On friday 21st October 2017, Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena was entertained by one of the UK's best selling artists of the past decade, Emeli Sande, and her incredible support act, Britain's Got Talent star Calum Scott. The arena was full and the atmosphere electric. Britain's Got Talent alumni Calum Scott opened the show, with high energy, crisp & powerful vocals serenading Cardiff with some of his own tracks from his up coming debut album. A personal highlight being his next single "You Are The Reason" which was both emotional and captivating, alongside a surprise cover to Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud. Of course the crowds went wild as he thanked them for and quote "one of the best gigs I've ever done!" And continued to belt out the hit that started his career "Dancing On My Own". Calum is without a doubt an artist to watch out for over the coming years - raw talent. Emeli Sande... one woman, one voice (not too discredit h
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Gershwin, Glamour & Glitz! Crazy For You is a Glorious Hit! Cardiff went crazy for Crazy For You Tuesday night at The Wales Millennium Centre. Featuring probably the most talented ensemble ever to grace a stage, these guys act, sing, dance and if that ain't enough provide the music to the Gershwin brothers beloved score. It's clear why Tom Chambers stole the show and the prize on BBC Ones Strictly Come Dancing, like the energiser bunny on acid he dances with pace, grace and the stamina of an athlete while singing those big Gershwin numbers. He's charismatic and hugely entertaining as Bobby Child and there's great onstage chemistry between him and Charlotte Wakefield (Polly Baker). Big surprise of the night goes to Caroline Flack who's voice was beautiful, strong and convincing in the fabulous role of broadway vamp Irene Roth. Crazy For You has it all, the big numbers, slickly choreographed routines and lots of laughs. The scene between Chambers and Nei
Frightfully Fabulous Family Time! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cooler than the Kardashians, more twisted than the Trumps, The Addams Family have descended upon Cardiff Bay for twelve nights of music and mischief on their UK tour of the Hit musical. Even before the show started I was in awe of the ghoulishly gothic and gorgeous set and then the lights dimmed, the fingers start snapping and the magic begins as the kookiest family of them all take to the stage. The Addams Family have graced our TV and cinema screens for over 50 years and this production has a perfectly cast ensemble to play the iconic death obsessed family that everyone loves. Les Dennis is fantastic as Uncle Fester, he has some great numbers in the show and his lovable character brings much giggles. Samantha Womack and Cameron Blakely are superb as Morticia & Gomez, they pay great tribute to every actor before them that played these roles possessing all the chemistry and charisma that made these parents the most devilish y
Macbeth. The word alone strikes fear into the heart of any actor. However, despite the superstition surrounding Macbeth's shortest tragedy, Simon H West's fearless production as part of the Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival was a visual masterpiece from curtain up to curtain fall. From the wonderfully choreographed fight scenes, to the stomach churning blood appearing throughout, it was as though the bard had lent his work to a Quentin Tarantino film. Set in the mob run 90s, the soundtrack .. was as though it were written for the piece. Starting with the ominous "Things Can Only Get Better" and finding one of its many climaxes with Prodigy's "Fire Starter", this production undeniably showed the power of music. Finding inspiration in classic horror films, it is a must see for all those willing to allow the hairs on their neck to stand on end. Based on a disturbingly raw set that makes the audience feel they've stumbled into an abandoned slaughterhou
24-year-old Harry Perkins took to the Atrium stage on July 20th to perform his autobiographical one-man-show, ‘LINO’, for the first time. Set in Basildon, Essex, this coming-of-age drama focuses on Harry, an only child who experiences a search for identity as he tries to deal with his tormented and troubled family. This groundbreaking play about the long-term impacts of domestic abuse is told through a series of memoirs from the survivor himself, exposing the prevailing injustices of abuse on a personal and social level. Harry put on a brave face and told his story that is as unique as it is universal - grappling with emotions that we have all experienced: powerlessness, shame, doubt, blindness, repression, forgiveness and animosity. Harry added, “It was very cathartic writing it, helped me deal with everything. They say write what you know and that, so I just did”. He has already won the Gruff Jones Memorial Prize for Scriptwriting, and is on the hunt to to gather sufficient fundi
Many Man Written & Performed by Tobias Weatherburn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tobias Weatherburn triumphs in Spilt Milks production of Many Man, taking us on a rollercoaster of emotions as he explores the multiple personalities of a man searching for happiness by creating a new persona each time life fails him. Many Man is a journey of a man searching for the better version of himself and ultimately wanting just to be the man he was born to be. From the start we thought this one man show would be something of a comedy stand up. There was much laughter as Weatherburn described his characters life and got all philosophical on life in general and each time the character transforms himself into a completely different persona it's done so cleverly and with lots of humour. It's not until each persona fails and breaks down that we see the dark and tormented side to his complex character. Weatherburn delivers impeccable comic timing and nails a number of accents which keep flipping t
