Chris Ramsey has just embarked on his biggest tour to date, Is That Chris Ramsey?, culminating in a massive homecoming gig at NewcastleÔÇÖs Metro Arena. He’s also bringing the show to Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on┬áThursday 27 April, but before, the Geordie star of Comedy Central’s┬áThe┬áChris Ramsey Show tells us about life on the road and how adjusting to first-time fatherhood hasnÔÇÖt stopped him from … Continue reading Interview: Chris Ramsey
Frankenshow, Wednesday 29th March, Chapter, reviewer: Rachel Nurse Postmodernist art with a technological twist. This was a very creative and different, but at times, a confusing show. A war between humans, robots and dinosaurs paralleled Earth’s own wars between nations. The narrator explained that war is not the answer to the questions – enacted with dolls, which were cleverly utilised in a scene which saw … Continue reading Review: Frankenshow, Chapter – Experimentica Season
Foreign Television Drama as a Window Into the Rest of the World: Welcome to the Wonderful World of Walter Presents Sinead McCausland If you have watched an episode of the Spanish prison drama Locked Up, the German spy thriller Deutschland ÔÇÖ83, or, say, the French political thriller Spin, all available on Channel 4ÔÇÖs streaming service Walter Presents, you will be aware of the man behind … Continue reading Interview: Walter Iuzzolino on Foreign TV Drama
Dirty Dancing, Monday 27th March, New Theatre, reviewer: Mel Lynch If you do nothing else this month go see Dirty Dancing at the New theatre, it is genuinely sublime. Quick paced choreography twinned with an emotionally charged narrative results in an unmissable performance, which is quite simply a pleasure to watch. Set in the vibrant 1960ÔÇÖs Dirty Dancing tells the story of two lovers pulled … Continue reading Review: Dirty Dancing, New Theatre
Killology, Tuesday 28th March, Sherman Theatre, reviewer: Tom Morris This is the kind of life affirming art one might not expect local theatre to show. Yet here it is, right here in Cardiff, literally on the students unionÔÇÖs doorstep, a play that would cost an awful lot more in London and would be a highlight at the Edinburgh Fringe. There are just three characters, and … Continue reading Review: Killology, Sherman Theatre
The Circus of Horrors,┬áWednesday 22nd March, St David’s Hall, Reviewer: Mel Lynch Despite forming in 1995 The Circus of HorrorsÔÇÖ first rose to celebrity status after performing on BritainÔÇÖs Got Talent in 2011. Initially I thought I had some idea about what to expect. However, upon seeing the shows promotional t-shirts which read ÔÇÿKeep calm or fuck offÔÇÖ I started to fear for what I … Continue reading Review: The Circus of Horrors, St David’s Hall
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli M├ñki (2016) is a charming and beautifully stylised film from Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen; perfectly bringing the WoW Festival to a close. The film retells the true story of underdog boxer Olli M├ñkiÔÇÖs big fight with American champion Davey Moore in Helsinki, 1962. M├ñki (Jarkko Lahti) becomes distracted throughout his preparations for the match however; he has … Continue reading Review: The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli M├ñki, WoW Festival
Evita, Monday 20th March, New Theatre, Reviewer: Hannah Hopkins Evita has always, for me at least, been one of those musicals known for a few great songs whilst the rest of the plot has often faded into obscurity. Yet, this production completely changed my mind. The story is powerful and poignant, though the musical elements make it fun and all the more engaging. Following a … Continue reading Review: Evita, New Theatre
A sunny Sunday morning brimming with optimism didnÔÇÖt feel like the appropriate time to be watching Mohamed JabalyÔÇÖs harrowing film which follows an ambulance crew around the streets of Gaza City in summer 2014; but as the film progressed I realized there is of course never an ideal time to be so unapologetically presented with the images human despair that this film depicts. The documentary … Continue reading Review: Ambulance, WoW Festival
By The Time It Gets Dark follows the overlapping narratives of a group of seemingly separate individuals as their lives begin to weave together across the course of the film. An actor, a director, and a number of other characters ranging from a cleaner to a Buddhist, are all linked together across the structure of Thai society. As the director interviews actors in a … Continue reading Review: By The Time It Gets Dark, WoW Festival
