When I first attended a musical based on the life of a famous musician, the recreation of their live performances was exciting, engaging, and electrifying. Complete with supercharged lighting, atmospheric smoke, and the sound cranked up to ear-shattering decibels, it was almost as good as seeing the real thing. But now, although still impressive, theContinue reading “20th Century Boy – Venue Cymru”
Category Archives: Welsh Arts Scene
The Assassination of Katie Hopkins – Theatr Clwyd
Watching The Assassination of Katie Hopkins gives you an observer’s view on our media-saturated society. As soon as you enter into the auditorium, a set covered in smartphones greets you. Once the play starts, these smartphone walls light up and provide a backdrop onto which further projections take place. In front of this, the liveContinue reading “The Assassination of Katie Hopkins – Theatr Clwyd”
Hairspray – Venue Cymru
Before the curtain even goes up on Hairspray, you know that you’re in for a good time. The colourful lights, the upbeat music, the buzz of audience chatter. And when Good Morning Baltimore kicks in and the curtain flings up, the party well and truly begins. For this opening number, the stage is full ofContinue reading “Hairspray – Venue Cymru”
Parch – Series Review
Last Sunday evening, I spent a good ten minutes with my hand firmly placed over my mouth. In the final episode of S4C drama series Parch, there was such an unexpected twist that I simply hadn’t seen coming. In my own words, ‘Well, that was a bombshell and a half’. To think that this isContinue reading “Parch – Series Review”
Geoff Evans – Paper Planes
I’m stepping rather close to home this week in recommending a listen to a North Wales-based singer-songwriter. His name is Geoff Evans and he has just released his new EP Paper Planes. For someone who is still a relative unknown outside of his immediate locality, this four-track collection could be the one that takes himContinue reading “Geoff Evans – Paper Planes”
Keeping Faith – Part of a Golden Age for Welsh TV Drama?
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?”
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”
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