We had the pleasure of being invited to see Everyman Theatre's production of "The Vicar of Dibley" last night. In collaboration with this summer's Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival at Sophia Gardens, it was a perfect evening! With an outdoor bar, street food cart from The Grazing Shed and lantern-lit tables, we were immersed into a cosy, friendly atmosphere before the show even begins! Packed full of laughs and memorable moments from the series, it's an event that's not to be missed. Hurry up, because ticket sales end tomorrow! If you're a fan of the series or are just looking for a fun, competitively-priced evening packed full of entertainment, come on down to see Geraldine Granger join the rural parish of Dibley! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buddy The Buddy Holy Story Putting the Specs into Spectacular ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oh Boy... it's so good! The Buddy Holly Story is still packing the theatres in after 25yrs and over 25,000 performances worldwide and it's clear to see why. The story of Buddy ticks every box, you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll most certainly tap your feet, clap your hands and sing along to the classic hits that shot Buddy Holly to super stardom. The cast are incredible, superb performances in the roles of Buddy, J.P Richardson 'The Big Bopper' and Mr swivel hips Ritchie Valens. Two hours of massive hits including 'Peggy Sue' 'Oh Boy' & 'Rave On' to name a few are the soundtrack to the life of Buddy Holly and his meteoric rise to fame. Buddy is at The New Theatre until Saturday 8th July and it's a must see, feel good show that will have you bopping in the aisles and singing along to all those classic hits. A great touch at The New
The Dreamboys Cardiff By Chloe Smith BIG IS BETTER... and I'm not just on about the buffet! So I was sent on a mission to find the ultimate Hen Party Experience in Cardiff by Wyburn & Wayne. I've done cocktail making a thousand times before not just for hen parties but for birthdays & leaving parties so I decided to explore other possibilities. One thing occurred to me was that I'd never seen a strip show before so I booked myself and a few friends to see The Dreamboys at Pulse Cardiff. On arrival we was met by the outrageous Opal Fruits who hosted a pre-show buffet upstairs at Pulse. Her quick wit & banter kept the giggles coming as we tucked into what was probably the biggest buffet I've ever seen, if the Dreamboys were anywhere near as big as these sausages on sticks we were in for a great night. Showtime and we were escorted to our seats downstairs of the club and the atmosphere was fantastic, club full of ladies ready for a great nigh
Tycio Wellbeing opened its doors to the public on December 5th 2016. Situated in a quiet street in Rhiwbina, it certainly has a relaxing, homely feel. I was greeted upon arrival and invited to a relaxation room with heated loungers, where I'd fill out a consultation form and enjoy a complimentary beverage of my choice. I changed into a comfy robe and slippers before heading up to the treatment room. I had a Tycio Luxury Facial, which costs £45 and lasts an hour. My therapist Shirley Ann and I decided upon a selection of products to suit my skin's current needs. Tycio uses locally sourced products from Earthbound Organics, a company based in Llandrindod Wells. Its founder, Jo Ordoñez, grows and harvests organic products herself, and packs fresh, Welsh active ingredients into her rejuvenating skincare range. I won't give away too much, but it was definitely an uplifting experience! Tycio launches at least one new promotion every month, and offers competitively priced packa
23-year-old Lloyd Macey launched “Jig-So” as part of his final-year project working towards his BA Perfformio at University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Featuring familiar faces such as Boyd Clack, whose acting credits include “Twin Town” and “High Hopes”, and Shelley Rees-Owen, who is known for her role as Stacey in “Pobol y Cwm”, “Jig-So” was an incredibly impressive project for anyone, let alone a university student. It took place on Friday 12th May at Yr Hen Lyfrgell - despite the drama only lasting for 30 minutes, it was very heartwarming and engaging. It's a bilingual drama revolving around a family in the Valleys that has to deal with the struggle of cancer, which according to Lloyd, is a subject close to his heart. Amazing performances, staging and lighting - overall an excellent evening. Definitely keep an eye out for Lloyd's upcoming performances - he certainly is one to look out for! Lloyd's directorial début was a great success, and we wish him the best of luck
Go, Go, Go Joseph! Hail Joseph! The Smash Hit Musical makes a triumphant return to the Wales Millennium Centre with X Factor winner Joe McElderry playing Joseph. The show is in its 36th year and is still playing to packed theatres worldwide. The Andrew Lloyd Webber spectacular tells the tale of Joseph, the twelfth and favourite son of Jacob, his brothers betrayal and his ultimate reunion with his family but in amongst all those family feuds you'll experience calypso, a little bit of Elvis and a number performed with a Parisian backdrop, I'm sure the Pharaoh's are spinning in their pyramids! McElderry is superb as Joseph and with a great supporting cast the show is a winner. Narrator Lucy Kay delivers some powerhouse performances and huge respect for the twenty plus youngsters that make up the onstage choir. Jospeph is one of only a few musicals that appeals to all ages and still pulls in crowds from all generations. The audience had big smiles throughout and i
