Tag: Comedy

Film & TV

10 Years Since Bridesmaids: Exploring Womanhood Through Comedy

By Sophie Revell  Paul Feig’s 2011 comedy Bridesmaids proves that comedy can be used to highlight more serious social issues, without really lightening it either. Writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo blend hilarious moments of cringe and vulgarity with touching conversations about female friendships and other important social dynamics.  Bridesmaids follows single Annie Walker (Wiig) in her mid-thirties whose life is in a bit of … Continue reading 10 Years Since Bridesmaids: Exploring Womanhood Through Comedy

Contributing Writer
Film & TV

Say Your Prayers (2020) Review

Disclaimer: Private screener was provided as part of press release By Maya Deane Say Your Prayers is a thought provoking film that tackles themes such as brotherly relationships, guilt, misplaced trust, prejudice and places a twist on the serious theme of religious radicalisation. Despite the serious topics covered within the film, it is a hilariously dark comedy, with characters that you will love to hate, … Continue reading Say Your Prayers (2020) Review

Contributing Writer
Culture

Cardiff’s Smut Slam: A Place Where Community, Self-acceptance and Sex Stories Connect

By Tabitha Jukes The open-mic storytelling platform is crafting safe-spaces in Cardiff to share, laugh and discuss inclusive sexuality, real-life sexual stories and experiences in an evening of inclusive entertainment.  So, what exactly is Smut Slam? Created by artist, performer and sex activist Cameryn Moore in February 2011, the first Slam took place in Boston. Zoom ahead nine years, and the ÔÇÿdirty-story telling open micÔÇÖ … Continue reading Cardiff’s Smut Slam: A Place Where Community, Self-acceptance and Sex Stories Connect

Contributing Writer
Culture

Back to Berlin: Iron Curtains, Iron Ladies and Border Breaking | Theatre review

By Tabitha Jukes Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà As part of The OtherRoomÔÇÖs eight-week Spring Fringe programme, which champions native and non-native alternative theatre, and showcases innovative performance in Cardiff. I was able to enjoy CB4ÔÇÖs debut show Back to Berlin. The show does exactly what the grassroots and developing Cardiff- based theatre company intends: presenting theatrical storytelling, with a difference. It is informative, entertaining and … Continue reading Back to Berlin: Iron Curtains, Iron Ladies and Border Breaking | Theatre review

Contributing Writer
Culture

Class | Theatre Review

Words by Andrea Drobna Performed on an intimate stage in CardiffÔÇÖs Millennium Centre, Class was set in a singular primary school classroom, all the scenes carried out by only three actors. With a surprising mix of both flashforward and flashback scenes throughout the performance, the show tackled issues faced by both parents and their children growing up in troubled families living in a poor area … Continue reading Class | Theatre Review

mellynch
Film & TV

Here’s to the Mockumentary

Film and TV co-editor John Jones pays tribute to one of comedy’s most unique, resilient and undervalued formats. Today, comedy as we have known it is under threat. ItÔÇÖs clear where contemporary audience demand lies; listings are dominated by gritty crime dramas, innovative sci-fi thrillers and tawdry reality shows that pander to the lowest common denominator. Within the genre itself, the cult classics of the … Continue reading Here’s to the Mockumentary

johnjones
Culture

The Full Monty | Theatre Review

Words by Max Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà YouÔÇÖve gotta make a livinÔÇÖ somehow, so you may as well make it takinÔÇÖ your kit off, it seems to be working for the cast of The Full Monty. Based on the Oscar-winning (yes, you read that right) feel-good classic, you know what youÔÇÖre going to get, a good old cheeky bit of fun. But, in fact The Fully Monty … Continue reading The Full Monty | Theatre Review

mellynch
Culture

Review | Mark Thomas ÔÇô Check Up: Our NHS at 70 review

By Maisie Marston ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Setting the scene, a projection of the view from Mark ThomasÔÇÖ rehearsal room rolls, showing Lisson Grove Health Centre in its seemingly slow operation. When Thomas takes the stage, youÔÇÖre shocked into consciousness. He paints a picture of pre-1948 Britain where his grandmother would put aside money for healthcare, having to choose which family memberÔÇÖs illness warranted emptying the pot. As … Continue reading Review | Mark Thomas ÔÇô Check Up: Our NHS at 70 review

