Play/Silence

My first reviewing assignment of 2016 for The Reviews Hub: Play/Silence at The Other Room, Cardiff. Have a read here:

http://www.thereviewshub.com/playsilence-the-other-room-cardiff/

I just wish I'd recorded myself and my friend discussing, comparing and contrasting the plays in the pub afterwards (well if you're going to go to a pub theatre it seems only right to enjoy the pub as well as the theatre). I think our chat would have made quite an interesting blog post...but instead it will have to remain in the pub. Maybe next time!

Theatrical New Year's Resolutions

I know it's rather late in January to be talking about New Year's Resolutions but, as it does this time every year, my involvement in the Wales Theatre Awards has got me all inspired and motivated.

A couple of weeks ago, I was at the shortlisting for the awards. I am proud and still a little surprised to have been involved with the Wales Theatre Awards in some way, shape or form since the first ceremony in 2014 (I think). And, as always, sitting around a table with other reviewers listening to them talk about all the fantastic theatre that is out there in Wales, it has inspired me to see more. More of anything and everything. One of the things I love about reviewing is that I get to see things I wouldn't normally go to see.

We have some really great home grown theatre and performance in Wales and no matter how much I see there is always more, always something that I missed that sounds incredible. It would be impossible to see all of it but my resolution is to see as much as I can and as big a variety as I can, not just Welsh theatre but everything.

With my first Cardiff theatre visit of 2016 under my belt already and 3 more planned, the Wales Theatre Awards ceremony looming, and at least two trips to London in the offing, 2016 is shaping up to be a theatrical year for this onion.

Thank You to the Bad Influences

Sparked by a tweet I was tagged in earlier by one of my theatre friends, I'd just like to say thank you to all the bad influences in my life. The people that have met me in all sorts of random places around the country just to see a show. The people that introduced me to day seating, staying in hostels and sniffing out deals on tickets and meals to make seeing that extra show affordable. The people that have encouraged me to get home from London at 3am and still get into work the next morning. The people that have stood at stage door with me in sunshine and showers and laughed at things that nobody else will ever get. The people that don't see anything wrong with living on chicken nuggets for a few days. The people that have walked the streets with me singing show tunes. The people that think seeing a show is the best way to celebrate anything - birthdays, Christmas, New Year, anything. The people that think that theatre is the only topic of conversation. If you are one of these people, thank you for being a bad influence. I hope I'm a bad influence too.