Find out what’s on in South Wales this week
It’s easy to take your city for granted and not realise what’s going on right on your doorstep. We’ve set out to cure your January blues with laughter, music, and all things weird and wonderful. So who cares if you didn’t stick to that New Year’s resolution, get out and make the most of your area, maybe even try something new this week?
New Year; new hobby. For those of you wanting to try something different this year then head down to Circus Skills (The Riverfront, Newport, Tue 20 Jan, 7-8.30pm, Admissions: £3.50) Learn a variety of skills including juggling, unicycling, tightrope and stilt walking, sounds better than the gym, right?
The king of improvisational comedy has returned following fourteen sell-out tours; Ross Noble will be showcasing his talent and having you in fits of laughter in his brand new UK show, Tangentleman (Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sun 25 Jan, 7.30pm. Tickets: £25)
Piste Off Comedy (Face 11, Cathays, Cardiff, Tue 20 Jan, 7.30pm. Admission: free) returns for 2015. Free acts from groups of exciting new talents should help you out with those January blues, with entry being free you can at least get more funny for no money.
Be a part of discovering the next big writer as Script Slam (Pontardawe Arts Centre, Neath, Tue 20 Jan, 7.30pm. Tickets: £5) holds its’ final battle. Aspiring writers compete to have their winning scene developed into a production, while professional actors bring the scripts to life.
The Royal Welsh College Of Music and Drama host Burns Night (The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, Fri 23 Jan. Tickets: £25) A Scottish themed concert that brings together musician and actors to celebrate the life and work of Scotland’s most famous poet: Rabbie Burns. Tickets include concert, whiskey tasting, supper (haggis and tatties, or vegetarian alternative, and cranachan dessert – think porridge with whiskey) and a good ol’ knees up in the form of a ceilidh.
All around the country and for the most part of last year Welsh people have been celebrating the 100th birthday of legendary poet Dylan Thomas. Torch Theatre showcases their comedy play I Slept With Dylan Thomas (Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, Fri 23 Jan, 7.30pm, Tickets: £9, Concession: £8)
For those looking to chill out in a fusion of brass-based jazz and African rhythms then Dakhla (Globe at Hay, Hay-On-Wye, Sat 24 Jan, 8.00-11.00pm. Tickets: £5) are one band not to be missed, guaranteed you won’t have heard anything like them before, be sure to enjoy good people and good vibes.
If you prefer more of a club scene then look no further, Trend (Glam Nightclub, Cardiff, Thurs 22 Jan, 9.30pm, Tickets: £5) – the newest midweek night out to hit Cardiff – is launching this week with live performances from Wretch 32.
And finally something for all you art lovers, dive into history at the Historic Photography Uncovered Exhibition (National Museum Cardiff, Sat 24 Jan. Admission: free ) and explore the evolution of photography through the local Dillwyn Llewelynb family. Or perhaps take a look at the Tom Woods: Landscapes (Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Sat 24 Jan-Sat 28 Feb. Admission: Free) exhibition, consisting of extensive and varied pictures of his life in the West of Ireland, Merseyside and North Wales.
words STACEY OWEN