From its humble beginnings in 2004, ├Æran M├│rÔÇÖs a Play, a Pie & a Pint series has enjoyed massive success the world over, and itÔÇÖs easy to see why. Featuring at domestic festivals such as Edinburgh and Brighton, and as far afield as Tasmania and Alaska, the Glasgow-born combination of the culinary and the cultural has piqued the interest of international audiences, including – on … Continue reading Review: Leviathan, Sherman Theatre
A sense of self and individual identity is something that all of us take for granted. But what would happen if this was suddenly taken away? In the fight for survival, working class widow Ella Gericke is forced to adopt her husbandÔÇÖs identity during Nazi Germany in this captivating piece of modern theatre, Man To Man. The audience are transported through the 20th century from … Continue reading Review: Man To Man, Weston Studio.
Minutes before the play began, I walked into the Sherman theatre finding myself in the pleasant surroundings of a few dozen people who, like myself were all anxiously waiting for Peter DoranÔÇÖs ÔÇÿGRAVÔÇÖ to begin. Upon reading that the show was solely performed by one man, I was not sure what to expect. But as the play began I knew that I would be partaking … Continue reading Review: GRAV, Sherman Theatre
The Act One production of Translations was hosted at Llanover Hall, Canton, not far from student darling Chapter, in the cold evenings of mid-March. The British flags pasted over the doorway upon entrance might have fooled you into thinking you were entering a patriotic, pro-British play, but you couldnÔÇÖt be further from the truth. Written in 1980 by Irish playwright Brian Friel, Translations is a … Continue reading Performance in Review: Translations
Ciara Rafter explores humankind’s need to belong with the help of Philip Ridley’s gripping┬áDark Vanilla Jungle, performed by Wales’ own Company of SIrens. Playwright Phillip RidleyÔÇÖs critically acclaimed Dark Vanilla Jungle premiered at Edinburgh Festival in 2013, featuring Gemma Whelan of Game of Thrones, stunning viewers with a powerful performance on the topic of home and belonging, and the opposition of this concept ÔÇô isolation. … Continue reading Review: Dark Vanilla Jungle, Chapter Arts Centre
As Winter draws to a close, we look back over the past year which saw some wonderful commemorative events to mark the centenary of WWI. December 2014 bore witness to artistic and cultural events in West Flanders which commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the Christmas Truce during the First World War and Quench Culture attended┬áto see the events in all their glory. In December … Continue reading Centenary Of The Christmas Truce
Unlike the other pantomimes which are dominantly shown this time of year, Arabian Nights offers something different as it is interesting for both children and adults. The stories are complex but not complicated, the live music make it dynamic to watch (you can see the music being produced) and the art of storytelling is fully explored and utilised. The scene opens with a raucous being … Continue reading Theatre Review: Arabian Nights
The first issue of BUTT was published in 2001, but it wasnÔÇÖt until 2006 when the BUTT BOOK was published and became a bestseller that the magazine solidified it place in public psyche. Now, they have returned with a new hardback instalment to the series, FOREVER BUTT. This bold book, not out of place on the shelves of an urban independent bookshop or urban outfitters … Continue reading Book Review: FOREVER BUTT
Ballet CymruÔÇÖs adaptation of the classic fairy-tale hit Riverfront Theatre, boasted a packed audience and outstanding cast and is a must see for anyone venturing to the Ballet this Christmas. There was definitely no hint of Disney in the Welsh ballet companyÔÇÖs performance, with Jeanne-Marie Leprince de BeaumontÔÇÖs French version shining through. The haunting music and absence of dialogue made for interpretation, as some scenes … Continue reading Review: Beauty and the Beast
The Sherman TheatreÔÇÖs production of Arabian Nights is set to storm the Christmas Stage. Quench Culture got a sneak peak in the rehearsal room to see how preparations are going. The performance of Arabian Nights strikes the audience in its difference. This exotic tale of love, mystery and the joy of spoken word originated from folk tale to be translated into English published novel in … Continue reading Backstage: Arabian Nights, Sherman Theatre
For two days only, a travelling fusion of art installation and dance experience came to NewportÔÇÖs Riverfront Theatre on Friday 7th November-Saturday 8th November. The Dance Dome is an igloo-shaped portal 360┬░cinema, showcasing three very different contemporary dance performances, which incorporate not only unique and electrifying interpretive dance, but also pay homage to pole sport, parkour free-running and elements of break-dance. Each of the three … Continue reading Discover Dance Festival ÔÇô Dance Dome
Matthew Bourne’s direction returns to the Cardiff Stage with his adaptation of Lord of the Flies. This adaptation of William Golding’s 1954 classic novel sees an all male cast take to the stage and interpret the tale through modern dance.┬á The original story sees a group of school boys become stranded on a uninhabited Island. With no stucture and little means of survival this innocent … Continue reading Lord of The Flies
Cardiff is a really funny place, and there are some great comedians coming to visit. Following an extremely successful career, including a sold out 5 night run at LondonÔÇÖs Southbank Centre and television shows such as Modern Life Is Goodish (Dave TV),┬áAre You Dave Gorman?┬áand┬áGooglewhack Adventure; Dave Gorman returns to his roots and is going to perform his live show at St DavidÔÇÖs Hall on … Continue reading Looking for a Laugh?
