By Indigo Jones ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà The show started with a bang, literally, immediately submerging the audience in the drama. The musical began as it intended to go, demonstrating the perfect balance between a musical and a concert performance. The show itself could be described as┬á almost film-like, perhaps a homage to the original movie starring Whitney Houston. That is exactly what this production achieved, it payed … Continue reading Review | Bodyguard
By Kathleen Walker ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Possibly the biggest film hit of 2017/2018, The Greatest Showman found universal appeal after a rocky start with the critics. However, fans have not let the hype die, with the soundtrack being one of the biggest music sellers of last year and still conjuring up vivid imagery thanks to three little words, This Is Me. Now, Sing-a-Long-a Productions have brought the … Continue reading Review | Greatest Showman Sing-a-long
By Chris Colbourn SelfMadeHeroÔÇÖs translation of this Belgian-Dutch graphic novel feels particularly timely as the last three years of Brexit madness have soured a lot of young peopleÔÇÖs relationships with older generations. When politics divides us, it can be easy to forget that the other side are real people too, with their own lives and emotions, and this book is about just that. Blossoms in … Continue reading Review | Blossoms in Autumn
By Sarah Rawle ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Top or Bottom? If you havenÔÇÖt been asked this question yourself, you have likely heard it before. Maybe not sung to you accompanied by a ukulele, or alongside a lesson in 1970s handkerchief code ÔÇô but such is the uniqueness of ÔÇÿBottomÔÇÖ. It is a question about the power dynamics of sex. A question which has become so engrained in our … Continue reading Review | Bottom
By Saoirse O’Connor ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Agatha ChristieÔÇÖs name is synonymous with the modern detective story, her influence evident in modern shows like Death in Paradise. As soon as we see a group of suspects gathered in a room, a detective centre stage ready to uncover a murderer, the Queen of CrimeÔÇÖs hand isnÔÇÖt hard to discern. But the modern interpretation of Christie is more sordid than … Continue reading Review | The Mirror Crack’d
By Jasmine Snow ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing one of William ShakespeareÔÇÖs most haunting tragedies, Antony and Cleopatra. The show was performed at the Llanover Arts Centre by Act One, directed by Sophie Callery and produced by Daisy Leach. The performance perfectly captured the struggle between reason and emotion, but the 1920s setting left something to be desired. The plot follows a … Continue reading Theatre Review: Act One Presents Antony and Cleopatra
By Martina Merenda ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Set in a post-apocalyptic present, National Theatre’s production of Macbeth, under the direction of Rufus Norris, doesn’t disappoint. The tragedy in five acts starts with the brave Scottish general Macbeth, who, after a mysterious meeting with the “three weird sisters” (the witches) discovers to be the centre of a prophecy that will eventually see him as king of Scotland. Driven by … Continue reading Review | Macbeth
By Maisie Marston Mark ThomasÔÇÖ is best known for the Channel 4 show ÔÇÿThe Mark Thomas ProductÔÇÖ; a satirical standup format which ran between 1996 and 2002. ThomasÔÇÖ most recent projects have combined comedy, investigative journalism and the theatre to highlight issues like freedom of speech in Palestine. Now the activist has shifted his attention to the UKÔÇÖs beloved NHS. Check Up: Our NHS at … Continue reading Interview | Mark Thomas – Check Up: Our NHS at 70
By Max Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà An ambitious musical, the songs rocked but the narrative felt limp and ultimately fell flat. American Idiot is a jukebox musical comprised of the music of Green Day, which defined the teenage years of a generation. Based primarily on the acclaimed concept album of the same name, the story is expanded from the narrative of this album; three disillusioned teens flee … Continue reading Review | American Idiot
By Sofia Brizio ┬á ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Until recently I had not heard of Stephen Hough, but I love Beethoven and IÔÇÖm glad to say it was a nice discovery, even though I was expecting more. However, when Stephen Hough played with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, that was the perfect recipe for a great evening. British-born Stephen Hough is considered to be one of the … Continue reading Review | Stephen Hough Plays Beethoven
