My Wales | Exhibition Review

By Cinzia Appetecchia Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà In the heart of Cardiff, the MADE art gallery recently hosted a photography exhibition by a local artist and photographer, Kyriacos Asprou, to which I had the pleasure to be invited to see his work. I found a collection of pictures taken during a long trip around the country to frame the essence of what Wales has to … Continue reading My Wales | Exhibition Review

An Inspector Calls | Theatre Review

By Lewis Empson Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà J. B. PriestlyÔÇÖs staple of the whodunnit genre is as pertinent as ever within todayÔÇÖs society. Watching it unfurl on stage with social commentary still as relevant as its debut in 1945 is an engaging and thought-provoking experience. We are first introduced to a dirty, dimly lit street inhabited with impoverished children, contrasted with the decadent home of … Continue reading An Inspector Calls | Theatre Review

On Budgeting and What Makes a Good Photographer with Ieuan Berry | A Beginner’s Guide to Photography

In the previous instalment of our photography series, I guided you through all the jargon you need to know when approaching photography. Today I will talk about budgeting and how to navigate the plethora of equipment on offer, another tricky aspect for beginners. To facilitate your journey through photography, I also interviewed the photographer Ieuan Berry, who works in the shop Camera Centre, located in … Continue reading On Budgeting and What Makes a Good Photographer with Ieuan Berry | A Beginner’s Guide to Photography

Acosta Danza Evolution | Review

By Amelia Field Coming all the way from Cuba, International ballet star Carlos Acosta brings his superbly talented company to the Wales Millennium Centre. To give background to the company, Danza started up Acosta Danza in his home Havana where dancers are scouted and enter the company at the age of 12 to undergo eight years of training before they are ready at the age … Continue reading Acosta Danza Evolution | Review

Into the Woods | Theatre Review

By Rachel Nurse Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà The Brothers Grimm hit the YMCA stage with an epic fairy tale about wishes, a witch and the wicked choices we make brought to life by Cardiff UniversityÔÇÖs Act One society. Laura Martin directs the well-loved musical ÔÇÿInto the WoodsÔÇÖ where a witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales … Continue reading Into the Woods | Theatre Review

Digging Out ‘American Dirt’: What This Controversy Tells Us About the Shortcomings of the Publishing Industry

By Luisa De La Concha Montes In early January, I woke up to find my Twitter feed flooded with very outspoken opinions about Jeannine CumminsÔÇÖ most recent book, American Dirt. As I started interacting with the two main writers that reviewed and criticised the book, Myrian Gurba de Serrano and David O. Bowles, I realized that I was witnessing something quite revealing, and potentially, something … Continue reading Digging Out ‘American Dirt’: What This Controversy Tells Us About the Shortcomings of the Publishing Industry

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

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

Repainting Barbie Dolls; A new artistic trend or pointless vandalism?

By Harriet Lowbridge The fad of repainting Barbie dolls came about in the early ÔÇÖ00s. People have been cleaning off and recreating the faces and bodies of Barbie dolls, Bratz dolls, and Monster High dolls. You want it, you can probably find it. The dolls give people the chance to express themselves, break away from social stereotypes and create realistic dolls in the image of … Continue reading Repainting Barbie Dolls; A new artistic trend or pointless vandalism?

A Murder Is Announced | Theatre Review

By Pratiksha Pathak Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà NO SPOILERS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REVIEW There was a time when people would wait patiently, with unwavering curiosity, for the next murder mystery by Agatha Christie. Although that time has passed, the novels still generate similar interest, making them popular even today. As a result of this interest, even decades later, the novels are being adapted … Continue reading A Murder Is Announced | Theatre Review

Banff Mountain Film Festival 2020 | Preview

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is back for 2020 with a brand new selection of adventure films! With events all across the UK and Ireland until the 26th of May, the festival brings you the most inspirational stories told through stunning cinematography from the wildest corners of the planet. The short films are a must-watch for anyone who loves adventures, and every evening is ÔÇ£a … Continue reading Banff Mountain Film Festival 2020 | Preview

A Beginner’s Guide to Photography: Brief Glossary of Technical Concepts

One of the main reasons why people shy away from exploring photography is that the idea of finding the right equipment, and understanding how to use it can be quite daunting. From high prices to strange terms (what on earth does ISO stand for?), photography often seems too complicated. In this second article of our photography series, I will try to break down the practical … Continue reading A Beginner’s Guide to Photography: Brief Glossary of Technical Concepts

ÔÇ£Why arenÔÇÖt you drinking?ÔÇØ The question everyone asks but no one should have to answer

Disclaimer: I have not done Dry January and I donÔÇÖt intend to stop drinking anytime soon. The cleansing month of January is now over, and so the tolerance for people not drinking alcohol is about to slip away. It seems that the expectation for alcohol consumption always creeps back in after Dry January, but why? I decided to write this article after noticing the reaction … Continue reading ÔÇ£Why arenÔÇÖt you drinking?ÔÇØ The question everyone asks but no one should have to answer

Beethoven, The 1808 Concert: A masterful journey to the past | Review

By Ana Beatriz Ferreira Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà On the evening of the 22nd December 1808, at the Theater an der Wien, Beethoven held a performance of absolutely remarkable proportions, displaying an orchestra, a chorus, vocal soloists and the composer himself as the pianist. The audience, reportedly freezing cold on that historic night, heard the premiere of the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, the Fourth Piano … Continue reading Beethoven, The 1808 Concert: A masterful journey to the past | Review

Book Review: Impeccable

By Will Humphrey Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà If you are a fan of Ronan BennettÔÇÖs gritty, unpredictable crime thriller Toy Boy, then I would highly recommend Jameel SandhamÔÇÖs crime novel Impeccable. SandhamÔÇÖs narrative follows a similar road to BennettÔÇÖs exploring the dark underworld of drug dealing ÔÇô thriving on the highs and trying to survive in a world of enemies.   The story draws on the … Continue reading Book Review: Impeccable

The Place I Call Home | Photography Exhibition Review

By Sarah Anne Griffiths ÔÇÿHomeÔÇÖ is a word which embodies many things: a sense of comfort and closure, protection within four walls; home is a place where you should feel most yourself, most at ease and free to express yourself without inhibitions. FfotogalleryÔÇÖs latest photography exhibition embodies these characteristics in a cross-cultural photographic exploration of what ÔÇÿhomeÔÇÖ is within and around various GCC countries as … Continue reading The Place I Call Home | Photography Exhibition Review

On Your Feet! | Theatre Review

By Charlie Sawyer and Natascha Ng Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Coming to Cardiff from Broadway, On Your Feet! brings the Latino passion and spirit of Gloria Estefan to the stage once again. This production follows the story of Estefan’s rise to fame. From her Cuban origins and the streets of Miami to finally capturing her world-wide success on the global stage.  The production centres in on … Continue reading On Your Feet! | Theatre Review

Graphic Novel Review: Isadora

By Vittoria Zerbini Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Isadora, written by Julie Birmant and illustrated by Cl├®ment Oubrerie, is a graphic novel depicting the life and scandals of the ÔÇÿMother of Modern DanceÔÇÖ Isadora Duncan (published by SelfMadeHero, paperback, 144 pages). Isadora was born in America and by the age of 22 she became an acclaimed dancer throughout Europe. Her fame was due to the visceral, free-flowing … Continue reading Graphic Novel Review: Isadora

Rigoletto at the Millennium Centre: WNO embraces the #MeToo movement in iconic new setting of VerdiÔÇÖs masterpiece | Review

by Andrea Gaini Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà The Welsh National Opera is well-known for bold and often politically active productions, and this yearÔÇÖs Autumn Season is especially rich of sensational themes with both Carmen and Rigoletto carrying powerful messages. James MacDonaldÔÇÖs adaptation of Rigoletto to the KennedyÔÇÖs era embraces the core ideologies and beliefs shared by the #MeToo movement in retelling the story of the … Continue reading Rigoletto at the Millennium Centre: WNO embraces the #MeToo movement in iconic new setting of VerdiÔÇÖs masterpiece | Review