ÔÇ£So, did you ever hear the story of the Johnstone twins? As like each other as two new pins, of one womb born on the self-same day, how one was kept and one given awayÔǪÔÇØ A complex question that is thrown back and forth in the world of theatre is ÔÇÿWhat makes a good show? The answer, though it may seem somewhat ambiguous, usually … Continue reading Review: Blood Brothers, New Theatre.
In todayÔÇÖs society, the concept of privacy seems to go amiss as social media, publications and news all focus in some way on the human form and how ┬áit appeals to audiences. Lucy Kirkwood (best known for her stunningly observed work as a writer on gritty teen drama Skins and Sky OneÔÇÖs The Smoke) writes NSFW. Kirkwood┬áprovides a┬ásnappy and shocking insight┬áwhich solely focuses on the … Continue reading Review: Not Safe For Work, Chapter Arts.
To say that Kevin Bridges is anything less than a comical genius would be an understatement. His┬álatest tour titled A Whole Different Story, reveals the Scottish comedianÔÇÖs feelings towards life twelve years into his career. His material had a hilariously nostalgic tone to the childhood days of sleepovers, old gaming devices and internet connection. He brought to attention that the days of PlayStation 1 and … Continue reading Review: Kevin Bridges- A Whole Different Story, St David’s Hall
ÔÇ£Giving pussy to assholes makes them into c**tsÔÇØ. Whilst the above quote is not the most orthodox of ways to begin a review of a performance, it may be the only way of exemplifying the original style of comedy witnessed by several hundred people at St DavidÔÇÖs Hall, Cardiff last night at Reginald. D. HunterÔÇÖs national tour of ÔÇÿThe Man who attempted to do as … Continue reading Review: Reginald. D. Hunter, St David’s Hall
An eclectic mix of youth and experience combine in the New Theatre this week for OrbitÔÇÖs production of the timeless classic The Wizard of Oz. The award winning amateur theatre company which has been entertaining audiences for nearly half a century did not disappoint with their most recent production, pulling out all the stops to provide a heart-warming interpretation of the classic story. Based on … Continue reading Review: The Wizard of Oz, New Theatre
Beautiful chaos; two adjectives that are rarely, if not ever merged together in the same phrase to connote something positive. In spite of the oxymoron, the chaotic elegance of the Pirate of the CarabinaÔÇÖs ÔÇÿFlownÔÇÖ truly represented the chaotic splendour of circus. With personal anecdotes, tense, harmonic vocals and story-telling tight rope walkers, ÔÇÿFlownÔÇÖ can merely be described as a celebration of the surreal yet … Continue reading Review: Pirates of the Carabina’s- ‘Flown’, St David’s Hall.
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
