Cardiff University Music Society’s Flash Mob

Unsurprisingly, I was intrigued when an email appeared in the Quench Culture inbox from Cardiff University Music Society detailing a flash mob set to take place in Cardiff City centre last Saturday. Of course, the first of October made its presence known by blessing us with a surprisingly chillier temperature and on-and-off rain all day, but I headed over to the Cardiff Central Library undeterred … Continue reading Cardiff University Music Society’s Flash Mob

Hannah HopkinsOctober 3, 2016October 3, 2016

Review: The Mousetrap, New Theatre

I went into this play not knowing what to expect other than the basics. The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play written by Agatha Christie. It is set in an old manor house, which the owners have recently converted into a guesthouse. It begins on a cold, winter afternoon with the guests being introduced one by one. However, as the days go on, the guests … Continue reading Review: The Mousetrap, New Theatre

Hannah HopkinsOctober 1, 2016

Review: Wicked the MusicalÔÇÖs 10th Anniversary in London

ÔÇ£WickedÔÇØ as a story itself is essentially one of the most successful fanfictions ever written. Based off the 1995 story ÔÇ£The Wizard of OzÔÇØ by L. Frank Baum, ÔÇ£Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the WestÔÇØ, is a novel written by Gregory Maguire and it tells the untold story of the witches of Oz: Glinda the Good and Elphaba the Wicked … Continue reading Review: Wicked the MusicalÔÇÖs 10th Anniversary in London

Hannah HopkinsSeptember 29, 2016

No Laughing Matter

As Mrs BrownÔÇÖs Boys is voted the best sitcom of the 21st Century, I argue the case for the shows it beat- and what this says about the state of British comedy today. Picture the scene. The camera opens on a mock-up of a traditional kitchen. Old worktops, shelves cluttered with pots and pans, and there, sat at the table, is quite clearly a man … Continue reading No Laughing Matter

Hannah HopkinsAugust 29, 2016August 29, 2016

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

On 31st July 2016, Potterheads all over the world curled up in their beds and re-entered the magical world of Harry Potter after a 9-year wait. JK Rowling announced that she would be releasing the script that accompanies the highly awaited; ÔÇÿHappy Potter and the Cursed ChildÔÇÖ play over a year ago. She cleverly timed the release of the book just a say before the … Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Hannah HopkinsAugust 15, 2016

Interview: Josh Widdicombe

Josh Widdicombe has a flourishing TV career. He co-presents the award-winning C4 programme, ÔÇÿThe Last LegÔÇÖ, one of the most popular comedy shows on television and┬áhas also made memorable appearances on Mock the Week, QI, Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You and The Jonathan Ross Show. But, for all that success, Josh is delighted to be returning now to his first … Continue reading Interview: Josh Widdicombe

Hannah HopkinsAugust 14, 2016

Review: Papillon

Papillon (1969) Book Review When I first began reading Papillon, I found the memoirs of French Prisoner Henri Charri├¿re too fantastical to be believed. How could a mere man have possibly endured the living hell detailed within the pages of this novel, and still maintained a tremendous show of determination and courage? I decided that separating fact from fiction can often-times be an arduous and … Continue reading Review: Papillon

georgecaultonAugust 9, 2016June 18, 2020

Book Review: Alice in Wonderland

Alice (The Chronicles of Alice 1) by Christina Henry review Alice, the first in the Chronicles of Alice series by Christina Henry, is a new retelling of Lewis CarrollÔÇÖs classic, Alice in Wonderland, but with a horror twist. This novel is nothing like the original, instead it is appealingly dark and creepy where the main protagonist, our dear Alice, escapes from the asylum in which … Continue reading Book Review: Alice in Wonderland

georgecaultonAugust 9, 2016June 18, 2020

Review: Billy Elliot, WMC

BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL Review by Tom Morris As I went into Billy Elliot at the WMC, I asked my Nan, who I was with, what she thought about the two questions on my mind. That is; how would the play be better than the film, and is Billy supposed to be gay? By the final curtain, these questions couldnÔÇÖt be further from my mind. … Continue reading Review: Billy Elliot, WMC

georgecaultonJuly 10, 2016

Review: The 39 Steps, New Theatre

Review by Sam Walker The 39 Steps is an unusual beast. Following the novel written by John Buchan , the story has been adapted for film many times, most notably in 1935 by Alfred Hitchcock. While┬áthe Master of SuspenseÔÇÖs name may appear on the posters for this stage adaptation, the actual result could not be more different. While HitchcockÔÇÖs film is a tense thriller, this … Continue reading Review: The 39 Steps, New Theatre

georgecaultonJune 18, 2016

Review: RSC: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, New Theatre

Review by George Caulton Combining amateur theatre companies alongside professional theatre companies is something very rarely seen in the world of theatre. Undeniably, it has been done before- but performing Shakespeare and conveying the complexity of the language- in an understandable way to a contemporary audience- is a skill that is typically upheld with highly trained performers. Despite this, the RSC and the Everyman theatre … Continue reading Review: RSC: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, New Theatre

georgecaultonMay 29, 2016May 29, 2016

Ibou Tall and Jazzmates

On the 15th April, Ibou Tall and Jazzmates played in Caf├® Jazz in Cardiff. They are a Bristol based jazz group with Ibou Tall at the centre of the group writing the songs and playing keyboard. Ibou Tall grew up in Senegal starting up his own jazz bands. After a successful career with the Setsima Band, Ibou Tall set up his current band, working to … Continue reading Ibou Tall and Jazzmates

