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Articles in "Reviews"

Everyman Theatre Company brings Shakespeare back to basics at Chapter Arts Centre

Ken Loach draws parallels between the state of postwar Britain and the present day, as problems lie ahead for the country's ageing population.

A new documentary following a bomb disposal unit in Afghanistan proves a hit, but the BBC's take on the Oscar Pistorius incident is flawed.

 

A laugh a minute at Oxjam Cardiff's Funny People

Guto Llewelyn visits malaysian-born Hin Chua's debut exhibition at Butetown History and Arts Centre.

Tom Metcalf attends the sell-out Les Enfants Terribles play, The Trench, at Wales Millenium Centre this week.


IF YOU are one of those people who always found Dido a bit bland then Girl who got Away is not exactly going to make you fall to your knees and beg forgiveness for misjudging her.
Dido occasionally moves out of her standard mid-tempo ballard mode on End of Night and Love to Blame.
There are still several wholly forgettable songs which are difficult to distinguish from one another. Happy New Year, for example, drones monotonously.
Dido has taken a couple of tentative steps into the unknown but for the most part there is little to grab your attention.

LAURA Mvula’s debut album Sing to the Moon is soft and dreamy, with light and soulful tracks, driven by Mvula’s strong vocals.
The 12-track album has some catchy tunes including Like the Morning Dew, which has a fantastic choir-like chorus. Green Garden is upbeat, starting off with off-beat clapping and Nina Simone-esque vocals and building into a sing song chorus.
The innovative album offers something different with most songs, allowing you to drift away from the world, with Mvula's dreamy vocals and musical arrangement.

Rating: 4/5


SINCE 2012, it has been impossible not to get caught up in the quirky stylings of Bastille.
You are immediately thrust into the fast-paced chorus of Pompeii, which is guaranteed to get anyone moving. This leads on to the more emotional and thought-filled melodies of Oblivion.
The lyrics are written with wit and a sense of humour, but the music stays distinctly pop, without becoming synthesised or overworked.
If you haven’t heard from Bastille yet, crawl out from under your rock and buy this album, you won’t be sorry.
Rating: 4/5


THE FIRST album since the tragic death of their first drummer Stuart Cable was always likely to be downbeat and Graffiti on the Train is exactly that.
It follows the disappointing Keep Calm and Carry On in 2009 and despite being far better, Graffiti on the Train is still hit and miss. There are a few good tracks on the album with the anthemic Indian Summer and the standout title track. But most of the album is just dull.
Graffiti on the Train would be the perfect album to have on in the office because at no point would anyone be distracted from their work.

Ballet but not as you know it

 

A documentary investigating the 1958 Munich plane crash where eight Manchester United players died and Question of Sport celebrate their 1000th episode with familiar faces

IF YOU watch Dora the Explorer, you’ll notice she never gets taken to a dark wood by her parents and abandoned.
 Peppa Pig never witnesses a wolf being slaughtered and her tramautised grandmother slithering out. Dora and Peppa go on picnics to the zoo instead, and while the occasional balloon may float away, no-one gets mauled or kidnapped.

Pompeii and Green garden 

The Hyundai i30 is a smooth ride and very popular with customers 

An intimate and never before seen view of Penguins. Channel 4 investigates why the disability living allowance has been scrapped. 

Working in the restaurant has slashed prisoners' re-offending rates.

Dom Gilbert reviews Alistair Whatley's production of Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong at the New Theatre, Cardiff.

As part of their Roots Unearthed season St David’s Hall welcomed BBC Folk Award winners, the Emily Portman Trio.

 Tress's West Wales landscapes refuse to be quaint.

James and the Giant Peach at the New Theatre is just peachy.

The Sherman put on a theatre-in-the-round production of the critically acclaimed dark comedy by Mamet.

The New Theatre's adaptation of David Esbjorbornson's critically acclaimed play set in the deep South of America exploring human relationships and racial tension.

The Cardiffian meets the cast members and director of the all-female Hamlet by RWCMD and comments on their interpretation of Shakepeare's play.