Find out what’s on in South Wales this week
Ever marvel at the handmade alien outfits on Doctor Who, dream of the dresses as seen on Downton Abbey or pine after Sherlock’s handsome coat? There is a whole are to the world of costumes and The Wearable Art Show (Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama, Cardiff, Thurs 5 -Fri 6 Mar. Tickets: £6-£8) is going to embrace that fact this week. Inspired by the opera L’enfant et les Sortilèges, which tells a tale of inanimate objects being brought to life after a young child has sought to destroy them during a tantrum, the show will entail a series of weird, wild and witty costumes which will explore the lyrical fantasy of the opera.
There’s more interactive art in Amy Sterly and Thom Snell’s Sound Books (Oriel Davies, Newtown, Sat 7 Mar–Wed 13 May. Admissions: free). Do you like to smell, touch or listen to your books? Printmaker and sculptor Amy Sternly and video artist and musician Thom Snell will be using art yo explore how the physical book can trigger a much greater emotional response.
For some more static art there is Angharad Pearce Jones’ new exhibition The Pram In The Hall (Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen, Sat 7 March-Sat 25 April. Admissions: free). Pearce Jones will be creating a visual tension through the combination of the feminine and the domestic with the materials, methods and language of heavy industry by filling the exhibition space will steel girders.
Some more steely content will be seen in Dark Vanilla Jungle (Chapter Arts Centre, Tue 3 Mar -Sat 7 Mar, 7.30pm. Tickets: £8/£10). Sensitive souls refrain! This is not for romantics who love pretties flowers and fluffy bunnies. Philip Ridley’s play offers a relevant examination of a real phenomenon – the grooming of teenage girls by older men for sex. Andrea (who will be played by Game Of Thrones’ Gemma Whelan) is 15-years-old and a desperate teenage girl. Abandoned by her parents she will soon become the sex slave of a gangland pimp. A real exploration of the dark and trouble byways of lives that will leave you cold.
For theatre of an entirely different ilk then you should catch the Reduced Shakespeare Company as they bring their version of The Complete History Of Comedy (Abridged) (Gwyn Hall, Neath, Wed 4 Mar + Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama, Cardiff, Tue 10 Mar. Tickets: £13-£16) to venues across Wales this month. Having begun its parody-infused synopsis of Shakespeare back in 1981 (successfully condensing the literary deity into just 90 minutes), the Reduced Shakespeare Company has since come a long way – and hugely expanded its repertoire to not just include the bard. In this show they will be taking on the entire history of comedy…expect a fast paced result to this challenge.
The will be more high energy humour as Joe Pasquale takes on role of King Arthur in Spamalot (New Theatre Cardiff, Mon 2- Sat 7 Mar , Tickets: £12-£34.50 / £8.50-£31 conc). The musical tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (‘who dance whenever they’re able’). The show is a mix of great gags, a lot of smut with fantastic tunes – it’s more magical than a serious Camelot convention (it must be as a story lovingly taken from Monty Python And The Holy Grail).
Another homage to be brought to stage will be One Man Breaking Bad (St David’s Hall Cardiff, Wed 4 Mar, 7.30pm. Tickets: £18.50). In a single evening, LA actor Miles Allen tackles all five seasons of blockbuster series Breaking Bad. He bluffs everyone with his energentic renditions of all the iconic characters. The show is narrated by Jesse Pinkman – allowing Allen catches his breath between acting out parts and segments dance moves.
Also on the musical agenda this week is young Pennsylvanian musician Vikesh Kapoor (The Moon Club, Cardiff, Fri 6 Mar; The Chattery, Swansea, Sat 7 Mar. Tickets: £8/£10). Kapoor’s debut album, The Ballad Of Willy Robbins, has been garlanded with critical praise and made Rough Trade’s top 100 albums of 2014
You can enjoy another stateside gem, John Morales (Gwdihw Café Bar, Fri 6 Mar. Tickets: £7), in Cardiff this week. The New York City legend has played iconic venues such as the Stardust and Studio 54 – now he’ll be bringing his disco sound to Gwdihw.
If you still fancy busting some moves there will be Hip Hop @ Nosda (NosDa, Cardiff, Fri 6 Mar. Admission: £2) – a night of live hip-hop sets and battles in Riverside hotel-cum-bar, NosDa. In the shadow of the Millennium Stadium a bunch of local MCs will flaunt their abilities. Saykridd Daly will be going solo with his boisterous party anthems, while others plump for strength in numbers: The Hellionz, The Firm and Dope Biscuits, plus Baby Queens bringing r’n’b-influenced levity.
words JENNIFER MAGUY