“What an extraordinary piece of theatre Heroine is.” I just had to write this as my immediate response on Twitter after seeing Nessah Muthy’s one-act play. It has many of the ingredients that create a top-class production: powerful, emotive, provocative, and controversial. It centres on Grace, a former soldier looking for friendship and meaning inContinue reading “Heroine – Theatr Clwyd”
Category Archives: Welsh Arts Scene
From the House of the Dead – Venue Cymru
As part of WNO’s Russian Revolution season, From the House of the Dead is a revival of David Poutney’s original production from some 30 years ago. Based on the writings of Dostoyevsky, it originally came into being as an opera through the work of Leos Janacek. It retains much of the observational style of Dostoyevsky’sContinue reading “From the House of the Dead – Venue Cymru”
The Mountaintop – Pontio
There is something incredibly sad about the fact that The Mountaintop is one of a rare number of plays in Wales featuring an all-black cast. Its director, Abdul Shayek, laments as much: “it is 2017 and the fact that this hasn’t happened more often makes me frustrated and sad”. There should be no reason whyContinue reading “The Mountaintop – Pontio”
Uncle Vanya – Theatr Clwyd
Prepare yourself for an immersive experience in the Emlyn Williams Theatre as Uncle Vanya kicks off Theatr Clwyd’s Autumn season. Having experienced the wonderful space known as the Roundabout Theatre earlier in the summer, it was a pleasant surprise to walk into something very similar here. However, whereas the Roundabout relied simply on the castContinue reading “Uncle Vanya – Theatr Clwyd”
Yerma – National Theatre Live
Yerma is an exceptional piece of theatre. This contemporary retelling of Federico Garcia Lorca’s work is a powerful performance piece. Director Simon Stone has produced a gripping 90 minutes of absorbing and highly dramatic storytelling. Broadcast from the Young Vic as part of National Theatre Live, its emotional intensity pulses through the screen. It feelsContinue reading “Yerma – National Theatre Live”
Our House – Venue Cymru
There is more to Our House than first meets the eye. For a start, it is hard to believe that this award-winning musical is now 15 years old. It feels extraordinarily fresh. Billed as “the Madness musical”, its youthful appearance remains, in part, because it is not the biopic that one might expect. Unlike SunnyContinue reading “Our House – Venue Cymru”
Llechi – Pontio
Having missed it first time around, the chance to catch the restaging of Llechi seemed too good to miss. Originally performed as part of Pontio’s opening season, this eclectic mix of visual, musical and aerobatic art forms was a fascinating watch. It was engaging from start to finish, featuring a host of performers, all ofContinue reading “Llechi – Pontio”
Alice in Wonderland – Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
What a glorious day for my first visit to Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Whilst many people were dashing around Chester city centre in search of Pokemon, I ambled along to the city’s park in search of Wonderland. My discovery came in a somewhat fairy tale fashion. Entering through the park gates to see theContinue reading “Alice in Wonderland – Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre”
Out of Love – Theatr Clwyd
Jodie Whitaker may be everyone’s new favourite female of the moment but my eye has been drawn to someone less well-known. In my second trip to the Roundabout Theatre in a week, a process of regeneration had seemingly taken place. Having taken my first steps into the pop-up theatre last week for the world premiereContinue reading “Out of Love – Theatr Clwyd”
Black Mountain – Theatr Clwyd
Welcome to Roundabout. This unique pop-up theatre is taking the UK by storm. It is a masterful piece of engineering. Fully transportable, it is popping up in the most unlikely of places, including car parks, churchyards, seafronts, and housing estates. It takes six people about a day to construct, and needs nothing more than anContinue reading “Black Mountain – Theatr Clwyd”
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