In this latest interview*, I chat to Welsh Country singer-songwriter Rae Sam. The chat takes place in the form of a podcast, the first in a trial series, in conversation with Welsh creatives*. Rae talks about her debut album, The Great Escape, as well as songwriting, mental health, Welsh identity, and faith. Click here toContinue reading “An Interview with Country singer-songwriter Rae Sam”
Author Archives: Gareth Williams
The Pact – BBC
There is a moment during the final episode of BBC1 drama The Pact when its writer, Pete McTighe, attempts to deconstruct the truth. Julie Hesmondhalgh’s character Nancy, one of the four women caught up at the centre of a murder investigation, begins a Shakespearean dialogue with her priest (Mark Lewis-Jones), telling him that we allContinue reading “The Pact – BBC”
Wildwood Kin – Homegrown Sessions EP
Having hugely enjoyed Wildwood Kin’s livestream from a farm in Devon back in October 2020, I was delighted to see the release of ‘Homegrown Sessions’, an EP with five tracks recorded straight from the show. It manages to capture the light and ethereal nature of their sound which made their stripped back online set suchContinue reading “Wildwood Kin – Homegrown Sessions EP”
The Merthyr Stigmatist – Sherman Theatre
The beauty of The Merthyr Stigmatist lies in its contemporary gospel message. “Why shouldn’t God send a miracle to Merthyr Tydfil?” is the strapline. One would be hard-pressed to come up with an answer at this play’s ending. Writer Lisa Parry carries something into her production which feels like its been formed in the fireContinue reading “The Merthyr Stigmatist – Sherman Theatre”
Keeping Faith – BBC/S4C
There is a moment in the final series of Keeping Faith when Eve Myles becomes Celia Imrie. The transformation is extraordinary. There is no CGI or special effects; rather, just Eve Myles doing what Eve Myles does best. It’s why we’ll miss her as Faith, the gutsy, emotional, steely and vulnerable lawyer who has beenContinue reading “Keeping Faith – BBC/S4C”
Emma Moore – The Table
Emma Moore has always struck me as a real scholar of country music. So for her latest record, it wouldn’t surprise me if she had been studying the music of the Pistol Annies. The sass, satire and sweetness on her new EP, ‘The Table’, have all the hallmarks of a Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe andContinue reading “Emma Moore – The Table”
Bregus – S4C
Hannah Daniel gives an impressive performance in S4C’s latest drama series, Bregus. She is almost unrecognisable from her best known role to date, playing straight-faced, sharp-tongued lawyer Cerys in Keeping Faith. Instead, she takes on the character of high-flying surgeon Ellie, whose vulnerability and fragile mental state begin to unravel following the sudden death ofContinue reading “Bregus – S4C”
Carrie Underwood -My Saviour
Gospel albums can be a bit hit and miss, particularly if they feature well-known, well-trodden hymns. It can be difficult to find a fresh angle on songs that have been covered by so many. Carrie Underwood has managed to breathe new life into a dozen classics however on her latest album, ‘My Savior’. Released asContinue reading “Carrie Underwood -My Saviour”
Fflam – S4C
The recent S4C series Fflam was a slow-burner. I came to it with much intrigue and anticipation given the concept and acting talent. The idea of a woman, Noni, seeing her dead husband, Tim, again, after years believing he had died in a fire, sounded like the perfect spark from which to ignite a grippingContinue reading “Fflam – S4C”
An Interview with Eleri B. Jones
In this interview, I chat to actor and director Eleri B. Jones. Eleri is a graduate of the University of Manchester and Drama Centre London. She is currently undertaking a traineeship with Theatr Clwyd as an Assistant Director. Here, she talks to us about the traineeship; her involvement in Clwyd’s latest production, The Picture ofContinue reading “An Interview with Eleri B. Jones”