Before It Rains

words: BECKY ROBERTS

After being closed for seating improvements, Cardiff’s New Theatre reopens with the Tony Award-winning production of 42^nd Street (Tue 25-Sat 29 Sept, 7:30pm & 2:30pm matinee performances on selected days, tickets: from £9.50) Co-author and Broadway director Mark Bramble re-imagines Peggy Sawyer’s rise from chorus line to Broadway star.

Writer Katherine Chandler and director Roisin McBrinn deliver a gritty tale of love and friendship – an urban story of parenthood and protection – on a battered Cardiff estate in their latest production Before It Rains (Sherman Cymru, Cardiff, Tues 25 Sept-Sat 6 Oct, 8pm, £14).

Join Beauty And Wellness along with product specialists Arbonne in their exclusive Teahouse Launch event (Thurs 27 Sept, 6:30, tickets: £5, 100% donated to charity) at Waterloo Teahouse Gardens, Cardiff. Learn their secrets to anti-ageing and feel 10 years younger drinking Waterloo’s age-busting, beauty-boosting tea!

“I’ve just turned 50, the kids have left home, and my cat just died.” Madness frontman brings his tormenting troubles to the stage in this hilarious music/chat show Suggs: My Life Story (Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Fri 28 Sept, 8pm, tickets: £12.25-24.50)

Wipe the dust off your kilt this weekend for Celtic Ale Festival (Bluestone National Park, Pembrokeshire, Fri 28-Sat 29 Sept, admission: free). Whilst enjoying the wide range of traditional Celtic ales and cider, join the jesters and get involved in the weekend’s medieval events and activities.

Whether it is live music, food tastings, or cauliflower forests that wire up your weekend, Wales’ Alternative Food Festival, Feastival (Sat 28-Sun 29 Sept, 10am-5pm, admission: free) has it all. Head down to Bridgend town centre and immerse yourself in the fun and frenzy of over 60 food traders.

Developed to celebrate the 10^th year of Newport’s city status, The Newport Monologues (The Riverfront, Newport, Wed 26-Fri 28 Sept, tickets: £6-10) portrays multiple narrations based on a series of informative and passionate stories from Newport’s residents, each unravelling another layer of the city’s progressive life and history.

Claiming to be the biggest Elvis event in Europe, The Porthcawl Elvis Festival (various venues throughout Porthcawl, Fri 29-Sun 30 Sept, tickets: prices vary) hosts thousands of The King’s fans as they flood to the Welsh seaside town to enjoy over the best Elvis tribute acts from across the UK and Europe.

Explore, experience and enjoy Cwtch Cabaret (various venues in Carmarthen, Cardiff, Cardigan & Aberystwyth Tue 25-Sat 29 Sept, 7:30pm, tickets: prices vary) as its third season of cabaret kicks off in South Wales. The production promises a scintillating array of outlandish circus performances and outrageous comedic entertainment. Not to be missed.

Riverside Market founder Steve Garrett encourages the city to Get Ffresh! with his latest pop-up farmers’ market. Pop down and select the freshest organic veg for this week’s Sunday roast at any of the four new locations (Chapter Arts Centre: Wed 4-7pm, Lisvane: Sat 9-11am, Thornhill: Sat 12-2pm, Lakeside & Cyncoed: Sat 3-5pm, admission: free).