By Pratiksha Pathak Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà During this festive time, where everything is about joy, love, lights and hope, the performance of ‘Behind The Label’ at the Wales Millennium Centre took us away from all the sparkle and glitter for a few hours. The 120-minute show by Theatre Versus Oppression sheds light on the harsh reality of the lives of homeless people. While traditional festive … Continue reading Behind The Label | Theatre Review
By Elly Savva ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Although following the classic murder mystery story arc, what really entices the audience into this particular story is the venture it allows you into the messiest parts of peoples lives. From just the 12th to the 16th of November, The Girl on The Train is stopping at the New Theatre in Cardiff. Under the direction of Anthony Banks, the story has … Continue reading The Girl On The Train | Theatre Review
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 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
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
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 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 Gintare Safigulinaite Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà The production of Jesus Christ Superstar by Everyman Theatre and The Musical Company that debuted last night at the Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival was a fantastic, ground-breaking show. The 2000-year-old moving story of the last days in the life of Jesus Christ was brought to life in a rock masterpiece without a single dialogue; just songs, one … Continue reading Jesus Christ Superstar | Theatre Review
By Sofia Brizio Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà As a die-hard fan of the film adaptation of this Broadway masterpiece, I had been dreaming of seeing Chicago live for years. So when the Kinetic School of Performing Arts invited me to review their production at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, I immediately thought it was an opportunity I couldnÔÇÖt miss. And after last … Continue reading Chicago | Theatre Review
By Sofia Brizio Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Before last night, all I knew about Kinky Boots was that itÔÇÖs already a Broadway classic even though it only premiered in 2012, and I had a rough idea of the plot. Never would I have imagined that by the end of the musicalÔÇÖs opening night at the Welsh Millennium Centre I would be shedding tears of sadness … Continue reading Kinky Boots | Theatre Review
By Izzy Boulton Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Opening night at the Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival saw the first run of ShakespeareÔÇÖs ÔÇÿMuch Ado About Nothing. Hidden in the quiet Sophia Gardens, there was a bar for the audience to enjoy a drink beforehand, as well as food vendors selling freshly cooked burgers. It was a very cosy hub to say the least, with … Continue reading Much Ado About Nothing | Theatre Review
Words by Martha Hughes As a long-time follower of the Ru PaulÔÇÖs Drag Race brand, the prospect of attending Werq the World at Cardiff Millennium Centre was an exciting one. This tour has been a global success, and with Cardiff being the last stop on this rotation, the cast was clearly looking to impress for one last time. Hosted by Season 10ÔÇÖs Asia OÔÇÖ Hara, … Continue reading Werq the World | Review
By Victoria Maria ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà It is Friday Night. I pack my bag, get my tickets, try to dress elegantly because IÔÇÖm about to go to the Cabaret now in Cardiff Bay. It has been a while since I saw a musical performance, but I feel the thrill of whatÔÇÖs about to come. To start the gig, the cast opens with the classic ÔÇÿÔÇÖAll That JazzÔÇÖÔÇÖ … Continue reading Review | Hello Cabaret
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
By Rachel Nurse Based on a true story of the one and only Calendar Girls- Gary Barlow and Tim FirthÔÇÖs award-winning production brings us a wonderful musical comedy. Most of the audience would have been familiar with the back story of the women from Yorkshire WomenÔÇÖs Institute whoÔÇÖs the tale has been in the public eye since 1999. These fantastic women wanted to release an … Continue reading Calendar Girls | Theatre Review
By Dolunay Dogahan A rather intriguing mix of a band consisting of guitar, percussion and the saxophone sets the mood for this intimate act of BizetÔÇÖs Carmen in the YMCA. Orchestrated by Stephen McNeff and played by the Cardiff University Operatic Society, the play rises above the expectations from an all student cast. If it wasnÔÇÖt for the unfortunate venue with the restrictively small stage … Continue reading Carmen | Review
Words by Ashley Boyle ÔÇ£An energetic and fun performance which traces the milestone moments of MotownÔÇØ Having already watched this stage production in London 2 years ago, I was beyond thrilled to be given the chance to review Motown the Musical here in Cardiff. Growing up, I was exposed to all of the great sounds of Motown at my grandmaÔÇÖs, making the genre among my … Continue reading Motown the Musical | 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
ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Words by Andrea Drobna First performed almost 20 years ago, Kaite OÔÇÖReillyÔÇÖs award-winning play Peeling is a revolutionary performance focused on womenÔÇÖs and disability rights. Through incorporating audio/visual cues as well as sign language throughout the production, the show had been made accessible to all audiences, outshining the production of many mainstream theatre performances. Recently, the play has been reworked by Taking Flight Theatre … Continue reading Peeling | Theatre Review