White water rafting, volunteering in communities, safaris and travelling thousands of miles for an eye opening experience before adulthood are all on the list for an ultimate gap year. We all know that a gap year opens your eyes and you ÔÇÿfind yourself,ÔÇÖ but what about the long lasting affects that time well spent can have upon somebody?┬á Well, in this one man show ÔÇÿEducating … Continue reading Review: Educating Ronnie
Sherman CymruÔÇÖs first production with Rachel OÔÇÖRiordan at the helm presents a rough and edgy adaptation of a Shakespearean classic. This October saw the opening of Sherman Cymru’s production of Romeo and Juliet; Rachel OÔÇÖRiordanÔÇÖs first as Artistic Director. The concept of ‘street Shakespeare’ is not new, as many adaptations (including Baz Luhrmann’s well-loved film) have used an urban setting to portray the story of … Continue reading Review: Romeo and Juliet
Agent 160 is a writer-led all female theatre company. Taking their name from Aphra Benn, a female playwright/spy (Agent 160 was her codename). We spoke to Lisa Parry, one of the founders and playwrights of Agent 160. Lisa was driven to set up Agent 160 after a conference led by the Sphinx Theatre Company in 2010 revealed the shocking statistic that only 17% of all … Continue reading Agent 160- Interview with Lisa Parry
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to watch the rehearsals for Sherman CymruÔÇÖs upcoming performance of Romeo and Juliet. A select few young critics and reviewers were invited to view the rehearsal process and even we had the opportunity chat with director Rachel OÔÇÖRiordan afterwards. After arriving and exchanging a few introductions, we sat down to watch the cast rehearse … Continue reading An Afternoon at Sherman Cymru
The comedy scene in Cardiff is growing in leaps and bounds, and the cityÔÇÿs got quite a few places to thank for the rise of this new trend. One of themÔÇÖs the legendary Glee Club… Everyone who lives in Cardiff has their own hidden gem, a venue that is special to you and undervalued by others. Mine is the Glee Club. It may not be … Continue reading Twenty Years of Glee!
Culture editors Jasmine Freeman and Elouise Hobbs bring you ten of CardiffÔÇÖs cultural treasures you wish you knew about. Go unearth them! I want to do something different Ever fancied watching an opera? Well, the Welsh National Opera offers 50 ┬ú5 tickets in the top three price bands for Under 30s for every performance. What’s more, for some performances there are free Pre-Performance Talks that … Continue reading Hidden Gems for the Curious Student
It was comedyÔÇÖs answer to the Led Zeppelin reunion. Michael Palin, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones announced in November that, despite the death of Graham Chapman in 1989, Monty Python would be reuniting for a show at LondonÔÇÖs O2 Arena. Selling out the venue in less than a minute to British comedy fans and shameful ticket touts alike, demand for the … Continue reading Review: The Monty Python Show, O2 Arena (London)
