Category: Culture

Culture

Review: Dreamboats and Petticoats, New Theatre

Dreamboats and Petticoats is the fifties and sixties inspired musical that features popular rock-and-roll hits and a whole lot of singing and dancing ensembles. It tells the story of teenager Bobby’s love of music, his partaking in a songwriting competition and his experience with love and relationships. The set and design for the performance was incredible and very full on. The set and props stayed … Continue reading Review: Dreamboats and Petticoats, New Theatre

bethangirdlermaslen
Arts Reviews, Culture

Review: Sinners Club, The Other Room

Sinners Club, Thursday 9th February, The Other Room, Reviewer: Bob Wigin Not a play but a piece of ÔÇÿGig theatreÔÇÖ, Sinners Club loosely portrays the life of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain. Lucy Rivers of theatre company Gabblebabble and her musical accompaniment The Bad Mothers play at recording an album while the audience sit around the edges of The Other … Continue reading Review: Sinners Club, The Other Room

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Madam Butterfly, Wales Millennium Centre

Madam Butterfly is the powerful opera by Giacomo Puccini which depicts the story of Cio-Cio-San or ‘Madam Butterfly’ who partakes in an arranged marriage with Lieutenant Pinkerton. The marriage is one of convenience for Pinkerton but Butterfly falls in love with him and the marriage and Butterfly’s story ends in tragedy. The set and design for the opera was intricate but simple at the same … Continue reading Review: Madam Butterfly, Wales Millennium Centre

bethangirdlermaslen
Culture

Review: The Verdict, New Theatre

The Verdict,┬áTuesday 7th February, New Theatre. Reviewer:┬áSarah Harris Ever been part of a jury? Well, this is your chance. The Verdict at CardiffÔÇÖs New Theatre is based on the 1982 Sidney Lumet film. Set in America, the play follows the story of Frank Galvin, played by Clive Mantle, a former lawyer and newly-turned alcoholic who’s life is in despair until he takes on a lawsuit … Continue reading Review: The Verdict, New Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Tiff Stevenson, The Riverfront, Newport

Tiff Stevenson, The Riverfront, Newport, Reviewer: Daniel Heard Tiff Stevenson might not be a household name on the comedy circuit, but make no mistake, she deserves to be. You might have seen her on spits on ÔÇ£Russell HowardÔÇÖs Good NewsÔÇØ or ÔÇ£Live at the ApolloÔÇØ, but if you get the chance to see her in her element, take it. Drawing on a lot of real … Continue reading Review: Tiff Stevenson, The Riverfront, Newport

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: La Cage Aux Folles, New Theatre

La┬áCage Aux Folles,┬áTuesday 31st January, New Theatre. Reviewer:┬áStephany Damyanova ÔÇ£Hey, World, I am what I am!ÔÇØ La Cage aux Folles is many things, but above all itÔÇÖs a spectacular celebration of love in all its forms. ItÔÇÖs a meticulously crafted masterpiece that radiates affection in every detail, every story, every song. It tells no lies and hides no truths, giving the audience a taste of … Continue reading Review: La Cage Aux Folles, New Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: La bohème, Wales Millennium Centre

La boh├¿me,┬áSaturday 28th January, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer:┬áMel Lynch Admittedly, before this week I had never properly visited the Millennium Centre nor attended a live Opera. However, upon experiencing both I am elated to say I was pleasantly surprised on all accounts. From my personal point of view, I was taken aback by how invested I had become in the love story of Mimi and … Continue reading Review: La boh├¿me, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: A Regular Little Houdini, Chapter Arts Centre

A Regular Little Houdini,┬áFriday 27th January, Chapter Arts Centre. Reviewer: Ellie Philpotts The art of theatre can be a tricky one to master. For many of us, just the concept of performing would be enough to break out into a cold sweat (then maybe into song once we overcame any initial stage fright). And thatÔÇÖs without everything else that goes into it ÔÇô design, choreography, … Continue reading Review: A Regular Little Houdini, Chapter Arts Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, St David’s Hall

Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games,┬áSaturday 28th January, St DavidÔÇÖs Hall. Reviewer:┬áHannah Hopkins Admittedly, as an audience member I was completely new to the Lord of the Dance phenomenon, and I wouldnÔÇÖt have thought it would be anything I would ever be invested in. However, seeing Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games last night proved to me more than ever that taking yourself out of … Continue reading Review: Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, St David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: A Regular Little Houdini, Chapter Arts

A Regular Little Houdini,┬áFriday 27th January, Chapter Arts Centre. Reviewer:┬áHannah Hopkins A Regular Little Houdini encapsulates perfectly the art and power of storytelling. The performance of A Regular Little Houdini followed the official launch of the Welsh Theatre Awards at Chapter Arts Centre. The one-man play set in Newport is a vibrant coming of age story about the son of a dockworker, who wishes to … Continue reading Review: A Regular Little Houdini, Chapter Arts

