. But so is cooking meals other than pasta; being raring to learn in those 9ams; and actually making it through a night out without ending up on … Continue reading Review: Le Vin herb├®, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Le Vin herb├®, Wales Millennium Centre

Le Vin herb├®, Thursday 16th February, Wales Millennium Centre, Reviewer: Hannah Hopkins Le Vin herb├® is my introduction to opera and Polly GrahamÔÇÖs staging for the Welsh National Opera is an understated and contemporary affair with all the intricacies that I expected from the genre. Le Vin herb├® tells the tale of Iseult the Fair, Princess of Ireland, is taken by sea to marry King … Continue reading Review: Le Vin herb├®, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra’s St Valentine’s Day Special, St David’s Hall

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra’s St Valentine’s Day Special, St Davids Hall, Tuesday 14th February, Reviewer: Dan Heard I must confess, I’m not usually one for watching an orchestra perform. While I admire the skill and dedication required to arrange a performance like this, it was never something I thought I’d enjoy, let alone willingly go and see. My attitude changed significantly on Valentine’s Night though, as … Continue reading Review: Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra’s St Valentine’s Day Special, St David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Interview: Carl Donnelly

Edinburgh Fringe favourite┬áCarl DonnellyÔÇÖs style of comedy has landed him nominations for the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2013 and for Best Newcomer in 2009 and The Guardian have even referred to him as an “observational genius”. ┬áHannah Hopkins and Becca Moody got the chance to interview him just before he embarks on the UK tour of his eighth show ‘Bad Man Tings’.┬á   Are panel … Continue reading Interview: Carl Donnelly

Hannah Hopkins
Arts Reviews, Culture

Review: Sinners Club, The Other Room

Sinners Club, Thursday 9th February, The Other Room, Reviewer: Bob Wigin Not a play but a piece of ÔÇÿGig theatreÔÇÖ, Sinners Club loosely portrays the life of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain. Lucy Rivers of theatre company Gabblebabble and her musical accompaniment The Bad Mothers play at recording an album while the audience sit around the edges of The Other … Continue reading Review: Sinners Club, The Other Room

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: The Verdict, New Theatre

The Verdict,┬áTuesday 7th February, New Theatre. Reviewer:┬áSarah Harris Ever been part of a jury? Well, this is your chance. The Verdict at CardiffÔÇÖs New Theatre is based on the 1982 Sidney Lumet film. Set in America, the play follows the story of Frank Galvin, played by Clive Mantle, a former lawyer and newly-turned alcoholic who’s life is in despair until he takes on a lawsuit … Continue reading Review: The Verdict, New Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Tiff Stevenson, The Riverfront, Newport

Tiff Stevenson, The Riverfront, Newport, Reviewer: Daniel Heard Tiff Stevenson might not be a household name on the comedy circuit, but make no mistake, she deserves to be. You might have seen her on spits on ÔÇ£Russell HowardÔÇÖs Good NewsÔÇØ or ÔÇ£Live at the ApolloÔÇØ, but if you get the chance to see her in her element, take it. Drawing on a lot of real … Continue reading Review: Tiff Stevenson, The Riverfront, Newport

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: La Cage Aux Folles, New Theatre

La┬áCage Aux Folles,┬áTuesday 31st January, New Theatre. Reviewer:┬áStephany Damyanova ÔÇ£Hey, World, I am what I am!ÔÇØ La Cage aux Folles is many things, but above all itÔÇÖs a spectacular celebration of love in all its forms. ItÔÇÖs a meticulously crafted masterpiece that radiates affection in every detail, every story, every song. It tells no lies and hides no truths, giving the audience a taste of … Continue reading Review: La Cage Aux Folles, New Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: La bohème, Wales Millennium Centre

La boh├¿me,┬áSaturday 28th January, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer:┬áMel Lynch Admittedly, before this week I had never properly visited the Millennium Centre nor attended a live Opera. However, upon experiencing both I am elated to say I was pleasantly surprised on all accounts. From my personal point of view, I was taken aback by how invested I had become in the love story of Mimi and … Continue reading Review: La boh├¿me, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: A Regular Little Houdini, Chapter Arts Centre

A Regular Little Houdini,┬áFriday 27th January, Chapter Arts Centre. Reviewer: Ellie Philpotts The art of theatre can be a tricky one to master. For many of us, just the concept of performing would be enough to break out into a cold sweat (then maybe into song once we overcame any initial stage fright). And thatÔÇÖs without everything else that goes into it ÔÇô design, choreography, … Continue reading Review: A Regular Little Houdini, Chapter Arts Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, St David’s Hall

Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games,┬áSaturday 28th January, St DavidÔÇÖs Hall. Reviewer:┬áHannah Hopkins Admittedly, as an audience member I was completely new to the Lord of the Dance phenomenon, and I wouldnÔÇÖt have thought it would be anything I would ever be invested in. However, seeing Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games last night proved to me more than ever that taking yourself out of … Continue reading Review: Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, St David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: A Regular Little Houdini, Chapter Arts

A Regular Little Houdini,┬áFriday 27th January, Chapter Arts Centre. Reviewer:┬áHannah Hopkins A Regular Little Houdini encapsulates perfectly the art and power of storytelling. The performance of A Regular Little Houdini followed the official launch of the Welsh Theatre Awards at Chapter Arts Centre. The one-man play set in Newport is a vibrant coming of age story about the son of a dockworker, who wishes to … Continue reading Review: A Regular Little Houdini, Chapter Arts

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Enough is Enough, Barnabas Arts House, Newport

Enough is Enough,┬áTuesday 24th January, Barnabas Arts House Newport . Reviewer:┬áEmma Hotchkiss The best way I can think to describe Enough is Enough is as an audiovisual companion to Laura Bates’ Everyday Sexism.┬áAs I wandered into a packed church basement on a freezing Monday for the first night of Beaware Production’s newest show, Enough is Enough, I didn’t know quite what to expect. However, the … Continue reading Review: Enough is Enough, Barnabas Arts House, Newport

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Mary Poppins, Wales Millennium Centre

Mary Poppins,┬áFriday 16th December, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer:┬áHannah West Two words for Mary Poppins the musical – Practically Perfect. This is no scaled-down version of the timeless classic. Production values were quite literally through the chimney and out the roof.┬áVisually, the entire set was nothing short of stunning. The experience begins with the set unfolding like a story book – a subtle nod to the … Continue reading Review: Mary Poppins, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: A Chorus Line, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

A Chorus Line,┬áWednesday 21st December, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Reviewer:┬áHannah Stait.┬á This Wednesday I found myself in the beautiful Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to watch Kinetic TheatreÔÇÖs winter production of A Chorus Line, the show that provides a glimpse into the personalities and lives of dancers auditioning to be a part of a chorus line, showing us each the … Continue reading Review: A Chorus Line, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Hannah Hopkins
Album Reviews, Culture

Review: The Emperor’s New Clothes, Sherman Theatre

The Emperor’s New Clothes,┬áSaturday 10th December, Sherman Theatre. Reviewer:┬áHannah Stait. Photography:┬áKirsten McTernan. If there was ever a time of year to feel nostalgic then it has to be the month of December,┬á which is why many flocked to the Sherman Theatre to see Alan Saunders’ adaption of the classic Hans Christian Anderson tale The EmperorÔÇÖs New Clothes (a co-production between Sherman Theatre and Theatr Iolo). … Continue reading Review: The Emperor’s New Clothes, Sherman Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Arts Reviews, Culture

Review: Roald Dahl’s Wonderman, Wales Millennium Centre

Wonderman,┬áFriday 9th December, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer: Khuram Mahmood and Sarah Harris When you first enter to take your seat at WalesÔÇÖ Millennium Centre to watch┬áWonderman, you are instantly met with a feeling that this will not be any ordinary old production.┬áTables are spaced front to back in a somewhat orderly fashion but not so as to make it seem unnatural, with each featuring two … Continue reading Review: Roald Dahl’s Wonderman, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Arts Reviews

Review: Love Steals Us From Loneliness, Chapter Arts Centre

Love Steals Us From Loneliness, Thursday 8th December, Chapter Arts Centre. Reviewer: Sarah Harris and Khuram Mahmood.┬á If youÔÇÖve ever been to see a play at Chapter Arts Theatre, youÔÇÖll know theyÔÇÖre not the typical type you would come across at say CardiffÔÇÖs New Theatre or Millennium Centre. Often acted out within a small room, with slightly over a dozen audience members and usually a … Continue reading Review: Love Steals Us From Loneliness, Chapter Arts Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Arts Reviews, Culture

Review: Kiss Me Kate, Wales Millennium Centre

Kiss Me, Kate, Tuesday 6th December, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer: Rachel Nurse.┬á 1940s Baltimore and itÔÇÖs opÔÇÖninÔÇÖ night of a musical version of┬áThe Taming of the Shrew. Rehearsals are over, costumes donned and thereÔÇÖs a 10 minute curtain call. What youÔÇÖre about to witness is a whole lot more than ShakespeareÔÇÖs comic love storyÔǪÔÇØ Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs Autumn season featured three productions inspired by William … Continue reading Review: Kiss Me Kate, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins