Having just watched the final episode of Keeping Faith on BBC Wales, I’m asking myself: Is this a golden age for Welsh television drama? Hinterland was critically-acclaimed. Bang featured in the national press. Gwaith/Cartref continues to be a marker for quality Welsh-language drama. Parch has just entered its third series. And Craith will be broadcastContinue reading “Keeping Faith – Part of a Golden Age for Welsh TV Drama?”
Author Archives: Gareth Williams
C2C: Country to Country Festival 2018: 5 UK Country Artists to Watch
For most people, country music evokes images of Stetsons, cowboy boots and the deserts of the Deep South. And though these are perfectly legitimate symbols, this increasingly popular genre is a whole lot more diverse than one might ordinarily assume. To gain some understanding of how broad a church this music really is, I wouldContinue reading “C2C: Country to Country Festival 2018: 5 UK Country Artists to Watch”
Hold the Sunset – Raising a Smile, but not a Laugh
It seems that most new sitcoms should be given time to grow. Look back at early episodes of Blackadder and Dad’s Army for instance, and they don’t really compare to later series. Sometimes, it takes a while for the cast to gel, the writers to really know their characters, and the public to really takeContinue reading “Hold the Sunset – Raising a Smile, but not a Laugh”
Come Back Fighting – Philippa Hanna
For many, Philippa Hanna was probably a relative unknown a week or so ago. But now that her cover of Ed Sheeran’s Perfect has gone viral, it would appear that this is no longer the case. Yet for those who have followed the 33 year-old singer, long before this latest social media storm brewed, itContinue reading “Come Back Fighting – Philippa Hanna”
Great Expectations at Theatr Clwyd
To be familiar with a narrative can sometimes evoke the desire for a fresh perspective. Yet even as one anticipates the events of a classic literary text such as Great Expectations, another member of the audience might be encountering it for the first time. Therefore, ideally, the adaptation must stay true to the original whilstContinue reading “Great Expectations at Theatr Clwyd”
Crazy For You – Venue Cymru
Amidst the freezing temperatures and howling wind of North Wales this week, an electrifying performance is taking place in the warmth and comfort of Venue Cymru. The Watermill Theatre have brought their hit production of Crazy For You to our cold climes. And it is worth bearing the snow and ice in order to catchContinue reading “Crazy For You – Venue Cymru”
Jekyll & Hyde – Venue Cymru
There is an audible gasp from the audience as a man enters through a door wearing a blood-soaked shirt. Tearing it off, he throws it at the woman who has been awaiting his return. In no uncertain terms, he tells her to get rid of it. Meanwhile, he pulls a clean white substitute out fromContinue reading “Jekyll & Hyde – Venue Cymru”
The Weir – Mercury Theatre @ Theatr Clwyd
Whilst on holiday in Ireland a couple of years ago, a visit to the low-lying valley of Glendalough found us walking through the stone ruins of a monastery. On this particular day, the mist had come down. There was rain in the air. For a popular tourist destination, there were few people around. It wasContinue reading “The Weir – Mercury Theatre @ Theatr Clwyd”
The Wandering Hearts – Wild Silence
Following on from the success of The Shires, The Wandering Hearts are surely the next big breakthrough act in the world of British Country Music. On the evidence of their debut album, Wild Silence, it would be hard to argue otherwise. The recipients of the ‘Best Emerging Artist’ at last week’s Americana Awards have producedContinue reading “The Wandering Hearts – Wild Silence”
Early Man – An Ode to Football
Some say there’s nothing better than football on a Saturday. And when you’re able to watch it from the warmth and comfort of your local cinema, I’m inclined to agree. It certainly beats a wet and windy afternoon sat shivering in the stands of The Racecourse in Wrexham. As a supporter of the current NationalContinue reading “Early Man – An Ode to Football”