Review | Mark Thomas ÔÇô Check Up: Our NHS at 70 review

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

Billionaire Boy | 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

Preview | South Wales Wellness Show

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

Benidorm Live | Theatre Review

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

Review | A Bedside Story

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

Review | Banff Film Festival 2019

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

Interview | Mark Thomas – Check Up: Our NHS at 70

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

Blue | Theatre Review

Words by Rachel Nurse First and foremost, I did not know what to expect from BLUE. Every time I see a performance from Chapter I enjoy every second as each member of the production, cast and creative team embody their imagination to the fullest to accomplish an outstanding piece. BLUE is about loneliness, identity and family. In a house a few miles away from CarmarthenshireÔÇÖs … Continue reading Blue | Theatre Review

Review | Rebus Long Shadows

By Max Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Rebus: Long Shadow offers a gripping addition to Ian RankinÔÇÖs Rebus detective novels. While it is a very different beast to the novels, the complexities of RebusÔÇÖs character are not neglected and the show has a a strong psychological appeal which not only examines the morality of RebusÔÇÖs decisions, but also the personal toll it takes on his life. It addresses … Continue reading Review | Rebus Long Shadows

Review | American Idiot

By Max Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà An ambitious musical, the songs rocked but the narrative felt limp and ultimately fell flat. American Idiot is a jukebox musical comprised of the music of Green Day, which defined the teenage years of a generation. Based primarily on the acclaimed concept album of the same name, the story is expanded from the narrative of this album; three disillusioned teens flee … Continue reading Review | American Idiot

Lua Ribiera & Amak Mahmoodian | Art Preview

Words by Zhang Mengyang-Eva Where time stood still Amak Mahmoodian is an artist born in Shiraz and lives in Bristol, UK. Her work questions western notion of identity, expressing personal stories that are related to wider social issues from Middle East and Asia to the West. Amak has won multiple global awards in photography and from 2004, She has held many exhibitions in the UK, … Continue reading Lua Ribiera & Amak Mahmoodian | Art Preview

Review | The Classic Rock Show

By┬áSophie Miles ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Attention all rock and roll lovers! If you havenÔÇÖt been to watch The Classic Rock Show yet, where have you been? My first time at this kind of show, I have to admit that IÔÇÖm glad I attended! The Show powered through some of Classic RockÔÇÖs finest moments, with music from Zepplin, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Meatloaf, Queen, Supertramp, Bowie and everything … Continue reading Review | The Classic Rock Show

Review | Stephen Hough Plays Beethoven

By Sofia Brizio ┬á ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Until recently I had not heard of Stephen Hough, but I love Beethoven and IÔÇÖm glad to say it was a nice discovery, even though I was expecting more. However, when Stephen Hough played with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, that was the perfect recipe for a great evening. British-born Stephen Hough is considered to be one of the … Continue reading Review | Stephen Hough Plays Beethoven

Jersey Boys | Theatre Review

Words by Mel Lynch Winner of 57 major awards, over the years Jersey Boys has gained an enviable reputation which has no qualms in selling out seats worldwide. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons infamous songs defy generational differences to be beloved by all the family, and Jersey Boys portrays this admirably. Historically musicals are often adapted from books or films, yet Jersey Boys is … Continue reading Jersey Boys | Theatre Review

Review | The Circus of Horrors

By Rachel Nurse ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà ÔÇ£Tonight was the fright of my life!ÔÇØ First seen in Glastonbury Festival in 1995, the Circus of Horrors is certainly not a show for children or the fainthearted. No, it is a brilliant show for horror loving adults or adrenaline junkies. Belonging to the latter category, I could not wait to witness the spooky dreamscapes and unearthly and astonishingly talented individuals. … Continue reading Review | The Circus of Horrors

Review | Cinderella

By Hayat Gorraine ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Cinderella, you shall go to the ball! And, with the arrival of the Russian State Ballet and Siberian Orchestra in Cardiff, on their seventeenth UK tour so can the rest of us! Performed in St David’s Hall, this age-old romance┬ásees the exploited Cinderella lifted from the depths of despair to a royal happily ever after. Despite the thousands of renditions of … Continue reading Review | Cinderella

Review | Swan Lake

By Abbie Rands ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà TchaikovskyÔÇÖs ballet, Swan Lake is the first of four shows being performed by the world renowned Russian ballet company in Cardiff this December-January. If you have the chance to catch one, do so; the experience is absolutely magical. I must confess that going in, my knowledge of Swan Lake came from the Barbie adaptation, which is not exactly true to form. … Continue reading Review | Swan Lake

Review | The Snow Maiden

As the weather is getting colder, my heart was warmed by The Russian State Ballet Of SiberiaÔÇÖs magical performance of the Snow Maiden. This took the audience on a journey, transporting them from their felt lines seats to a fantasy domain yonder to our very own. As I entered the auditorium the orchestra were warming up, creating a feeling of festive excitement and wintery wonder … Continue reading Review | The Snow Maiden

Beauty and the Beast | Theatre Review

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