By Martina Merenda ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Set in a post-apocalyptic present, National Theatre’s production of Macbeth, under the direction of Rufus Norris, doesn’t disappoint. The tragedy in five acts starts with the brave Scottish general Macbeth, who, after a mysterious meeting with the “three weird sisters” (the witches) discovers to be the centre of a prophecy that will eventually see him as king of Scotland. Driven by … Continue reading Review | Macbeth
By Mike OÔÇÖBrien |┬áÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà In case youÔÇÖre somehow unfamiliar, QI is a comedy panel game show wherein Stephen Fry poses a series of absurd trivia questions to Alan Davies and guests. ItÔÇÖs great fun – but not even Fry, a national treasure famed for his genius, could possess this magnitude of nonsensical knowledge by himself. QI is, in fact, a well-oiled machine in an office … Continue reading REVIEW: No Such Thing as a Fish: Live in Cardiff
By Ilona Cabral The South Wales Wellness Show united curious Cardiffians, young and old, in a transformational event which┬ácelebrated holistic health and wellness. With over a hundred retailers, healers, free talks and workshops the show was dedicated to raising awareness and educating people about holistic healing. As show organiser Gaia Love said in an interview with Quench: ÔÇ£The event aims to evolve consciousness, raise awareness … Continue reading Review | South Wales Wellness show
By Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Brace yourselves as your favourite Horrible characters come careering onto the New Theatre Stage! Over 20 years ago Terry Deary began writing his smash-hit series, ÔÇ£Horrible HistoriesÔÇØ and since then its popularity has not wavered! The series has inspired a BAFTA-winning Television show, merchandise and a Horrible-histories film is expected this year. Considering this legacy, the stage show production does not … Continue reading Review | Horrible Histories: The Terrible Tudors
By Jacob South-Klein ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà One of the manifold Golden Rules of Reviewing™ (so writes a man who until now has never written a review for Quench) is to maintain a level of objectivity, as a distant observer, from the reviewed event itself. In other words, do not, accidentally end up on stage with any Hairy Bikers, in front of three-thousand fellow audience members. The second … Continue reading Review | Hairy Bikers Live
Words by Max Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà YouÔÇÖve gotta make a livinÔÇÖ somehow, so you may as well make it takinÔÇÖ your kit off, it seems to be working for the cast of The Full Monty. Based on the Oscar-winning (yes, you read that right) feel-good classic, you know what youÔÇÖre going to get, a good old cheeky bit of fun. But, in fact The Fully Monty … Continue reading The Full Monty | Theatre Review
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Words by Andrea Drobna First performed almost 20 years ago, Kaite OÔÇÖReillyÔÇÖs award-winning play Peeling is a revolutionary performance focused on womenÔÇÖs and disability rights. Through incorporating audio/visual cues as well as sign language throughout the production, the show had been made accessible to all audiences, outshining the production of many mainstream theatre performances. Recently, the play has been reworked by Taking Flight Theatre … Continue reading Peeling | Theatre Review
Words by Natalya Sareen-Kadach Contemporary, urban energy meets the melancholic tragedy that is Shakespeare’s ÔÇÿRomeo and JulietÔÇÖ in the RSCÔÇÖs latest interpretation at CardiffÔÇÖs New Theatre. With a purposeful lack of preliminary research I took my seat with a completely open mind, a total tabula rasa. In honesty, my subconscious had expected a lavish set and extravagant scene changes, appropriately garish Edwardian costume and an … Continue reading Romeo and Juliet | Theatre Reivew
Words By Allison Renker Vasily Petrenko moves with an awkwardness that conceals genius. The Russian-born conductor, soon to take the helm as Musical Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, has dazzled audiences round the world and can now add the Welsh public to this group. This Wednesday, with his unique, unassuming conducting style Petrenko steered the Oslo Philharmonic through the streets of ShakespeareÔÇÖs … Continue reading Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra | Reivew
Words by Christopher Colbourn Guant├ínamo Kid tells the story of Mohammed El-Gharani, one of the youngest inmates detained at Guant├ínamo Bay by the US government in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. A Saudi national arrested outside a mosque in Pakistan at the age of 14, El-Gharani spent eight years of his life detained without charge or trial, first by Pakistan and then by the … Continue reading Graphic Novel Review: Guantan├ímo Kid
