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 WriterMarch 5, 2020March 5, 2020

Jersey Boys | Theatre Review

Words by Mel Lynch Winner of 57 major awards, over the years Jersey Boys has gained an enviable reputation which has no qualms in selling out seats worldwide. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons infamous songs defy generational differences to be beloved by all the family, and Jersey Boys portrays this admirably. Historically musicals are often adapted from books or films, yet Jersey Boys is … Continue reading Jersey Boys | Theatre Review

mellynchJanuary 17, 2019

Gruff Rhys review: #FoV2018 bringing out the voices of Wales

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Jessica Heap To start the evening we were treated to H. Hawkline, a Welsh singer-songwriter not dissimilar to Rhys himself and from my seat, almost identical bar a maroon shirt. Perfectly timed, Hawkline delivered multiple songs with no introductions to fit as many in as possible, including 3 whose lyrics were written that morning. As a solo act, Hawkline offered a different sound … Continue reading Gruff Rhys review: #FoV2018 bringing out the voices of Wales

andreagainiJune 14, 2018June 14, 2018

Camille O’Sullivan shines at Festival of Voice with her new show “Cave”

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Maxwell Modell There is something uniquely beautiful about the love we have for musicians and their music. Over time they become some of the most important emotional figures in our lives, remaining prominent through lifeÔÇÖs highs and lows. They never leave our sides, never question us and always embolden us. Yet, this relationship is entirely unrequited and internal. As such, it is something … Continue reading Camille O’Sullivan shines at Festival of Voice with her new show “Cave”

andreagainiJune 13, 2018June 14, 2018

ÔÇÿArtÔÇÖ, the comical canvas of emotion

A play that goes beyond white men arguing over a white painting. ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Jess Warren Among a crowd of grey hairs and balding heads, one would assume that ÔÇÿArtÔÇÖ was going to be an un-relatable production. Sat in the audience as the lights dimmed and the play began, it would have been easy to predict the performance as being a sitcom of the bygone … Continue reading ÔÇÿArtÔÇÖ, the comical canvas of emotion

andreagainiJune 2, 2018June 1, 2018

Cathy review: visceral, poignant and compelling documentary theatre

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Maxwell Modell I remember receiving a flyer for Cathy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year. It was a show I wished I could have seen then, but short on time and money, I couldn’t fit in into my schedule. Fast forward 8 months and itÔÇÖs at the Wales Millennium Centre and I finally had my opportunity to see it. It didn’t disappoint. … Continue reading Cathy review: visceral, poignant and compelling documentary theatre

andreagainiApril 24, 2018

Sunset Boulevard review: soaring melodies and exquisite acting

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Esther Morris As an avid musical theatre fan, it is not an easy thing for me to admit that I was not all too familiar with Sunset Boulevard before seeing the touring production at the Wales Millennium Centre; however, I certainly left with the soaring melodies stuck in my head and the feeling that I could have happily watched it again the following … Continue reading Sunset Boulevard review: soaring melodies and exquisite acting

andreagainiMarch 3, 2018March 5, 2018

Don Giovanni review: an entertaining and delightful production

by Andrea Gaini ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà A delightful opera season could not have been ended in a better way by the Welsh National Opera. If La Forza del Destino and Tosca were two great productions, Don Giovanni was simply greater in every sense. MozartÔÇÖs beautiful composition was highlighted and honoured with an all-round gorgeous creation at the Wales Millennium Centre. The opera focuses on the life of … Continue reading Don Giovanni review: an entertaining and delightful production

andreagainiFebruary 28, 2018February 28, 2018

La Forza del Destino review: a beautiful and inspiring production

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Andrea Gaini Wales Millennium Centre, 02/02/2018 What is destiny? Is there a way to make things go right? Is GodÔÇÖs forgiveness all we need to live a peaceful life? These are some of the questions Giuseppe VerdiÔÇÖs La Forza del Destino sparked in my head after yesterdayÔÇÖs performance at the Wales Millennium Centre. A night delighted by the presence of his Highness the … Continue reading La Forza del Destino review: a beautiful and inspiring production

andreagainiFebruary 3, 2018February 5, 2018

Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Wales Millennium Centre

Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s family musical continues on its record breaking tour having sold an estimated 15 million tickets. The spellbinding performance retold the Biblical story of Joseph (Joe McElderry), his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours, featuring famous songs such as┬áAny Dream Will Do┬áand┬áClose Every Door To Me.┬á This is no shy performance. There is an … Continue reading Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah HopkinsMay 9, 2017May 10, 2017

Review: The Commitments, Wales Millennium Centre

The Commitments, Tuesday 11th April, Wales Millennium Centre, reviewer: Hannah Stait The Commitments is a musical that music fans will love and is a real celebration of soul. With the success of the 1991 BAFTA winning classic film, the story was brought the the West End After a whirlwind of positive reviews. From a two year run in the West End,┬áThe Commitments is now half … Continue reading Review: The Commitments, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah HopkinsApril 13, 2017