ilonacabral
Culture

Murder for Two | Review

By Emily Stanton ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà The clue is in the title when it comes to this murder mystery comedy musical. Two actors smartly play all 14 characters in the two hours of Joe Kinosian and Kellen BlairÔÇÖs Murder for Two. The story is a classic whodunnit about a famous author, Arthur Witney, whoÔÇÖs murdered at his surprise birthday party. Although set in a small American town, … Continue reading Murder for Two | Review

mellynch
Culture

Interview | Paul Richards: Serial Showman

By Max Modell The Tim Minchin of drums? An ugly Hugh Grant type? Or just another lanky, awkward, middle class comedian? Who is Paul Richards? Drummer, playwright, comedian, novelist, film maker and all-round nice guy, Paul Richards is certainly all of these things. An Edinburgh Fringe fanatic, Paul performed 85 times at last yearÔÇÖs festival. However, this year he is taking on even more, bringing … Continue reading Interview | Paul Richards: Serial Showman

ilonacabral
Culture

Review | Chris Ramsey – Just Happy to Get out of the House

By Hannah Stait ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà This Thursday people flocked to St. DavidÔÇÖs Hall in Cardiff to spend time with the lovable and hilarious Chris Ramsey at his ÔÇÿJust Happy to Get out of the HouseÔÇÖ tour as he jokes about the world he lives in and the things that makes him stop and think. Before he could give us all the giggles, Ramsey opened up the … Continue reading Review | Chris Ramsey – Just Happy to Get out of the House

mellynch
Culture

Review | The Flop

  By Max Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà The Flop, Stand up for a show about not being able to get it up! Absurdist comedies can often go too far and be too ridiculous, as a consequence they are often left convoluted and without laughter. While often presented in broad strokes any performer will tell you it is these absurdist comedies which are the hardest to execute. Not … Continue reading Review | The Flop

mellynch
Culture

Review: Chris Ramsey, St David’s Hall

Chris Ramsey, Is That… Chris Ramsey?, Thursday 27th April, St David’s Hall, reviewer: Becca Moody The loveable Geordie that is Chris Ramsey returned to St DavidÔÇÖs Hall on 27th April after previously playing here as tour support for Al Murray (the Pub Landlord). The theatre is busier than IÔÇÖve ever seen it. RamseyÔÇÖs support is Carl Hutchinson, who plays a solid half hour of high-calibre … Continue reading Review: Chris Ramsey, St David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Interview: Chris Ramsey

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

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Interview: Carl Donnelly

Edinburgh Fringe favourite┬áCarl DonnellyÔÇÖs style of comedy has landed him nominations for the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2013 and for Best Newcomer in 2009 and The Guardian have even referred to him as an “observational genius”. ┬áHannah Hopkins and Becca Moody got the chance to interview him just before he embarks on the UK tour of his eighth show ‘Bad Man Tings’.┬á   Are panel … Continue reading Interview: Carl Donnelly

Hannah Hopkins
Food

Review: Buffalo

By Ellie Philpotts   What is this!? Going to Buffalo on a.. Tuesday?! OK, that makes it sound like an unpopular place. ItÔÇÖs not. ItÔÇÖs just that itÔÇÖs more associated with Mondays. Buffalo is so much part of the Cardiff furniture that it probably needs no introduction, but here it is anyway. Since 2005, the self-declared local institution has been the Cardiff studentÔÇÖs first port … Continue reading Review: Buffalo

elliephilpotts
Culture

Review: Josh Widdicombe, St David’s Hall

ItÔÇÖs safe to say that Josh WiddicombeÔÇÖs profile has never been higher, due to his role on The Last Leg and his eponymous BBC one sitcom. With an increase in profile comes a higher demand, leading to Josh performing at St. DavidÔÇÖs Hall last week. Josh himself addressed this, seemingly very happy at the venue being full. Unfortunately, his brand of aloof observational humour didnÔÇÖt … Continue reading Review: Josh Widdicombe, St David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Bridget Jones's Baby
Film & TV

Review: Bridget Jones’s Baby

Note: Falling face first into mud is the way into a manÔÇÖs heart. Bridget is back. After 15 years, the third instalment┬áin the┬ábeloved┬áfranchise, Bridget Jones’s Baby, has crawled its way to the big┬áscreen. And who would have thought it would still be as funny? Whilst having┬áa typically muddy music festival weekend with her friend, Jones┬á(Ren├®e Zellweger) finds herself having┬áa one night stand with a handsome … Continue reading Review: Bridget Jones’s Baby

Sadia Pineda Hameed