W├╣lu ÔÇô Review Directed by Daouda Coulibaly, W├╣lu follows the story of Ladji (Ibrahim Koma), a likeable Malian bus conductor turned drugs smuggler, in a desperate bid to better not only his life but also his sister (Inna Modja) who is forced to work as a prostitute In order to make ends meet. As this gritty narrative unfolds, we watch as he works his way … Continue reading Review: W├╣lu, WoW Festival
I walked in the Chapter Arts theatre with no prior expectations, my knowledge of the ÔÇÿArab SpringÔÇÖ being limited simply to the date it began, 2011. Needless to say, I was blown away by the spectacle of film-making that subsequently followed. The premise of the movie rests on the riots that took hold of Egypt following July 3rd 2013, in response to the military removal … Continue reading Review: Clash, WoW Festival
Seanmhair, Thursday 16th March, The Other Room, Reviewer: Isabel Wright Pebbles would crack against my window in the pitch of the night IÔÇÖd lean out and say ÔÇô What do you want Tommy MacLeish you black eyed monster? And he says ÔÇô “You.” Hywel JohnÔÇÖs Seanmhair explores the life of Jenny, a strong willed Scottish woman, and her relationship to her husband, Tommy. Their connection … Continue reading Review: Seanmhair, The Other Room
By Ellie Philpotts (The longer version of this is in the current print issue of Quench, also at┬áhttps://issuu.com/gairrhydd/docs/quench_162) If you moved to Cardiff expecting your diet to shift to solely Welsh Rarebit, cawl and Bara Brith, it wouldnÔÇÖt take long to realise this isnÔÇÖt the case. While it is fair to say that traditional Welsh grub is easy to find in Cardiff ÔÇô highlights being … Continue reading Round the World Food – Recreate in Cardiff
(The shorter version of this is in the current print issue of Quench – https://issuu.com/gairrhydd/docs/quench_162.) Ellie Philpotts – Cardiff seems like a city of two halves. In one sense, itÔÇÖs rooted in tradition, with a number of venues in the entertainment scene that double as part of the capitalÔÇÖs furniture. Examples such as The Globe, Chapter and Owain Glyndwr have dutifully satisfied generations, from those … Continue reading Food Evening: Chai Street
By Olivia Botting I write this as I emerge from my two-day food coma bestowed upon me by the delicious food at The Clink Restaurant, by Queen Street train station. This particular restaurant is a bit different to conventional eateries, in that you have to go through a small security check upon applying for a reservation (at least, thatÔÇÖs what it said on the website) … Continue reading Review: The Clink Charity
By Elinor Terry Hey, what are you up to tonight? WeÔÇÖre thinking about going to the Flora for a few drinks, want to join us? Now, I know what youÔÇÖre thinking: any self-respecting Cardiff student in second year or above, would have, under no circumstances, sent that text a couple of months ago. Situated on the corner of Cathays Terrace and Flora Street, the fittingly … Continue reading Review: The Flora
By Ellie Philpotts I would say I basically have no words after experiencing CardiffÔÇÖs take on Coyote Ugly, but a blank review is kind of a novel concept, so instead IÔÇÖll settle with starting that itÔÇÖs definitely something different. Coyote Ugly is a hit film centred on 21-year-old Violet, whoÔÇÖs keen to make it as a singer in New York City, but instead ends up … Continue reading Review: Coyote Ugly Saloon
By Ellie Philpotts Now is as good a time as any to be a food writer (or eater) in Cardiff. Although IÔÇÖve only lived here for just over two years, it feels like the busiest the cityÔÇÖs ever been, in terms of new restaurants setting up, whether chains expanding, or brand new independents altogether. In the case of Seafood Shack, itÔÇÖs more of the latter. … Continue reading Coming to Cardiff: Seafood Shack
The Red Shoes, Tuesday 14th March, Wales Millenium Centre, Reviewer: Gemma Gibson Matthew BourneÔÇÖs dance company, New Adventures, are renowned for their vast selection of ballets including Swan Lake, The Car Man, and Sleeping Beauty, and this week the Wales Millennium Centre has been graced by their latest touring masterpiece-┬á a magical, original adaptation of 1948ÔÇÖs fairytale sensation – The Red Shoes. Audiences are welcomed … Continue reading Review: The Red Shoes, Wales Millennium Centre