Review: Cirque Berserk!, Wales Millennium Centre

Cirque Berserk!, Tuesday 28th March, Wales Millennium Centre, reviewer: Ashley Boyle The UKÔÇÖs biggest and most diverse circus show to grace the theatre stage, Cirque Berserk, has been performing in Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. The show was jam packed with daring and impressive stunts, leaving the audience awestruck and relieved that all that couldÔÇÖve gone wrong was overcome. Before the show kicked off with … Continue reading Review: Cirque Berserk!, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah HopkinsApril 5, 2017

Review: Pride and Prejudice, Wales Millennium Centre

Pride and Prejudice,┬áTuesday 21st February, Wales Millennium Centre, Reivewer: Hannah Hopkins Simon ReadeÔÇÖs stage adaptation of Jane AustenÔÇÖs Pride and Prejudice is a fabulous, heart-warming and unpretentious performance. Shortened and compacted only out of necessity for the stage, the style remains┬áclose to that of the original novel and all the key moments are retained. There is a lot of ground to cover with the play, … Continue reading Review: Pride and Prejudice, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah HopkinsFebruary 22, 2017February 28, 2017

Review: La boh├¿me, Wales Millennium Centre

La boh├¿me,┬áSaturday 28th January, Wales Millennium Centre. Reviewer:┬áMel Lynch Admittedly, before this week I had never properly visited the Millennium Centre nor attended a live Opera. However, upon experiencing both I am elated to say I was pleasantly surprised on all accounts. From my personal point of view, I was taken aback by how invested I had become in the love story of Mimi and … Continue reading Review: La boh├¿me, Wales Millennium Centre

Hannah HopkinsJanuary 31, 2017

Review: Billy Elliot, WMC

BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL Review by Tom Morris As I went into Billy Elliot at the WMC, I asked my Nan, who I was with, what she thought about the two questions on my mind. That is; how would the play be better than the film, and is Billy supposed to be gay? By the final curtain, these questions couldnÔÇÖt be further from my mind. … Continue reading Review: Billy Elliot, WMC

georgecaultonJuly 10, 2016

Review: Man To Man, Weston Studio.

A sense of self and individual identity is something that all of us take for granted. But what would happen if this was suddenly taken away? In the fight for survival, working class widow Ella Gericke is forced to adopt her husbandÔÇÖs identity during Nazi Germany in this captivating piece of modern theatre, Man To Man. The audience are transported through the 20th century from … Continue reading Review: Man To Man, Weston Studio.

georgecaultonMarch 26, 2015March 26, 2015

Review: Major Tom, WMC

A one-woman, one-dog show has come like a whirlwind into Cardiff, and itÔÇÖs a story of celebrity culture and the consequences of putting yourself in the public eye, all wrapped up with plenty of sparkling, simple humour Major Tom is an original one-woman show created and performed by Victoria Melody, detailing her and her bassett houndÔÇÖs (the title character) adventures in beauty pageants and dog … Continue reading Review: Major Tom, WMC

CharlieMarch 24, 2014March 24, 20142 Comments

Review: La traviata, WMC

Culture are on a mission to debunk the myths that make opera seem boring and unapproachable. Vaiva Seskeviciute reviews the dramatic story of La traviata, where the courtesan ViolettaÔÇÖs rise and tragic fall is spellbindingly presented through dance, music and song. Images courtesy of┬áRoger Donovan A string orchestra, and the mysterious walk of Alfredo opened the scene of La traviata, VerdiÔÇÖs most famous opera. The … Continue reading Review: La traviata, WMC

CharlieFebruary 18, 2014February 20, 20141,599 Comments

Review: Singin’ In The Rain, WMC

Reviewed by Matthew Lee Schneider Splashing legs sweep with forceful grace, weaving droplets of rain into curtains which drape across the audience. ┬áA relentlessly rotating rainbow of umbrella navels frolic up and down, left to right, round and round. ┬áTwirling, swirling, tapping, clapping, falling (in love), dancing, jumping, singing, yelling; this is SinginÔÇÖ in the Rain. ┬áArriving at the Millennium Centre by way of the … Continue reading Review: Singin’ In The Rain, WMC

CharlieDecember 11, 2013December 11, 2013Leave a comment

Review: Chelsea Hotel, WMC

Reviewed by Matthew Lee Schneider ÔÇ£This hotel does not belong to America. ┬áThere are no vacuum cleaners, no rules and shame. ┬áThe high spot of the surrealÔÇªÔÇØ┬á – Arthur Miller. ┬á A stubborn weed in the garden of the American dream, the Chelsea Hotel was, is, and forever more will be a raw and true counter-cultural heartbeat behind the romantic fa├ºade that is Manhattan. ┬áIn … Continue reading Review: Chelsea Hotel, WMC

Amy PayOctober 30, 2013February 6, 2014Leave a comment