Cardiff Independent Film Festival (CIFF)┬áis a showcase for┬áindependent filmmakers to exhibit both features and shorts. This year’s festival, between the 21-24th April at Chapter Arts Centre, will have a focus on some of the best independent animations from around the world, as well as documentaries, dramas and experimental film. Quench Film editor Sadia Pineda Hameed gives you a preview of just some of the exciting … Continue reading CIFF 2016 Preview
The Cardiff Vintage Kilo Sale was just as expected. The old rustic smell, the clutter and chaos and the hundreds of attendees all in hope of grabbing some bargains. The event took place in Portland House situated in Cardiff Bay on Saturday 9th April – perfectly timed for a spring closet refresh! The building was swarming with clothing enthusiasts carrying the bright purple plastic bag … Continue reading Review: Vintage Kilo Sale
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
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.
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
With over 86,000 monthly listeners, the Moon Club in Cardiff seems too small a venue to hold Spring King. Formed in 2012 in Manchester, the last twelve months have seen the rise of Spring King to one of the most exciting bands at the moment. There is a buzz in the crowd as Tarek Musa & Co take the stage. With only mic stands separating … Continue reading Live: Spring King – Moon Club – 12/02/2015
ÔÇ£WeÔÇÖre not going to make any sheep fucker jokes tonightÔÇØ; a comment by Jaret Reddick that sums up the whole of his band, Bowling For SoupÔÇÖs, puerile but light-hearted set at CardiffÔÇÖs Student Union. Three years since they last played in Cardiff, on their alleged Farewell Tour, itÔÇÖs time for the ÔÇÿHow About Another Round TourÔÇÖ. This time, itÔÇÖs ValentineÔÇÖs Day, so there are hearts … Continue reading Live: Bowling For Soup – Great Hall – 14/02/2015
Review by Ciara Gillespie Cardiff University’s Act 1 have yet again dazzled audiences with a stunning rendition of Shakespeare’s classic comedy ÔÇ£A Midsummer’s Night DreamÔÇØ. I was┬áperhaps skeptical about going to see the play, mainly because as a newbie to Shakespere I had only heard the name of the play a handful of times but had no clue what it was about. Surely I would … Continue reading Review: A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Llanover Hall, Canton
Reviewed by Emily Jones, Features Editor. In a hauntingly modern conflation of three Shakespeare plays chronicling the Wars of the Roses, the Omidaze theatre company documents the conflicts between the two rival royal Houses of Lancaster and York in their fight for the throne, and the intricate plots that lead to the death of Henry VI. Staged in the Wales Millennium Centre, Henry VI … Continue reading Review: Henry VI, Wales Millenium Centre.
Sadia Pineda Hameed┬áchecks out Italian restaurant Toni’s Amici. Amidst the mass of Italian chain restaurants that litter Cardiff city centre, finding ‘a proper Italian’ seems near impossible. Bella Italia, Jamie’s Italian and the like have pizza crusts not quite thin enough, a sense of being overcharged and a notable lack of warmth in the atmosphere. The family-run Toni’s Amici, however, is what one might call … Continue reading Review: Toni’s Amici, authentic Italian in Cardiff – Sadia Hameed
“The Internet is really, really great…” Avenue Q is a musical that makes frequent contemptuous references to black people, Jews, homosexuals, Republicans, pornography and sexÔǪ yet it could not be more hilarious if it tried. Avenue Q hit the New Theatre, Cardiff this week and did not disappoint. Providing a hilarious platform of discussion between puppets, everyday life and a few taboos thrown in for … Continue reading Review: Avenue Q, New Theatre
Alice Fairbanks gives us her review of The Cosy Club, a mainstay of Cardiff’s city centre. I had heard that┬áThe Cosy Club┬áwas a genuinely cosy place, and after a sufficient amount of time spent there,┬áI can confirm this. The d├®cor is┬árustic and thrifty, but with a grand entrance to the main restaurant. All of the details and little touches are what charmed me about The … Continue reading Review: The Cosy Club Cardiff – Alice Fairbanks
Originally a novella written by horror-mogul Stephen King, then transformed into the classic cult film over twenty years ago, I pounced on the opportunity to review The Shawshank Redemption production at The New Theatre, Cardiff. While this latest adaption definitely captured the tone of ÔÇÿfear will hold you prisonerÔÇÖ, it struggled to recapitulate the sombre themes explored so elegantly on screen. In a miscarriage of … Continue reading Review: The Shawshank Redemption, New Theatre
Whether you’re a budding first year, eager to explore your new home, or a long term resident of our glorious city. Here is a run-down of the best day trips in and around Cardiff! St Fagans St Fagans is a pretty village in the west of Cardiff, a humble 5 miles from student domain Cathays. If youÔÇÖre living in Cardiff (and you probably are if … Continue reading Exploring Cardiff
When I was told that I was going to see a musical about depression, self harm, anorexia and a girl whoÔÇÖd been sectioned, honestly I feared the worst. Musicals are usually so fun and whimsical that I thought it would be impossible to display the emotional depth required for such a topic. Boy was I wrong. Battle Scars: A New Musical, written and directed by … Continue reading Review: Battle Scars: A New Musical, YMCA Theatre
BizetÔÇÖs gracefully hypnotic, four act opera, Carmen, hit the stage of St DavidÔÇÖs Hall this week and its success was evidently exemplified by the roaring applause upon the final curtain of the performance. The opera revealed a spectacular degree of d├®cor with an all- inclusive account of highly qualified opera stars, multitudes of colorful clothing and just to top it off, a real donkey walking … Continue reading Review: Bizet Carmen, St David’s Hall.
The proof of a good story, whether in film, television or theatre is always the way you feel about the characters come the finale. There have been endless occasions in which protagonists have met their fatal and dramatic deaths, with directors hoping for a weeping audience to mourn the tragedy, only to be met by the realization that no one in the audience really cares. … Continue reading Review: The Glenn Miller Story, New Theatre
Super Tomato: Nestled more or less opposite Tesco on Salisbury Road, Super Tomato houses an AladdinÔÇÖs cave of retro games, manga, toys and awesome imported action figures from Japan. To further satisfy your inner geek and keep you entertained during term time are a wide range of sparkly electronics and cool gadgets. As Super Tomato mainly concentrates on retro games and consoles, not surprisingly much … Continue reading The Gamer’s Guide to Cardiff
After all these years, judging from the buzzing, dancing-in-your-seat atmosphere of the auditorium, Grease certainly is still the one that we want. The nationÔÇÖs favourite musical has hit the stage of The New Theatre, with Orbit Theatre Company bringing us all the classic hits itÔÇÖs famous for- the ones that we all undeniably know the lyrics and all the moves to. Opening the show, the … Continue reading Review: Grease, New Theatre.
For many of us starting out or returning back to uni, the drinking and clubbing scene is typically where you’ll find yourself when looking for a fun night out. To make the best of, if and when, that time arrives, here is the inside scoop on what┬áto wear to a pick of the most popular nights out during the week in Cardiff. So embrace … Continue reading A Step into Cardiff Nightlife