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Enough is Enough, Barnabas Arts House, Newport

Enough is Enough,┬áTuesday 24th January, Barnabas Arts House Newport . Reviewer:┬áEmma Hotchkiss The best way I can think to describe Enough is Enough is as an audiovisual companion to Laura Bates’ Everyday Sexism.┬áAs I wandered into a packed church basement on a freezing Monday for the first night of Beaware Production’s newest show, Enough is Enough, I didn’t know quite what to expect. However, the … Continue reading Review: Enough is Enough, Barnabas Arts House, Newport

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Sunny Afternoon, Wales Millennium Centre

Sunny Afternoon is the hit musical about the rise of The Kinks with music and lyrics by frontman Ray Davies and book by screenwriter Joe Penhall. It depicts The KinksÔÇÖ early years as a band and the story behind their biggest hits, as well as exploring the DaviesÔÇÖ brothers rivalry, the bandÔÇÖs banning from the USA and management issues. The set and design for the … Continue reading Review: Sunny Afternoon, Wales Millennium Centre

bethangirdlermaslen
Culture

Review: Mary Poppins, Wales Millennium Centre

Mary Poppins,┬áFriday 16th December, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer:┬áHannah West Two words for Mary Poppins the musical – Practically Perfect. This is no scaled-down version of the timeless classic. Production values were quite literally through the chimney and out the roof.┬áVisually, the entire set was nothing short of stunning. The experience begins with the set unfolding like a story book – a subtle nod to the … Continue reading Review: Mary Poppins, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: A Chorus Line, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

A Chorus Line,┬áWednesday 21st December, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Reviewer:┬áHannah Stait.┬á This Wednesday I found myself in the beautiful Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to watch Kinetic TheatreÔÇÖs winter production of A Chorus Line, the show that provides a glimpse into the personalities and lives of dancers auditioning to be a part of a chorus line, showing us each the … Continue reading Review: A Chorus Line, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Hannah Hopkins
Album Reviews, Culture

Review: The Emperor’s New Clothes, Sherman Theatre

The Emperor’s New Clothes,┬áSaturday 10th December, Sherman Theatre. Reviewer:┬áHannah Stait. Photography:┬áKirsten McTernan. If there was ever a time of year to feel nostalgic then it has to be the month of December,┬á which is why many flocked to the Sherman Theatre to see Alan Saunders’ adaption of the classic Hans Christian Anderson tale The EmperorÔÇÖs New Clothes (a co-production between Sherman Theatre and Theatr Iolo). … Continue reading Review: The Emperor’s New Clothes, Sherman Theatre

Hannah Hopkins
Arts Reviews, Culture

Review: Roald Dahl’s Wonderman, Wales Millennium Centre

Wonderman,┬áFriday 9th December, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer: Khuram Mahmood and Sarah Harris When you first enter to take your seat at WalesÔÇÖ Millennium Centre to watch┬áWonderman, you are instantly met with a feeling that this will not be any ordinary old production.┬áTables are spaced front to back in a somewhat orderly fashion but not so as to make it seem unnatural, with each featuring two … Continue reading Review: Roald Dahl’s Wonderman, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Arts Reviews, Culture

Review: Kiss Me Kate, Wales Millennium Centre

Kiss Me, Kate, Tuesday 6th December, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer: Rachel Nurse.┬á 1940s Baltimore and itÔÇÖs opÔÇÖninÔÇÖ night of a musical version of┬áThe Taming of the Shrew. Rehearsals are over, costumes donned and thereÔÇÖs a 10 minute curtain call. What youÔÇÖre about to witness is a whole lot more than ShakespeareÔÇÖs comic love storyÔǪÔÇØ Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs Autumn season featured three productions inspired by William … Continue reading Review: Kiss Me Kate, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: The Borrowers, The Sherman Theatre

On Tuesday 29th November, the Sherman Theatre opened its doors to a heart-warming and lovable family story. The Borrowers is brought to life by a vibrant and endearing cast with the perfect story for Christmas. As one of those iconic tales from everyoneÔÇÖs childhood, you never outgrow the thrill of The Borrowers, of tiny people living under the floorboards and a whole new world which … Continue reading Review: The Borrowers, The Sherman Theatre

bethangirdlermaslen
Culture

Review: The Snow Queen, Wales Millennium Centre

The Snow Queen, Thursday 1st December, Weston Studio at Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer: Hannah Hopkins.┬á Photography: Jonathan Dunn Last night was the opening night of Hijinx OdysseyÔÇÖs The Snow Queen, directed by Jon Dafydd-Kidd. Hijinx Odyssey is an inclusive community group for adults, brought together by their passion for performing, as well as the amateur arm of the Welsh theatre company, Hijinx. This was a … Continue reading Review: The Snow Queen, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah Hopkins