Category: Culture

Culture

Accidental Death of an Anarchist review: Act One goes Green-White-Red with Fo’s political farce

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Jamie Bains Director Raj Chand states in the productionÔÇÖs programme ÔÇÿI wanted to direct something that would impact the audience, perhaps even spark a debate.ÔÇÖ There wasnÔÇÖt many a better choice for both cast and crowd than Dario FoÔÇÖs 1969 political farce ÔÇÿAccidental Death of an AnarchistÔÇÖ. The show follows a clumsy and corrupt police force in 1960s Italy in their attempts to … Continue reading Accidental Death of an Anarchist review: Act One goes Green-White-Red with Fo’s political farce

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Culture

Cannonballista review: “Dirt and Glitter. Lights and Sounds. Grief and Laughter”

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by┬á┬áRimant─ù Ella Bivainyt─ù On 8th of March, International WomenÔÇÖs Day, the Sherman Theatre hosted the powerful play Cannonballista by Liz Clarke. Cannonballista is a one-woman show about grief, coping with sorrow and an explosive alter ego called Betty Bruiser. Just before the show, the audience encounters an interesting setup: a little wooden shed in the corner and three piles of dirt. The main actor … Continue reading Cannonballista review: “Dirt and Glitter. Lights and Sounds. Grief and Laughter”

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Culture

Review: Rent

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Gemma Gibson The classic 1993 rock musical Rent was taken on by Act One earlier this week, and every night greeted by laughter, tears, and standing ovations, the UniversityÔÇÖs acting society have created and performed yet another masterpiece. A combination of love, hardship, work, friendship, and a need for equality and acceptance, all coated with a sprinkle of 80s flair, Jonathon LarsonÔÇÖs Rent … Continue reading Review: Rent

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Culture

Acis and Galatea review: an ethusiastic and cheerful cast pulls off a difficult opera

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Vittoria Zerbini This year, the Cardiff University Operatic Society (CUOS) has decided to stage Acis and Galatea by H├ñndel as their yearly production. Acis and Galatea is an opera that, since 1718, has encountered much success and many adaptations, even from big names of the music scene such as Mozart, who staged his vision of the pastoral opera in 1788. Acis and Galatea … Continue reading Acis and Galatea review: an ethusiastic and cheerful cast pulls off a difficult opera

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Culture

“Acis and Galatea”: Cardiff University Operatic SocietyÔÇÖs take on the English classic pastoral opera

by Vittoria Zerbini The Cardiff University Operatic Society has, ever since its emergence, staged many concerts. A few examples are the 2011 H├ñndelÔÇÖs Messiah or the 2014 Mozart’s Die Zauberfl├Âte. This yearÔÇÖs production is a nod to the societyÔÇÖs beginnings with H├ñndelÔÇÖs Acis and Galatea. Acis and Galatea was written between 1717 and 1718 by H├ñndel, who composed the music, and John Gay, who wrote … Continue reading “Acis and Galatea”: Cardiff University Operatic SocietyÔÇÖs take on the English classic pastoral opera

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Culture

Live Review: Train-spotting

Words by Erin Brown Seeing the announcement of Trainspotting taking to the stages, I was unsure how such an iconic film and book could be replicated in the theatre. The intense images of heroin consumption, the gruesome toilet scenes, the harrowing deaths or the terrifying heroin withdrawals; how on earth can this be successfully represented in person, on the stage, in front of your very … Continue reading Live Review: Train-spotting

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Culture

Sunset Boulevard review: soaring melodies and exquisite acting

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Esther Morris As an avid musical theatre fan, it is not an easy thing for me to admit that I was not all too familiar with Sunset Boulevard before seeing the touring production at the Wales Millennium Centre; however, I certainly left with the soaring melodies stuck in my head and the feeling that I could have happily watched it again the following … Continue reading Sunset Boulevard review: soaring melodies and exquisite acting

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Culture

CREATIVE CONTEST: “Very Swish” by Bethan Rose Jenkins

Our Creative Contest was very popular and brought to our eyes some great pieces of literature; here is another one of them, a short story about a “very swish” car drive. Enjoy! Very Swish by Bethan Rose Jenkins I lost a tooth in a CadburyÔÇÖs ├®clair, once. Strange, the things that you remember. I can recall the sensation so clearly. The durable adhesive of the … Continue reading CREATIVE CONTEST: “Very Swish” by Bethan Rose Jenkins

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Culture

Don Giovanni review: an entertaining and delightful production

by Andrea Gaini ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà A delightful opera season could not have been ended in a better way by the Welsh National Opera. If La Forza del Destino and Tosca were two great productions, Don Giovanni was simply greater in every sense. MozartÔÇÖs beautiful composition was highlighted and honoured with an all-round gorgeous creation at the Wales Millennium Centre. The opera focuses on the life of … Continue reading Don Giovanni review: an entertaining and delightful production

