Category: Culture

Culture

Ones to Watch: How My Light Is Spent, Sherman Theatre

With the exceptional pairing of Welsh actors Rhodri Meilir and Alexandria Riley, How My Light Is Spent (which has already won the Judges Award, a top award at the 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting) is the much anticipated new play from the Cardiff-based playwright Alan Harris. Its Welsh premiere at Sherman Theatre, the co-producers of How My Light is Spent with ManchesterÔÇÖs Royal Exchange Theatre … Continue reading Ones to Watch: How My Light Is Spent, Sherman Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Romeo and Juliet, Wales Millennium Centre

Romeo and Juliet, Thursday 27th April, Wales Millennium Centre, reviewer: Kirby Evans This is┬áShakespeare┬áreimagined. Omidaze┬átheatre company combine aerial┬ácirrus┬áwith iambic pentameter to create a stunning performance of a story that has been told a thousand times.┬á The two-hour┬áunseated┬áperformance begins its dynamic┬ájourney┬áin the foyer of the theatre, where audience members whisper and┬áscour┬áthe room┬áwith┬áuncertainty┬ábefore the cast members appear┬áamongst┬áthem. Once everyone is finally aware of what is happening, the … Continue reading Review: Romeo and Juliet, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Chris Ramsey, St David’s Hall

Chris Ramsey, Is That… Chris Ramsey?, Thursday 27th April, St David’s Hall, reviewer: Becca Moody The loveable Geordie that is Chris Ramsey returned to St DavidÔÇÖs Hall on 27th April after previously playing here as tour support for Al Murray (the Pub Landlord). The theatre is busier than IÔÇÖve ever seen it. RamseyÔÇÖs support is Carl Hutchinson, who plays a solid half hour of high-calibre … Continue reading Review: Chris Ramsey, St David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Northern Ballet: Casanova, New Theatre

Northern Ballet: Casanova, Tuesday 25th April, New Theatre, reviewer: Faith Clarke Casanova for most has become the archetype of sexual promiscuity. We all recognise the name, yet the tale of Giacomo Casanova is less widely known. It is the goal of The Northern Ballet then, to communicate his story through the medium of dance; to ÔÇÿpeel back the layersÔÇÖ as choreographer Kenneth Tindall puts it … Continue reading Review: Northern Ballet: Casanova, New Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Escape the Scaffold, The Other Room

Escape the Scaffold,┬áThursday 20th April,┬áThe Other Room,┬áReviewer: Sarah Harris ItÔÇÖs been over 24 hours since I saw Escape the Scaffold at The Other Room but my mind hasnÔÇÖt stopped thinking about it since. IÔÇÖve always had a thing for psychological thrillers, but usually in the form of Christopher Nolan films so this was a nice and interesting change. The performance was set in a small … Continue reading Review: Escape the Scaffold, The Other Room

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Ones to watch: My Country, Sherman Theatre

The National Theatre has collaborated with National Theatre Wales to create My Country; a work in progress, a new play inspired by the recent EU Referendum. It will be coming to Sherman Theatre in Cardiff from 2 ÔÇô 6 May 2017 as part of a UK tour following its recent run at the NTÔÇÖs Dorfman Theatre in London. In the days following the Brexit vote, … Continue reading Ones to watch: My Country, Sherman Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Sister Act, Wales Millennium Centre

Sister Act, 17th April 2017, Wales Millennium Centre, reviewer: Hannah Stait The Wales Millennium Centre was bursting with soul last night as people flocked to see the hit musical production of Sister Act. Based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a diva whose world gets flipped upside down when she witnesses her sleazy boyfriend commit … Continue reading Review: Sister Act, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Ones to watch: Northern Ballet’s Casanova, New Theatre

After a three year absence, New Theatre Cardiff is looking forward to welcoming Northern Ballet back to Wales with the World Premiere Tour of Casanova. Following numerous requests from fans, Northern Ballet is to return to CardiffÔÇÖs New Theatre this April with a brand new production about historyÔÇÖs most notorious lover in the new ballet Casanova. Sure to delight fans following a three year absence … Continue reading Ones to watch: Northern Ballet’s Casanova, New Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: The Commitments, Wales Millennium Centre

The Commitments, Tuesday 11th April, Wales Millennium Centre, reviewer: Hannah Stait The Commitments is a musical that music fans will love and is a real celebration of soul. With the success of the 1991 BAFTA winning classic film, the story was brought the the West End After a whirlwind of positive reviews. From a two year run in the West End,┬áThe Commitments is now half … Continue reading Review: The Commitments, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Legally Blonde, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Legally Blonde, Monday 10th April, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, reviewer: Penelope Barnes ItÔÇÖs a production we all know and love. Blonde sorority queen Elle Woods adores college sweetheart Warner, said ÔÇÿsweetheartÔÇÖ doesnÔÇÖt turn out to be sweet at all, and Elle gets serious and ends up discovering sheÔÇÖs destined for more than a life as a shopaholic with a shoe addiction. Underneath … Continue reading Review: Legally Blonde, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: The Play That Goes Wrong, The New Theatre