Beau BeakhouseMay 11, 2016

Culture, uncategorized

Review: Psychic Sally, St David’s Hall

Review by Greg Barradale I have to admit that I was more than a little bit sceptical before seeing Psychic Sally. The pre-show disclaimer exclaiming ÔÇ£Due to EU regulations we are obliged to tell you that SallyÔÇÖs act hasnÔÇÖt been scientifically provenÔÇªbut Sally would say it hasnÔÇÖt been unproven [sic] eitherÔÇØ did nothing to help this, nor the surreal hard house the small medium came … Continue reading Review: Psychic Sally, St David’s Hall

georgecaultonMay 2, 2016May 2, 2016

Review: Thriller! Live, New Theatre

Review by Elis Doyle Thriller ÔÇô Live chronicles the incredibly journey of Michael Jackson from eleven year old musical prot├®g├® of The Jackson Five, to his rise as the world renowned ‘King of Pop’. Frankly speaking, I had never listened to Michael Jackson’s music that frequently until his untimely death on June 25th 2009. It’s one of life’s cruel ironies that I never got to … Continue reading Review: Thriller! Live, New Theatre

georgecaultonApril 28, 2016

Review: American Idiot, New Theatre

Review by Dillon Eastoe AMERICAN IDIOT The New Theatre welcomed a variety┬áof people into its doors for the opening of American Idiot this week. ┬áTeenage fans here for their favourite Green Day songs, their curious parents chaperoning them, and a few who seem like regular theatre goers (you wonder if theyÔÇÖre aware what theyÔÇÖre in for). As the cast make final preparations backstage, a TV … Continue reading Review: American Idiot, New Theatre

georgecaultonApril 26, 2016April 26, 2016

Review: Animal Farm, Act One

Review by Molly Wyatt -UDDERLY FABULOUS- Animal Farm is by no means a simple play to stage; an absolute classic piece of literature, this politically charged story requires a great deal of creativity, commitment and character. Having read (and loved) the book, yet never seeing a stage production of it, I was intrigued to see how this challenging show has been adapted. To say that … Continue reading Review: Animal Farm, Act One

georgecaultonApril 16, 2016

Review: Hairspray, The New Theatre.

Reviewed by Ellie Philpotts LetÔÇÖs face it ÔÇô sometimes everything can seem like a bit of a stressor. So what better way to mark the start of the Easter holidays after a good few weeks of essays, deadlines and maybe attempted revision than by boogying your way into the 1960s? ┬á Hairspray is somewhat of a classic ÔÇô even if musicals arenÔÇÖt your scene, you … Continue reading Review: Hairspray, The New Theatre.

georgecaultonMarch 24, 2016April 2, 2016

Review: Chronolust, Act One, YMCA Theatre

Review by Molly Wyatt Chronolust is ChronoMUST! Last spring at Act OneÔÇÖs ÔÇÿStaging a CoupÔÇÖ I was lucky enough to watch a fifteen minute play called ÔÇÿChronolust.ÔÇÖ Amazed by the compact production, and mesmerised by the concept, we all left wanting more ÔÇô and last night I was fortunate enough to have that fulfilled. Both written and directed by Sam Walker himself, ÔÇÿChronolustÔÇÖ is a … Continue reading Review: Chronolust, Act One, YMCA Theatre

georgecaultonMarch 21, 2016March 21, 2016

Review: Betrayal, St David’s Hall.

Review by Dimana Markova The central theme of Harold Pinter’s ‘Betrayal’ is, as the title suggests to some extent, the betrayal in the relationships between a woman, her husband and his best friend. Beginning from the end of the chronological story, the play starts with the moment when Emma shares that her marriage with Robert is over to Jerry- Roberts best friend and also the … Continue reading Review: Betrayal, St David’s Hall.

georgecaultonMarch 5, 2016

Review: Footloose, New Theatre

Review by Amy Butler Footloose is an undeniably classic musical; defined appropriately by its creator Dean Pitchford as a ÔÇÿcultural touchstoneÔÇÖ, even those who havenÔÇÖt seen the adaptations will know the story of the small town in which dancing was made illegal. Based on a bizarre true story, Footloose was first introduced to us through the 1983 film, starring Kevin Bacon as the original Ren … Continue reading Review: Footloose, New Theatre

georgecaultonMarch 2, 2016