Backstage: Arabian Nights, Sherman Theatre

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

Discover Dance Festival ÔÇô Dance Dome

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

Lord of The Flies

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

Looking for a Laugh?

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?

Review: Educating Ronnie

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

Review: Romeo and Juliet

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

Hand drawn ink sketching of Aphra Behn

Agent 160- Interview with Lisa Parry

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

An Afternoon at Sherman Cymru

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

Wicked the musical in the Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff during Spring 2014

Hidden Gems for the Curious Student

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

Monty Python reunites for one evening in the O2 arena

Review: The Monty Python Show, O2 Arena (London)

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)

Interview ÔÇô James Cuddy, You Are Cardiff

This year, a group of Cardiff students┬á set out to photograph hundreds of ordinary people in Cardiff to emphasize the importance of the locals in creating a city-wide identity. Quench Culture editor Amy Pay interviewed James Cuddy, one of the project’s members, to find out about whether they achieved their goal of creating art from everyday faces. James Cuddy, You Are Cardiff – – – … Continue reading Interview ÔÇô James Cuddy, You Are Cardiff

So You Want To Read a DC Comic …

DC Comics puts out a load of great comics, but it can be really hard to figure out which ones fit your tastes or feature the heroes you care to read about. But donÔÇÖt worry about that, weÔÇÖve got you covered. Check out the following list of our favourite DC books to learn what the stories are about, why theyÔÇÖre worth reading, and where to … Continue reading So You Want To Read a DC Comic …

Review: Curtain Call (by Broadway Dance Society), The Gate

Last week the Broadway Dance Society performed their annual showcase, featuring popular musicals like Wicked, Mamma Mia, Billy Elliott, and The Lord of the Rings. Vaiva Seskeviciute reviews the studentsÔÇÖ powerful performance Broadway Dance Society performed ÔÇ£Curtain CallÔÇØ last Saturday at The Gate Arts Centre where viewers could enjoy tap, jazz, ballet, Irish, American high-kick and contemporary dance. During the two-hour show the audience was … Continue reading Review: Curtain Call (by Broadway Dance Society), The Gate

Review: Windband & Chamber Orchestra Concert, St TeiloÔÇÖs Church

Culture editor Sum Sze Tam ventured into a stained-glass church for an evening of atmospheric music that veered from the brassy, to rousing, to the absolutely beautiful Perhaps the most impactful thing about this concert, before it even began, was the venue. Set in St TeiloÔÇÖs church on Woodville Road, the audience are seated on pews in between the pillars of the church interior. YouÔÇÖre … Continue reading Review: Windband & Chamber Orchestra Concert, St TeiloÔÇÖs Church

Review: Major Tom, WMC

A one-woman, one-dog show has come like a whirlwind into Cardiff, and itÔÇÖs a story of celebrity culture and the consequences of putting yourself in the public eye, all wrapped up with plenty of sparkling, simple humour Major Tom is an original one-woman show created and performed by Victoria Melody, detailing her and her bassett houndÔÇÖs (the title character) adventures in beauty pageants and dog … Continue reading Review: Major Tom, WMC

Review: Wicked, Wales Millenium Centre

WickedÔÇÖs fourth stop on its UK-wide tour flew into CardiffÔÇÖs Wales Millennium Centre on March 12th and will remain there until 26th April. Jordan Nicholls went to see whether this production defied gravity or not Based on the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Wicked traces ultimately how Glinda earns her title of Glinda the … Continue reading Review: Wicked, Wales Millenium Centre

Review: Russell Howard, Motorpoint Arena

Russell HowardÔÇÖs career has gone from strength to strength. Starting off as the geeky guy with a lazy eye from Mock The Week, he gained huge success with his own show: Russell HowardÔÇÖs Good News. Yet, it is as a stand-up comedian where he is most at home. Wonderbox is his first tour for three years and he returns with an increased popularity, having his … Continue reading Review: Russell Howard, Motorpoint Arena

Drawn in Cardiff

Now that Morgan Arcade Studios has closed down, its artists have been forced to relocate. However, just because the artists are lacking a place to create their art doesnÔÇÖt mean we canÔÇÖt give them a home on our pages. Freddie Rochez showcases the former Morgan Arcade illustrators who continue to work in Cardiff. Be inspired by their creativity! Julien Decaudin Julien Decaudin is originally from … Continue reading Drawn in Cardiff

Morgan Arcade Studios

As one of CardiffÔÇÖs biggest hubs for freelance artists closes, Culture editor Amy Pay documents┬áMorgan Arcade StudiosÔÇÖ short history and questions the future for creatives in Cardiff Next time you walk through town, let your eyes drift. Take in the structure of the buildings, look up to see what occupies the floors above the shops and observe our city properly. Until the beginning of this … Continue reading Morgan Arcade Studios