One of my pet hates in life is when people give away the plot line to a book. This pet hate is only heightened when it turns to drama. Not really knowing what to expect before entering, The Play That Goes Wrong is quite frankly what it says on the tin. Letting us in on the world of unsuccessful and extremely humorous amateur dramatics, Mark … Continue reading Review: The Play That Goes Wrong, The New Theatre

georgecaulton
Culture

Review: You’ve Got a Friend, St David’s Hall

You’ve Got a Friend, Thursday 6th April, St David’s Hall, reviewer: Sarah Harris James Taylor and Carole King are arguably two of the most influential and most successful singer/songwriters of the last few decades. From the same people who created the outstanding West End masterpiece, The Simon & Garfunkel Story, YouÔÇÖve Got A Friend┬áshowcases the music and work on Taylor and King and celebrates the … Continue reading Review: You’ve Got a Friend, St David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: A Judgement in Stone, New Theatre

A Judgement in Stone, Tuesday 4th April, New Theatre, reviewer: Corey Aunger   A Judgement in Stone is a somewhat mixed production that doesnÔÇÖt really pick up until the second half. Argued to be one of Ruth RendallÔÇÖs better works, the novel is adapted for the stage by Simon Brett and Antony Lampard. The Classic Theatre Company, and producer Bill Kenright, are touring twenty-five venues … Continue reading Review: A Judgement in Stone, New Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Cirque Berserk!, Wales Millennium Centre

Cirque Berserk!, Tuesday 28th March, Wales Millennium Centre, reviewer: Ashley Boyle The UKÔÇÖs biggest and most diverse circus show to grace the theatre stage, Cirque Berserk, has been performing in Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. The show was jam packed with daring and impressive stunts, leaving the audience awestruck and relieved that all that couldÔÇÖve gone wrong was overcome. Before the show kicked off with … Continue reading Review: Cirque Berserk!, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Our Carnal Hearts, Chapter Arts Centre – Experimentica Season

Our Carnal Hearts, Sunday 2nd April, Chapter Arts Centre, reviewer: Sam Walker GOLD. Always believe in your soul. You got the power to know. YouÔÇÖre indestructible. There was a point during Rachel MarsÔÇÖ performance where I found myself part of a choir singing Spandau Ballet with a bunch of strangers and not even feeling unusual. In her exploration of envy, and the honesty with which … Continue reading Review: Our Carnal Hearts, Chapter Arts Centre – Experimentica Season

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Rent, Wales Millennium Centre

Taking place in the 1990’s in East Village, New York, Rent follows a group of young bohemians trying to work their way through personal issues, doing so by finding each other. Clich├® though it may sound, this rock-musical touches on so many issues leaving the audience reaching for tissues for both tears of sadness and of laughter. The cast of the 20th Anniversary tour contains … Continue reading Review: Rent, Wales Millennium Centre

bethangirdlermaslen
Culture

Review: Buffalo Comedy, Buffalo

Buffalo Comedy, Sunday 2nd April, Buffalo, reviewer: Hannah Hopkins Acts: Rhys James, Tanya Spence-Kelly, Calum Stewart, Leroy Britto; MC: Clint Edwards. Buffalo is one of the more vibrant and trendy venues in Cardiff, and of course, I was pretty happy to see that the venue hosts a regular comedy night. It’s been running for quite a while, but I’ve never had the opportunity until now … Continue reading Review: Buffalo Comedy, Buffalo

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Louder is Not Always Clearer, Chapter Arts Centre – Experimentica Season

Louder is Not Always Clearer, Saturday 1st April, Chapter Arts Centre, reviewer: Bob Wigin A man stands in front of the audience and begins to flail and jump, looking to the crowd for a response. Before long, he types outs sentences which are projected on to a large screen behind him. We learn that he is deaf. Louder Is Not Always Clearer is an impressionistic, … Continue reading Review: Louder is Not Always Clearer, Chapter Arts Centre – Experimentica Season

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Richard Herring: The Best, St David’s Hall

Richard Herring: The Best, Sunday 2nd April, St David’s Hall, reviewer: Becca Moody Richard Herring is showcasing the best of his material from the last twelve shows, after revisiting them all for one-off performances in 2015. The aim is to represent each of the various aspects of his comedy style equally: a summary of the past sixteen years for the comic; a smorgasbord of Richard … Continue reading Review: Richard Herring: The Best, St David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Class: The Elephant in the Room, Chapter Arts Centre – Experimentica Season

Class: The Elephant in the Room, Friday 31st March, Chapter Arts Centre, reviewer: Claudia Rutherford Influenced by the injustices circulating his political climate, Pierre Bourdieu proposed the theory that a ÔÇÿcultural capitalÔÇÖ exists within Western societies. It is one, he claims, to be systematically sought after, and promotes the idea that the culture enjoyed by the middle classes, is regarded as more valid than those … Continue reading Review: Class: The Elephant in the Room, Chapter Arts Centre – Experimentica Season

Hannah Hopkins