By Alys Jones Chippy Lane Productions is a London-based Welsh company which promotes Welsh and Wales-based theatre talent to audiences in and beyond Wales. It was founded in 2016 by Cardiff-born actor, writer and producer, Rebecca Jade Hammond who was recently spotlighted as one of the ÔÇÿ100 Women of WalesÔÇÖ 2018 by Wales Arts Review. This award draws attention to women who are inspiring the … Continue reading Review | Chippy Lane Podcast
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 Juliet Hall ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Archaeologist and historian Neil Oliver is best known for his role as lead presenter on BBCÔÇÖs Coast, the long running documentary series which travels BritainÔÇÖs coastline uncovering the stories and secrets of this island nation. Thanks to his popularity on Coast, Oliver has launched a successful writing career and is the author of several books focusing on the culture and history … Continue reading Review | Neil OliverÔÇÖs ÔÇÿThe Story of the British Isles in 100 PlacesÔÇÖ
By: Andrea Drobna ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Founded in 1974, Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo (Trocks, for short) have toured all over the world, showing people a very different side of ballet than most are used to. The all-male ballet troupe has broken the stereotype that only women can dance on pointe, challenging these assumptions by using elements of humor and intentional mistakes to lighten the otherwise … Continue reading Review | Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
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
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà By Jasmine Snow David Bowie may no longer be with us, but his legacy lives on through the Bowie Experience, a breathtaking concert featuring all of BowieÔÇÖs greatest hits from Space Oddity to Black Star. Laurence KnightÔÇÖs tribute act started back in 1997 at the end of his college music course. Today he is touring the entirety of the UK, performing with intricate attention … Continue reading Theatre Review: The Bowie Experience
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà By Sofia Brizio La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini is one of the most famous and arguably most enjoyable pieces of Italian opera. This ÔÇÿdrama giocosoÔÇÖ in two acts presents an unconventional version of the classic Cinderella story: a tale where the glass slipper is replaced by a bracelet; the Fairy Godmother is a philosopher; and an evil stepfather substitutes the traditional stepmother. Extremely unusual … Continue reading Review | RossiniÔÇÖs Cinderella
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┬áBethany Griffiths The nights are drawing in and Pumpkin Spiced Lattes are back. It can only mean one thingÔǪ autumn is here at last. And what better way to settle into the autumn season than with a cosy read to accompany you on a rainy Sunday afternoon? After a long week of lectures and traipsing around Cardiff in the rain thereÔÇÖs nothing I like more … Continue reading Rainy Day Reads
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 Andrea Drobna ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Following the lives of students at a New York performing arts high school, the 1980s film Fame tackled heavy issues such as eating disorders, sexuality and the pressure of life in the spotlight. After initially receiving mixed reviews, the film was highly praised and quickly earnt two Academy Awards (Best Original Song and Best Original Score) as well as a Golden … Continue reading REVIEW: Fame, Millennium Centre
By Ilona Cabral ST DAVIDÔÇÖS HALL ÔÇô 2ND OCTOBER + TOURING DATES An Interview with Tour Director Nell Teasdale: Ilona : Hi, Nell! IÔÇÖm really looking forward to attending The OceanÔÇÖs Film Festival, shortly, could you describe the event in your own words? Nell: Hi Ilona, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour is a film festival in an evening! It’s a collection of brand-new ocean-themed … Continue reading PREVIEW: OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL
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
By Isobel Cosford As summer falls to an abrupt end with the sun becoming lower it can be difficult to carry on with reading season, however Kathryn StockettÔÇÖs best-selling fictional novel ÔÇÿThe HelpÔÇÖ is a perfect place to start as the nights begin to last longer, with a long read of 524 pages of truly enlightening historical fiction. The Help focuses on a group of … Continue reading Review: The Help
By Abi Dudbridge WEIRD AND WONDERFUL EVENTS IN OCTOBER Summer is officially over, which means the season of hot chocolates, falling leaves and Halloween is upon us. The start of the Autumn semester is the perfect time to immerse yourself in Cardiff culture, as deadline season has yet to engulf our lives. With shorter days and dropping temperatures, thankfully, these unmissable events are here to … Continue reading Weird and Wonderful Events this Autumn
By Mel Lynch ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Bringing the highest grossing film of 1988 to the stage is no easy job, but with the direction of Jonathon O’Boyle it was managed pretty fantastically. In 1988, Hoffman and CruiseÔÇÖs iconic portrayal of the Babbitt brothers, earned the film four Oscars, including the esteemed honour of best actor in a leading role. Therefore, going into the theatre I was intrigued … Continue reading Rain Man | Review
By Georgia Evans The sense of pride, accomplishment and patriotism amongst the audience was overpowering as the auditorium at St DavidÔÇÖs hall began to fill to the sound of Tenovus Cancer Care ChoirÔÇÖs rendition of Mr Blue Skies. Over the past seventeen years, the ItÔÇÖs My Shout training scheme has brought out the best talent South Wales has to offer in the television and film … Continue reading It’s My Shout | Review
