By Pratiksha Patak Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Hela, by the up-and-coming playwright Mari Izzard, is the closing segment in the Other RoomÔÇÖs Violence Series. It gives a glimpse into a dystopian world, and is the most violent indeed since it involves children. Its themes, visuals, characters and wordplay are certainly not for the faint-hearted. The two characters Hugh, played by Gwydion Rhys, and Erin, played … Continue reading Hela | Theatre Review
By Elly Savva ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà As somebody who was infatuated with Henrik IbsenÔÇÖs Dollshouse, I jumped on the opportunity to watch the Sherman TheatreÔÇÖs production of its darker sister play Hedda Gabler. Under the vision of Chelsea Walker, the production takes a new stylistic direction, leaving the audience dazzled and spellbound. It is not the type of performance that you can enjoy from the comfort of … Continue reading Hedda Gabler | Theatre Review
By Amelia Field A Star is Born has served us the classic tale of the journey to stardom, revamped across four distinct eras showing us that the path to success never does run smooth. The story stays pretty much the same across the four films, however, the type of industry and traits of the characters changes with the time. We are first introduced to the … Continue reading Mini Series: The Evolution of A Star is Born
By Indigo Jones Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà 9 to 5 is a musical which sees the mistreatment of three women who work in an office due to their gender. As a result, they decide to undo the wrongs they have faced by kidnapping their boss. This show encompasses female empowerment and puts a comedic spin on a political message, and through doing so raises awareness … Continue reading 9 to 5 | Theatre 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
By Cynthia Vera A heart-warming debut from director Van Grisnven, ÔÇÿSequin in a Blue RoomÔÇÖ is a queer thriller that unfolds itself like a teenage fantasy; a stunning tale of obsession, seduction, and ultimately, loneliness. Sequin in a Blue Room is a story that follows 16-year old Sequin (Conor Leach), an endearingly mysterious boy who chooses instant sexual satisfaction with older men over meaningful relationships. … Continue reading Review: Sequin in a Blue Room
By Sarah Anne Griffiths The National MuseumÔÇÖs latest photography exhibition includes work curated by four of the most prestigious photographers within the photography world. Upon attending the press preview of the exhibition it became apparent that Cardiff, and Wales as a whole, is truly honoured to have such important photographic work on display in our capital city. One of the four photographers is August Sander. … Continue reading Photography Season 19-20 at the National Museum | Review
By Rhian Lock Ôÿà Ôÿà As a big fan of Gothic horror and theatre respectively, Rona MunroÔÇÖs theatrical reworking of Frankenstein was a show that I had been desperate to catch. Rather than leaving Mary Shelley – the author of Frankenstein – behind the pen, Munro transports her into the play itself, lending her the driving narrative. Eilidh Loan is zany as Shelley, manically whizzing … Continue reading Frankenstein | Theatre Review
Cardiff Masters student, Peter Wolinski, kindly reviewed The Dough Thrower for Quench. By Peter Wolinski There isnÔÇÖt much that tops a stodge binge. Whether itÔÇÖs whilst youÔÇÖre drastically hungover on the sofa, at a late-night takeaway or perhaps out somewhere slightly more cultured, bolting down a dangerous amount of carbohydrate is rarely an unenjoyable experience. And one evening, after a particularly miserable Cardiff afternoon, my … Continue reading Review: The Dough Thrower, Cowbridge
Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Mozart in Paris is a compelling graphic novel by French creator Frantz Duchazeau, recounting MozartÔÇÖs adventures in Paris. The 22-year-old Austrian composer notoriously sought refuge in the French capital after being disappointed by the scarce recognition he was getting in his hometown of Salzburg. Mozart travels to Paris with a bag full of hopes and dreams, which, however, are quickly shattered by … Continue reading Graphic Novel Review: Mozart in Paris
Words by Lauren Stenning Having previously reviewed this Sri Lankan restaurantÔÇÖs divine food, Quench were invited to sample their recent cocktail launch, aptly named ÔÇÿCocotailsÔÇÖ. Being a huge cocktail fan, I couldnÔÇÖt resist this opportunity, along with the chance to try Sri Lankan street food for the first time! Their new Cocotail menu consists of 15 sweet and fiery cocktails in total, including sharing options … Continue reading Review: The Coconut Tree ÔÇÿCocotailÔÇÖ Launch
by Andrea Drobna Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà First seen on stage in 1971, Grease the musical features a group of teenagers tackling their last year of high school, battling with issues surrounding bullying, adolescence, and sexuality. Set in 1959, the musical portrays the teen culture of the time where boys rocked greased back hair and leather jackets, and girls sported candy-floss hair and frilly dresses. The … Continue reading Grease | Theatre Review
Words by Sai With the weather getting colder and finding the time to cook getting ever harder, thereÔÇÖs nothing better than a warm, sumptuous bowl of Pho (Vietnamese soup). Luckily, a new Pho restaurant opened in Cardiff centre last month! And I went to check it out pho QuenchÔǪ When walking down Church street where the quaint St JohnÔÇÖs Church is situated, it was rather … Continue reading Review: Pho, Cardiff
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
By Rhiannon Humphreys Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà The Story is a psychological thriller by young Welsh playwright Tess Berry-Head, inspired by her time doing humanitarian work with refugees from AssadÔÇÖs jails and Libyan prisons. It has a two-person live cast ÔÇô X (played by Siwan Morris, known for her role as Angie in Skins) and V (played by Hannah McPake) ÔÇô but also uses four screens … Continue reading The Story | Theatre Review
By Sofia Brizio Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà The International Concert Series opened last night at St DavidÔÇÖs Hall with an unforgettable performance by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. Expectations were high as the program featured great names (such as Peter Donhoe on the piano) and a vast repertoire, from Tchaikovsky to Rachmaninov and Kachaturian. Not only were these expectations met, but conductor Yuri Simonov went above … Continue reading Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra (International Concert Series 2019/20) | Review
By Katie May Huxtable Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà ┬áNO SPOILERS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REVIEW. For me to reveal the ins and outs of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is classed as the equivalent of treachery in the performing arts industry and, from my knowledge, slip-ups have somehow been avoided. After running for over 60 years ÔÇô and earning the title of the continuous longest-running … Continue reading The Mousetrap | Theatre Review
By Luisa De la Concha Montes Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà The collective behind this performance, the International Contemporary Dance Collective (iCoDaCo) was founded in Sweden in 2012. The concept behind it is quite innovative; through the medium of contemporary dance, international artists come together each year to create a new narrative that serves as a symbolic representation of cultural exchange in our globalized world. Quench … Continue reading It Will Come Later | Review
by Hazel Thayre Having followed Tyler, the Creator since my very early teens, I have closely watched how his image has completely transformed over the years. Nowadays, it is difficult to remember the way that Tyler used to be, for his character has undergone such a dramatic change in both an aesthetic and literal sense. Nearly every element of TylerÔÇÖs persona, from his sound to his … Continue reading Mini Series: The Evolution of Tyler the Creator
by Adam Gage Less of an operatic, Sci-Fi, action filled exploration drama, Ad Astra is much more inclined to be a meditative treatise on the masculine tendency to be isolated from the world and loved ones, being restrained by an obsessive attitude to dedicated and ambitious work, all expressed through arresting, grand outer-space imagery. The plot and its accompanying visuals evoke obvious similarities to 2001: … Continue reading Review: Ad Astra