By┬áRhiannon Humphreys ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Bummer and Lazarus by Jack Harrison is a Fringe show that is at once comedic, existentialist and absurdist in nature. On the surface, it is about two inseparable friends, the title characters, who are trapped, on the brink of starvation and need to find a means of escape from their captivity. However, on a larger scale the work explores broader concepts such … Continue reading Review | Bummer and Lazarus
By Ilona Cabral Where will I be next year? This is the question on every student’s mind. Disregard this scary thought for second though and I want you to think of your time at University so far: of the people, the parties andÔǪthe accommodation. In my opinion, no (proper) student can leave their university without a couple of ÔÇÿwar storiesÔÇÖ. It may be tales about … Continue reading On the Move
By Maisie Marston ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Setting the scene, a projection of the view from Mark ThomasÔÇÖ rehearsal room rolls, showing Lisson Grove Health Centre in its seemingly slow operation. When Thomas takes the stage, youÔÇÖre shocked into consciousness. He paints a picture of pre-1948 Britain where his grandmother would put aside money for healthcare, having to choose which family memberÔÇÖs illness warranted emptying the pot. As … Continue reading Review | Mark Thomas ÔÇô Check Up: Our NHS at 70 review
The silly-sensation also known as Billionaire boy is the hot new musical adapted from David WalliamsÔÇÖ smash hit book, and is gracing CardiffÔÇÖs New Theatre from 26 February ÔÇô 2nd March. A global phenomenon in the childrenÔÇÖs literature universe, David Walliams boasts worldwide sales of over 19.5 million books in more than 53 languages. Even more impressively three of WalliamsÔÇÖ books have been awarded ChildrenÔÇÖs … Continue reading Billionaire Boy | Review
By Ilona Cabral An interview with the event organiser,┬áGaia┬áLove, for the upcoming South Wales Wellness Show. What is the significance of this event to you? This South Wales┬áWellness┬áShow event has huge significance to me and its┬áis really in line with my ethos and my passion, which is┬áto promote and create heart focused community building, awaken and evolve consciousness and most of all empower people through … Continue reading Preview | South Wales Wellness Show
Words by Abby Wilson This week weÔÇÖre off to sunny Spain ÔÇô for the production of Benidorm Live at CardiffÔÇÖs New Theatre! Calling all Benidorm fans! ITVÔÇÖs award-winning comedy sitcom is celebrating over a decade of hilarity, bringing sunshine and smiles to Cardiff New TheatreÔÇÖs Stage. For a week only, Monday 18th ÔÇô Saturday 23rd February, you wonÔÇÖt want to miss your favourite staff and … Continue reading Benidorm Live | Theatre Review
By┬áBeatrice Leuschner The Healthcare Drama Society did not disappoint with their new production ÔÇ£A Bedside StoryÔÇØ ÔÇô a parody adaption of the musical ÔÇ£West Side StoryÔÇØ. It is the societyÔÇÖs first musical and second production, following up last yearÔÇÖs ÔÇ£And Then There Were NoneÔÇØ. The new show was performed three nights (14th-16th of February) at the YMCA Theatre in Cardiff, all of which were sold … Continue reading Review | A Bedside Story
The winning entry for our ‘War and Peace’ piece themed poetry competition. By Satwik┬áShivoham A hundred years have passed us by, but not have the scars of war, We yet remain at the brink of chaos, despite the armistice signed. ThereÔÇÖs no less armour and no less guns, But, ÔÇ£We keep it to save us from usÔÇØ; So, what must humanity celebrate today, If ceasefire … Continue reading Poetry Competition Winner!
By Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà February has broken and the outdoor community has re-united to watch another extraordinary group of thrill-seekers push themselves past their limits. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, The Banff Film Festival has returned to CardiffÔÇÖs St DavidÔÇÖs Hall to display another season of phenomenal short films from the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. This event showcases some of the very best work … Continue reading Review | Banff Film Festival 2019
By Maisie Marston Mark ThomasÔÇÖ is best known for the Channel 4 show ÔÇÿThe Mark Thomas ProductÔÇÖ; a satirical standup format which ran between 1996 and 2002. ThomasÔÇÖ most recent projects have combined comedy, investigative journalism and the theatre to highlight issues like freedom of speech in Palestine. Now the activist has shifted his attention to the UKÔÇÖs beloved NHS. Check Up: Our NHS at … Continue reading Interview | Mark Thomas – Check Up: Our NHS at 70
