Find out what’s on in South Wales this week
You may have missed the first heat of the Welsh Unsigned Stand Up Awards (Porter’s Bar, Cardiff, Mon 20 Apr. Tickets: £5) where comedians compete to win a chance to perform at The Glee Club and £1000, but if you’re looking for a bit of comedy to brighten up your Monday, you can still catch the second round.
See Aladdin (Lyric Theatre, Camarthen, Thurs 23 April. Tickets: £15-£16.50/£12-£14 ) get told through the beauty and purity of ballet; think magical adventures, tragedies, deceit, and (of course) a spellbinding love story.
This production tells a somewhat darkened tale of a young mermaid who breaks through the rules of the society in which she lives and pokes her head above the surface of the water to see the world that exists beyond it. Mermaid (Sherman Cymru, Cardiff, Wed 21-Sat 25 Apr. Tickets: £15-£25/£7.50-£23) follows her journey searching for the prince on dry land – without a sea shell bra or singing crab in sight.
The Radio 2 Folk Awards (Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Wed 22 Apr. Tickets: £20-£27.50) is back for its 16th year, presenting an array of the finest artists in folk music, new and old. This year’s headliner shall be Yusuf, formerly Cat Stevens, with more acts to be announced at a later date.
This night gives a nod to Bristol-esque nightlife, and as you may expect of Boulevard (Buffalo Bar, Cardiff, Fri 24 Apr, 10pm-4am. Tickets: £6 adv) one of the most influential artists in bass music will be playing: Addison Groove. The first release tickets are already sold out, so get yours now to avoid that dreaded fear of missing out.
This music festival aims to expand your existing repertoire of musical interests. CAM’15 (Millennium Centre, Wales, Sat 25 Apr. Tickets: £12) is a protégé of Cam radio station, a weekly resident at Radio Cardiff, and shall present a variety of acts, including a line up of live music.
Whilst this rare window of sun blesses Wales with its presence, it would be a crime not to enjoy one, or two, drinks with friends. The Cider and Ale Festival (Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil, Sat 25 Apr, 12pm -6pm. Admissions: Free) will showcase a range of tipples, and if this weather subsides, it has a sheltered courtyard; perfect!
For a mere tenner, see the leading four Welsh Rugby Union teams battle it out for the winners’ derby title. Judgement day III (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Sat 25 Apr. Tickets: £10) will see the Ospreys face Cardiff Blues at 2.30pm, swiftly followed by Newport Gwent Dragons V Scarlets at 4.45pm.
Fan of the Sex Pistols? Right Now! (Mission Gallery, Swansea, Sat 25 Apr-Sun 7 Jun. Admission: Free) is named after one of their lyrics but isn’t really about them – it’s more an exhibition in the spirit of the words as a group of Goldsmiths graduates who showcased their work in an exhibition titled {Current} at the Mission Gallery 27 years ago return to showcase their work again. Not only will they demonstrate how the lives, work and careers of these artists has changed in the last few decades, but also examine the historical and creative changes that have taken places in the contemporary art world.
Gladiator (Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare, Thurs 23 + Fri 24 Apr. The Welfare, Ystradgynlais, Sat 25 Apr. Tickets £8-£12) is the story of a bike, but not just any bike. One of the first true racing bikes, the real life Gladiator was ridden by somewhat forgotten Welsh cycling hero Arthur Linton, an Aberdare Native.
words SARAH BARLTROP