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Culture

CREATIVE CONTEST: “Split Ends” by Elizabeth Beckett

While we wait for issue 167 to come out and reveal the winner of Quench’s Creative Contest, here is a short story which deals with love, adultery, and a surprising finale. Enjoy! Split Ends by Elizabeth Beckett Her fingers were hard and broken from washing and cutting and perming and dying and curling and shaving hair all day long. And it was a long day. … Continue reading CREATIVE CONTEST: “Split Ends” by Elizabeth Beckett

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Culture

CREATIVE CONTEST: “Birds of a feather” by Megan Carro-Le May

Here is the first participant in Quench’s Short Story Contest; a story presenting colourful and imaginative details. Enjoy! Birds of a Feather┬áby Megan Carro-Le May Birds chant their morning song as a warm honey-coloured ray of sunlight warms the room. Slowly, Melody opens her eyes, peeking up from under the duvet. She stretches, yawns and smiles. Today is her birthday. She hops out of bed … Continue reading CREATIVE CONTEST: “Birds of a feather” by Megan Carro-Le May

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Culture

The Barber of Seville review: Swansea City Opera successfully attempt a hard revival

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Andrea Gaini RossiniÔÇÖs The Barber of Seville is one of the wittiest and most entertaining operas in history. Its rhythmed music and comical libretto give life to the story of Count Almaviva and his love for Rosina. The plot is a quite entangled and complicated one, made of trickeries, undelivered and lost letters, serenades, a barber, and a happy ending. The Swansea City … Continue reading The Barber of Seville review: Swansea City Opera successfully attempt a hard revival

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Culture

Posh review: Act One amplifies WadeÔÇÖs social message

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Manjeevan Kaur Act OneÔÇÖs energetic performance and relentlessly sharp acting in the play is a definite must see. The high level of talent and delivery of Laura WadeÔÇÖs Posh tackled wider social themes in a fresh way. Each young actor completely engaged with their role and each dynamic scene was confidently executed. A thoroughly eye-opening play. Which at all the right times hits … Continue reading Posh review: Act One amplifies WadeÔÇÖs social message

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Culture

A conversation between David Hurn & Martin Parr at the Welsh National Museum

by Rowan Lees Brought together through a shared passion for taking pictures and collecting them, gurus of the photography world David Hurn and Martin Parr met at the Welsh National Museum for a conversation about art. The talk was arranged on the back of HurnÔÇÖs ÔÇÿSwapsÔÇÖ collection, on display until the 15th of April. The exhibition is a wonderful series of photos Hurn has acquired … Continue reading A conversation between David Hurn & Martin Parr at the Welsh National Museum

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Culture

Hijinx Theatre brings diversity to Lesotho with unique Able to Act project

by Sofia Brizio Hijinx is a professional theatre company based in Cardiff, that works mainly with people who have learning disabilities. The company has been around for over thirty years with the aim to change societal perceptions of disabilities by working towards a happier and more inclusive future in which more people are recognised as valuable and contributing to society. I spoke to the outreach … Continue reading Hijinx Theatre brings diversity to Lesotho with unique Able to Act project

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Culture

The Importance of Being Earnest review: Act One brings back Wilde’s most famous work

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Rachel Nurse IÔÇÖve never seen a play performed by such young actors with so much talent. No one left Act OneÔÇÖs the Importance of Being Earnest disappointed. At times I forgot that I was watching a university society enactment and felt like I was in London watching an all-star cast. The Comedy for Serious People was first performed on 14th February 1895 in … Continue reading The Importance of Being Earnest review: Act One brings back Wilde’s most famous work

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Culture

A Number review at The Other Room

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿåÔÿå by Mel Lynch Described in the programme as a ÔÇÿfearless and affecting dissection of the relationship between father and sonÔÇÖ The Other RoomÔÇÖs A Number was certainly an intriguing viewing experience. Directed by Ed Madden, I had the chance to see A Number this week. Having never been to The Other Room theatre I went with no preconceived idea of what to expect. The … Continue reading A Number review at The Other Room

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Culture

The Sound of Music review: must-see musical hits the New Theatre

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Rachel Nurse The Sound of Music at the New Theatre, didnÔÇÖt fail to the please the audience! The love of music and the theatre are celebrated in the Sound of Music. Music bringing happiness and a heart-broken family back together with the help of Maria. The musical is set in Austria in 1938, which tells the story of Maria the potential nun, who … Continue reading The Sound of Music review: must-see musical hits the New Theatre

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Culture

Terra Firma at the Sherman Theatre review

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Abbie Rands Terra Firma, a performance in three parts, is like nothing else I have ever watched in a theatre. In Folk, by far the most intriguing of the three performances, the stage opens on a sparse scene; the roots of a tree hang suspended from the rafters, and a pile of leaves, from which a girl is unearthed. The performance begins with … Continue reading Terra Firma at the Sherman Theatre review

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