Review | Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

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

2023 | Theatre 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

Theatre Review: The Bowie Experience

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

Review | RossiniÔÇÖs Cinderella

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

Ocean Film Festival 2018 | 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

Review: The Little Book of Adulting / The Little Book of Politics

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

REVIEW: Fame, Millennium Centre

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

PREVIEW: OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL

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

War and Peace | Review

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

Review: The Help

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

Weird and Wonderful Events this Autumn

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

Rain Man | Review

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

It’s My Shout | 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

Review: Evita

By Abbie Rands ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà The opening moments of Evita truly showcase this powerhouse explosion of a performance; a show that doesnÔÇÖt let up until the final curtain. I have always loved cyclical shows, and Evita adheres to this tradition in such grand style that the opening events really do remain in the back of your mind throughout the whole performance – and long after! The … Continue reading Review: Evita

Summer Holiday | Review

Rachel Nurse ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Summer Holiday is Ray-Quinn in ticket sales Based on the 1963 hit film, Summer Holiday is a heart-warming and quintessential musical, boosted by the talent of Ray Quinn. Swinging London was known the world over, with vogue, music and sex at the foreground of a cultural revolution. Don, played by X Factor and Dancing on Ice star Ray Quinn, who is a … Continue reading Summer Holiday | Review

Review: Let It Be

By Josie Howie ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Let It Be is a tribute-act meets musical which walks, or rather dances, us through The BeatlesÔÇÖ history! The cast consists of only 5 members (the 4 Beatles and an extra member to play ÔÇÿthe bits they donÔÇÖt have enough hands forÔÇÖ) so donÔÇÖt expect a huge chorus of backing singers, but expect what you might imagine a rock ÔÇÿnÔÇÖ roll … Continue reading Review: Let It Be