ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà By Abby Wilson Beauty and the Beast Hits New Theatre, Cardiff with a Bang! Are you ready for this yearÔÇÖs panto? Oh no youÔÇÖre not? Oh yes you are! An all-time favourite Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast, featuring some of our most-loved famous faces comes to the New Theatre, Cardiff, for the holiday season. Packed full of laughter and music, with happiness and … Continue reading Beauty and the Beast | Theatre Review
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Words by Mel Lynch Based on the book by the infamous Roald Dahl, Matilda the Musical has arrived at the Millennium centre with an explosive bang of magical mischief. The transition from book to stage wasnÔÇÖt as smooth as many may think, where it took seven years to be completed ÔÇô significantly longer than it took to write the book. Over the years the … Continue reading Matilda | Theatre Review
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿåÔÿå Words by Andrea Gaini Every year, Christmas only starts to feel real after the usual Act One Panto in Pulse has taken place. So, here I am now, realising that itÔÇÖs finally this time of the year again. Pantos are never really about Christmas, but more of a nice salty piece of banter to escape the sickly sweetness of mulled wine and candy canes. … Continue reading Wonderland: the new Act One Panto takes Pulse | Theatre Review
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Words by Molly Govus Sitting in the Chapter Arts Theatre, I was immediately taken back to my GCSE drama days. The black wooden set blocks, the itchy fabric chairs and the smell of what I can only describe as an old school room. It was nostalgic to say the least, but there was something different about this set up to what I have previously … Continue reading Frankenstein | Review / Director Interview
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Words by Phoebe Blandford The Nightingales sees the return of Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones, who brilliantly depicts a bubbly yet complex protagonist, Maggie. Sadly though beyond this, there is not much else to praise in the production; it all seems too familiar, which although comforting, it feels too recycled. It is centred around an A cappella choir group who practise weekly in … Continue reading The Nightingales | Theatre Review
Internationally focused arts organisation Artes Mundi has arrived at National Museum Cardiff once again, opening it’s doors to the public from 26.10.18 – 24.02.19 for its 8th edition. The biennial exhibition showcases contemporary visual artists, whose work is centred around what it truly means to exist today from an economic, social and political view point. This year features a diverse cohort of artists, displaying a … Continue reading Artes Mundi | Exhibition Review
Words by Izzy Boulton Astronaut Tim PeakeÔÇÖs spacecraft has landed in the National Museum Cardiff ÔÇô taking out some of its windows in the process! The spacecraft which transported Peake to and from the International Space Station is available to view from the 15th November 2018 until the 10th February 2019, alongside his spacesuit that he wore in transit and the enormous parachute used to … Continue reading Tim Peake’s Spacecraft Launch
Photo by┬áPeter Lewicki┬áon┬áUnsplash ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Words by Max Modell When I heard The Last Five Years was playing in Cardiff, I knew I had to be there. The Last Five Years is one of my all-time favourite musicals and this is the third version of the production I have seen (plus the film). However, this production is a very different beast to the ones I have … Continue reading The Last Five Years | Review
Photo by┬áLeximphoto┬áon┬áUnsplash Words by Anthony Stonestreet Almost anything can be a horror story. It can be the monster lurking in the deep end of the pool, the gremlin crouching in the wardrobe. Or, it can be that one cash machine on Salisbury Road, that silent figure standing at the first floor window. Horrors constantly surround us, if we care to seek them out. That is, … Continue reading Novels That Scared You Sh*tless
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Words by Manjeevan Kaur Athol FugardÔÇÖs The Island captures a bold image of apartheid in South Africa. The intricate relationship between John (Joe Shire) and Winston (Wela Mbusi) reinforces the perseverance of the human spirit in an impossible situation. Two political prisoners and vocal citizens for change find their personal freedom taken away. The result is profound strength and unity in the face of … Continue reading The Island | Review
By Emily Stanton ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà The clue is in the title when it comes to this murder mystery comedy musical. Two actors smartly play all 14 characters in the two hours of Joe Kinosian and Kellen BlairÔÇÖs Murder for Two. The story is a classic whodunnit about a famous author, Arthur Witney, whoÔÇÖs murdered at his surprise birthday party. Although set in a small American town, … Continue reading Murder for Two | Review
By Mel Lynch ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Doing a degree that requires weekly reams of readings, IÔÇÖm ashamed to say has resulted in the recent realisation that itÔÇÖs been months, if not years, since IÔÇÖve read a book simply for pleasure. In order to remedy this, I decided to pick up Hackney Child, a true story depicting the harrowing life of nine-year-old Hope Daniels. The central themes of … Continue reading Review: Hackney Child
By Abbie Rands ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà From the moment we enter the auditorium to a stage illuminated by soft blue lighting and filled with chairs from edge to edge, I can tell this is going to be something special. There is a sense of both excitement and reverence which marks this out as being a one-of-a-kind performance. There was a wonderful sense of respect and community as … Continue reading RAF Centenary Concert | Review
By Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Pack up your troubles and step into a vibrant and emotive centenary celebration of the First World War.┬á At the St DavidÔÇÖs Hall, the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra met once again to perform the suites and music of some of the most influential Composers of the First World War. Conducted by Michael Bell (MBE), this dramatic production took the audience on a … Continue reading Composers of the First World War: A Commemoration | Review
Featured Image Credit:┬áSam Taylor ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà By Lottie Ennis Lord of the Flies is a classic story depicting the brutal savagery committed by some castaway children and I was incredibly excited to see this daring production of Lord of the Flies, as the book by William Golding is one of my favourites. Directed by Emma Jordan, this is a female adaptation of a traditionally all male … Continue reading Lord of the Flies | Review
By Mel Lynch ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà As a first time visitor to Chapter Arts I arrived optimistic about the quality of production I was set to view. For nearly half a decade Chapter has had the reputation as CardiffÔÇÖs cultural hub, facilitating new talent and showcasing the best of both Welsh and international creativity in their multi-artform space. Apart from knowing it would be a small cast … Continue reading 2023 | Theatre Review
By Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Touring over 35 locations across the UK and Ireland in September and October, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour has splashed back onto the shores of Cardiff! Showcasing some of the worldÔÇÖs best Ocean Films, ÔÇ£from above and below the surfaceÔÇØ the audience at the St DavidÔÇÖs Hall were treated to an evening filled with seven stunning and emotional ocean themed … Continue reading Ocean Film Festival 2018 | Review
By Mel Lynch ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà This Autumn, the Welsh National Opera has a taken over our beloved Millennium centre, so naturally it would be rude not to check out their latest offerings. Last weekend I was lucky enough to do just that and by the final curtain I was left surprised, captivated and honestly a bit knackered. Among audiences, La Traviata is one of the most … Continue reading La Traviata | Opera Review
By Mel Lynch Title: The Little Book of Adulting Author: Quentin Parker Price: ┬ú6.99 Upon initially inspecting the title, IÔÇÖll be honest in admitting I audibly scoffed. Despite best intentions often mini self help books of this variety can come across as a tad patronising, serving ÔÇÿtop tipsÔÇÖ with a side of condescension. However, to my delight, The Little book of Adulting proved to provide … Continue reading Review: The Little Book of Adulting / The Little Book of Politics
By Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿà David PountneyÔÇÖs new production of Mendelson and Prokofievs Operatic version of War and Peace is certainly interesting. Honestly, even in reflection I simply cannot decide which genre it appeared most like: an opera, a farce or a pantomime. Certainly, the attempt to condense this tombe into a successful three-hour opera was a truly admirable challenge. A challenge that, I feel, the … Continue reading War and Peace | Review
