Review | Bottom

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

Review | The Mirror Crack’d

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

Review | Camp Be Yourself

By Anna Whitfield Camp be yourself is a short yet sweet play about two women who return to their beloved summer camp ten years later, but this time as camp councillors. The two-woman play, written and performed by two Royal welsh college of music and drama graduates, shows the characters struggling to come to terms with the harsh realities and complexities of adulthood. The play … Continue reading Review | Camp Be Yourself

Review | South Wales Wellness show

By Ilona Cabral The South Wales Wellness Show united curious Cardiffians, young and old, in a transformational event which┬ácelebrated holistic health and wellness. With over a hundred retailers, healers, free talks and workshops the show was dedicated to raising awareness and educating people about holistic healing. As show organiser Gaia Love said in an interview with Quench: ÔÇ£The event aims to evolve consciousness, raise awareness … Continue reading Review | South Wales Wellness show

Review | Horrible Histories: The Terrible Tudors

By Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Brace yourselves as your favourite Horrible characters come careering onto the New Theatre Stage! Over 20 years ago Terry Deary began writing his smash-hit series, ÔÇ£Horrible HistoriesÔÇØ and since then its popularity has not wavered! The series has inspired a BAFTA-winning Television show, merchandise and a Horrible-histories film is expected this year. Considering this legacy, the stage show production does not … Continue reading Review | Horrible Histories: The Terrible Tudors

Review | Hairy Bikers Live

By Jacob South-Klein ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà One of the manifold Golden Rules of Reviewing™ (so writes a man who until now has never written a review for Quench) is to maintain a level of objectivity, as a distant observer, from the reviewed event itself. In other words, do not, accidentally end up on stage with any Hairy Bikers, in front of three-thousand fellow audience members. The second … Continue reading Review | Hairy Bikers Live

On the Move

By Ilona Cabral Where will I be next year? This is the question on every student’s mind. Disregard this scary thought for second though and I want you to think of your time at University so far: of the people, the parties andÔǪthe accommodation. In my opinion, no (proper) student can leave their university without a couple of ÔÇÿwar storiesÔÇÖ. It may be tales about … Continue reading On the Move

Review | Banff Film Festival 2019

By Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà February has broken and the outdoor community has re-united to watch another extraordinary group of thrill-seekers push themselves past their limits. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, The Banff Film Festival has returned to CardiffÔÇÖs St DavidÔÇÖs Hall to display another season of phenomenal short films from the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. This event showcases some of the very best work … Continue reading Review | Banff Film Festival 2019

Interview | Mark Thomas – Check Up: Our NHS at 70

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

Review | Rebus Long Shadows

By Max Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Rebus: Long Shadow offers a gripping addition to Ian RankinÔÇÖs Rebus detective novels. While it is a very different beast to the novels, the complexities of RebusÔÇÖs character are not neglected and the show has a a strong psychological appeal which not only examines the morality of RebusÔÇÖs decisions, but also the personal toll it takes on his life. It addresses … Continue reading Review | Rebus Long Shadows

Review | American Idiot

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

Review | The Classic Rock Show

By┬áSophie Miles ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Attention all rock and roll lovers! If you havenÔÇÖt been to watch The Classic Rock Show yet, where have you been? My first time at this kind of show, I have to admit that IÔÇÖm glad I attended! The Show powered through some of Classic RockÔÇÖs finest moments, with music from Zepplin, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Meatloaf, Queen, Supertramp, Bowie and everything … Continue reading Review | The Classic Rock Show

Review | Stephen Hough Plays Beethoven

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

Review | Cinderella

By Hayat Gorraine ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Cinderella, you shall go to the ball! And, with the arrival of the Russian State Ballet and Siberian Orchestra in Cardiff, on their seventeenth UK tour so can the rest of us! Performed in St David’s Hall, this age-old romance┬ásees the exploited Cinderella lifted from the depths of despair to a royal happily ever after. Despite the thousands of renditions of … Continue reading Review | Cinderella

Review | The Snow Maiden

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

Review | Bullish

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

Review | Blackadder Goes Forth

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

Review | The Festival of the Dead

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

Made by Hand

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