This week four bands and four playwrights are living and working together to create four brand new pieces that'll be performed at Clwyd Theatr Cymru on Saturday.
It's a project called Write to Rock and the bands and writers were paired up last Saturday in a sort of FA Cup type selection - their names were pulled out of a hat, so no choice on either side.
Read the rest of this entry
Cardiff's is being officially re-launched this week. It's had a glossy new look and, more importantly, the former school has undergone major structural changes and improvements over the last 12 months or so.
The re-development has cost the best part of £4 million and has completely transformed the foyer and bar areas and refurbished the cinemas and theatre.
Read the rest of this entry
The mastermind of National Theatre Wales will be answering questions about the organisation's plans for its first year at a free talk at Wales Millennium Centre on Wednesday, 25th November.
John McGrath is joining me in the Centre's Victor Salvi Room at 6pm to talk about the newest national theatre company around. The talk is free but tickets can be pre-booked at WMC.
Read the rest of this entry
The multi-talented Mal Pope's new musical is at the Grand Theatre in Swansea next week. Cappuccino Girls is being billed as a mixture of Friends and Sex & the City though Mal says it's based on his wife and two of her mates who meet for coffee and putting the world to right chats.
Read the rest of this entry
Today I'm chairing a discussion at Swansea's Taliesin Arts Centre about homelessness and the arts.
Shelter Cymru is working in partnership with the Arts Centre and
Streetwise Opera, a charity set up in 2002 to support the personal
development of homeless and formerly homeless people through taking
part in professional music making.
Read the rest of this entry
Three milestone birthdays were celebrated in style at Wales Millennium Centre on 14 November.
Of course, it's five years since the centre opened but a massive concert was arranged to say happy birthday to the composer
Karl Jenkins and to mark 10 years of devolution in Wales as well as play a part in the WMC's celebrations.
Read the rest of this entry
Spare a thought for Welsh actor Owen Teale, who's rehearsing in Japan for a new play about the British Samurai, William Adams. Acting is hard enough when it's in your native language but poor Owen has lines to learn in both English and Japanese.
Read the rest of this entry
An exhibition to try and catch opens at the University of Glamorgan's gallery on December 9th. It's a retrospective of the work of Cardiff's Joan Baker. That may not be an instantly recognisable name unless you studied at Cardiff College of Art between 1945 and 1983.
Read the rest of this entry
Two of the operatic stars of tomorrow will be joining me on this week's Radio Wales Arts Show. They're both studying at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice, set up at the University by one of the world's favourite tenors, Dennis O'Neill.
The course is designed to give young professional singers a firm grounding in performance and hone their skills with expert tutors and it attracts singers from literally across the world.
Read the rest of this entry
I've just got back from the launch of National Theatre Wales' first year of programming and I'm really excited.
The fact that the new company would be staging 12 shows around Wales was common knowledge and that it aimed to bring a fresh and innovative approach to English language drama but all I can say is WOW!
Read the rest of this entry
I was really saddened to hear that the artist Arthur Giardelli had died. He was 98 and had been one of the major figures in Welsh art for over half a century.
Read the rest of this entry
National Theatre Wales today unveiled its much anticipated first programme of events, and what a spectacle it promises to be.
Established in late 2007 by the Welsh
Assembly Government and the Arts Council of Wales, at the helm of the company is
creative director John McGrath, who outlined the 13 exciting events
that the company has lined up in their bid to create a "Theatre Map of
Wales".
Read the rest of this entry
Ö÷²¥´óÐã Cymru Wales is searching for an artist to create a permanent tribute to the late broadcaster Ray Gravell.
The commission is to create a portrait sculpture in memory of the accomplished rugby player from Mynydd-y-Garreg who became a familiar and much-loved presenter on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Wales services.
Read the rest of this entry
I've been lucky to have been sent a proof copy of a new collection of short stories to be published by Honno in January. Edited by Stephanie Tillotson, explores the intensely personal relationship women can have with their clothes.
Read the rest of this entry
A portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet by Rembrandt, which has hung in Penrhyn Castle near Bangor for 150 years, has gone on display at Cardiff's National Museum and Gallery of Wales.
Rembrandt, one of the world's most celebrated artists, was commissioned in 1657 to paint the portrait of the weathy lady from Amsterdam.
Read the rest of this entry
This Thursday - Bonfire Night - is when National Theatre Wales officially launches its first year programme. The English-language company has ambitions plans to provide drama for the whole of the country and new productions month by month.
Read the rest of this entry
On the Radio Wales Arts Show this Thursday I'm talking to Bryn Terfel about his latest venture - a CD and concert tour called Bad Boys.
It's a really good idea which Bryn came up with to bring together some
of his favourite arias from opera and musical theatre. Bass baritones
tend to be the villains of opera.
Read the rest of this entry