On Wednesday 3rd May, Spilt Milk Theatre joined forces with Cardiff Fringe Fest at The Gate Arts Centre to celebrate and raise awareness of Autism. All proceeds went to The National Autistic Society to aid in their continuous provision of specialist services. The first half of the evening consisted of spoken word, poetry and a music performance inspired by personal relationships with Autism. Almost all performers recited an original piece, making the evening more touching, heartfelt and realistic. The second half of the evening was dedicated to a scratch performance of ‘A Different Brain’, a new musical written and composed by Tobias Weatherburn, whose older brother suffers from Autism. ‘A Different Brain’ documents a series of events in the life of Rachel, a young woman with Autism. Despite only being a three-man cast, the musical was impressive, moving and engrossing. Combining a serious matter with light comedy worked really well, allowing all audiences to have more of an insight
Big, Brash and Beautiful and that's just the bus! The most fabulous bus in the world parks up at The Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot for five nights of outrageous fun. We all know the story, three Drag Queens travelling across Australia in a bus called Priscilla. As musicals go this has it all, it's over the top, it's bursting with pop hits, it has enough comedy you'll be crying with laughter and enough sentiment to make you cry some more but for the majority of the show you'll be laughing and wishing you was on that stage singing along. The Port Talbot & District Amateur Operatic Society deserve huge applause for this production, the enthusiasm and dedication to this performance was overwhelming. Huge performances from Carlton Gronow, Heflin Carwyn Rosser and Joe Crabbe who play the iconic roles of Tick, Felicia & Bernadette. Their onstage chemistry is fantastic and they provide most of the shows comedy. Everything about this production is BIG, t
Jump Arena's first Welsh trampoline park opened in Cardiff last week, and is certainly not to be missed. Featuring ninja assault courses, dodgeball courts, gladiator battle stations and countless trampolines, it's a perfect place for a family day out...or even a birthday party! VIP packages cost £16.50pp and include unlimited pizza, drinks and jumping - not to mention exclusive table service! The staff are extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful...so don't be shy if you're new to trampolining, as there's something here for everyone. There's a snacks station so you can refuel, and even a café area for those who prefer to watch. Come on down and get jumping!
The Hashery is a independent restaurant situated in central Cardiff, on High Street. Its specialities include burgers, mussels and daily 2-4-1 cocktails! The kitchen uses locally and responsibly sourced products, to ensure each customer receives the freshest plate possible. We had a chance to taste a variety of dishes off its new menu - the fried pickles certainly are unique and are not to be missed! There is something on the menu for everyone, and coupled with the excellent service, this is THE restaurant to visit. With comic-print décor and a cosy, artsy feel, this is a perfect spot for either an afternoon cocktail, or a fun, family dining experience. I'd definitely recommend trying out the homemade dips, frozen margarita cocktails (served in skull fishbowls) and mozarella sticks (coated in crushed tortilla chips)! Head on down to The Hashery for a fresh, tasty and competitively priced meal now! Review By Beth Cook
The Commitments Bringing Soul To Cardiff Direct from a record-breaking run in the West End, “The Commitments” is currently bringing soul to Cardiff at the Wales Millennium Centre. Set in 1985 Dublin, “The Commitments” tells the tale of working-class music fanatic Jimmy Rabbitte, who shapes a bunch of misfit, amateur musicians into Dublin’s finest and hardest-working soul band. Kevin Kennedy - better known as “Coronation Street” legend Curly Watts - is a standout, and certainly wins over the crowd. Featuring songs such as ‘Mustang Sally’, ‘Try A Little Tenderness’, ‘River Deep - Mountain High’ and ‘Knock On Wood’, “The Commitments” is hearty, energetic, and entertaining for the whole family. You can catch it in Cardiff until April 15th, before it moves on for the rest of its U.K. tour. Grab your tickets while you can, for an incredibly unforgettable musical! Review by Beth Cook
Review by Beth Cook for Wyburn & Wayne Cardiff Times Cardiff’s new LUSH store opened its doors on March 31st, and is the home of the biggest LUSH Spa in the U.K. I had a treatment called ‘The Sound Bath’, which costs £70. It is described as a 60-minute journey into sound, using facial massage and ear candles to aid relaxation and retune the mind and body. I was greeted upon arrival, and invited for a chat and hand/arm massage prior to my treatment. Despite being in the city centre, the spa is relaxing, cosy, and quiet, allowing you to zone out easily. It’s clear that LUSH really stuck to its roots with its stylish design of the spa - there is reclaimed wood, locally sourced fruit and flowers, cosy furniture, and restful lighting. My therapist was named Charlotte and was extremely welcoming, comforting and knowledgable. We had a leisurely consultation prior to the treatment, and I was presented a few gifts - I won’t mention too much! Each spa guest is also invited to use the shower