As the weather is getting colder, my heart was warmed by The Russian State Ballet Of SiberiaÔÇÖs magical performance of the Snow Maiden. This took the audience on a journey, transporting them from their felt lines seats to a fantasy domain yonder to our very own. As I entered the auditorium the orchestra were warming up, creating a feeling of festive excitement and wintery wonder … Continue reading Review | The Snow Maiden
By Ilona Cabral Are you feeling Christmassy yet? Whatever your answer, head along to CardiffÔÇÖs magical Winter Wonderland to get in the festive mood! Jam packed with fun and festive attractions, this Christmas central is one of the must-go places this season. HereÔÇÖs a breakdown of some of the fabulous things available to do, see and eat there! Rides The Winter Wonderland is full of … Continue reading Review | Winter Wonderland
By Izzy Wright ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà ÔÇÿThis is Christmas. In an attempt to capitalize even more on the country in a time of low morale, the government brought Christmas, hard. The elite celebrate the festive season, purchasing extortionately priced Christmas licenses from the state. The rest of society arenÔÇÖt so fortunate, resorting to the synthetically produced ÔÇÿCheerÔÇÖ, a black market substance dealt in pill form – simulating … Continue reading Review | Cheer
By Molly Govus Walking into ÔÇÿThe Little Man Coffee Co.ÔÇÖ, I had no idea what to expect. Floating around my head were the words ÔÇÿsound artÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿmusicÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿspoken wordÔÇÖ. All words that I was not too familiar with before today. It was an experience I will never forget; I went in with a million questions and came out with even more. If there were … Continue reading Review | Unaccompanied, Little Man Coffee Co.
By Ilona Cabral On a dreary Cardiff day, stepping into the cosy, wood panelled walls of Br├©d, I finally felt like Christmas was near. Based in Pontcanna, Br├©d is a charming Danish bakery owned by Betina Skovbro, an experienced Baker who moved from Denmark to Cardiff in 1998. After originally pursuing a career in photography, (and finding the bread in Cardiff somewhat lacking) Betina decided … Continue reading Review | Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop, Br├©d
By Manavi Mehrotra ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà The Performances for the Curious, now in second season, celebrates contemporary theatre and fascinating music, comedy, and cabaret performances. This is the second production by Milk Presents, after their debut at the London ÔÇÿcome as you areÔÇÖ festival with Joan, a critically acclaimed smashing hit. The play: Bullish is currently on tour and in Cardiff till the 24th of November. Bullish … Continue reading Review | Bullish
By Ilona Cabral ***If you have not seen Blackadder, this article contains spoilers (and if you have not seen Blackadder go and watch it now!)*** “Blackadder”, a single word which brings back a torrent of childhood memories. A show which reminds you of some of the most iconic actors of our generation: Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Tony Morrison.┬á Considering this towering legacy, the Everyman Theatre … Continue reading Review | Blackadder Goes Forth
By Sophie Miles and Emily Hattersley ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà If seductive performers, trippy music and confetti (everywhere) sounds like your idea of a perfect evening, then welcome to the Festival of the Dead. Celebrating the Festival of the Dead for the second year in a row, at the students union, itÔÇÖs fair to say it did not disappoint.┬á Quoted as ÔÇ£The most stylish and theatrical celebration in … Continue reading Review | The Festival of the Dead
By Ilona Cabral WhatÔÇÖs your favourite part of Christmas? The food? The alcohol? The Presents? Well, this year your favourite part could be the Christmas shopping. Forget about that crazed pushing and shoving through shops. Forget that last minute trawl through Amazon. This year, you can enjoy finding unique and beautiful presents for each of your loved ones at Craft Fairs. From now, until that … Continue reading Made by Hand
by Andrea Gaini ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Speechless, amazed, astonished, shocked, stunned ÔÇô in a word: Wicked. IÔÇÖve seen enough musicals to fill my room of colourful programmes, but somehow, IÔÇÖve always managed to miss Wicked. Once, it was because of a cancelled show, then a flight, and so it started to seem as if a spell had been cast upon me. Last night, despite Elphaba saying that … Continue reading Review | Wicked
