Find out what’s on in South Wales this week
As we start the week, we’re two days shy of the month countdown until Christmas (we know, we can’t believe it either!). Carols at the Castle (Cardiff Castle, Castle Street, Thur 26 Nov, Tickets: £10 Adults, £5 Children) is the new Christmas thing this week, organised and in aid of Ty Hafan. It’s widely known how passionate the Welsh folk are for singing, so let’s go belt those carols into the cold, starry night, and be whisked away with the feel-good emotion of the occasion!
If you feel the need to take a slower pace after all that carol-singing, why not treat the family to Afternoon Tea with Father Christmas (Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 28 Nov – Wed 23 Dec, Tickets: £12 Adults, £8 Under 8s) this weekend? Santa is understandably going to be busy, so with limited availability at this event we suggest booking tickets now to avoid disappointment.
In the mood for an evening filled with mind expanding experimentalism? Aren’t we all. If you are, then make your way down to Gwdihw for the brilliant Belgian band BRNS, opened by Cotton Wolf & Mumbleman, followed by the Welsh Music Prize after party (Gwdihw, Cardiff, Thu 26 Nov, Tickets: £5 adv).
They say everyone has a doppelganger somewhere in the world, and if you go along to the Doppelgangers Book Launch (Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Tue 24 Nov, Tickets: Free), you may find your own literary one. Mark Blayney is a perceptive storyteller, and this collection of short stories will guarantee you won’t know who you’re meeting from one page to the next. Free entry and a complimentary glass of wine, this is surely a reading that’s not to be missed.
Sweeney Todd (Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tue 24 Nov – Sun 29 Nov, Tickets: £16.50-£51.50) has sharpened his blade, and is back in Cardiff for a longer run of the brutal musical. Based on Sondheim’s original production, the tale of spiralling madness and depravity is thrilling and gruesome, drawing you into the Demon Barber’s world in a way that you wish you could resist. It might put you off meat pies for a bit, but it’ll be worth it…!
Ballet Theatre UK presents a retelling of the classic fairytale, The Snow Queen (Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli, Thur 26 Nov, Tickets: £17/£16). Following the story of Gerda and her quest to save her friend from the Snow Queen’s evil spell, Gerda’s fantastic adventure takes her on a journey across the frozen north. Between the beautiful costumes, glittering stage sets, expressive dancing and a heart-warming tale of friendship and adventure, you’ll be swept away on your own Christmassy fairytale.
The Riverfront’s monthly comedy night, Comedy Shed (The Riverfront, Newport, Fri 27 Nov, Tickets: £12.50), welcomes comedienne and writer Holly Walsh this month. Walsh has worked solidly since winning Best Newcomer at the 2008 Chortle Awards and being nominated for Edinburgh Comedy Best Newcomer Award in 2011, and is quickly establishing herself as one of the most intelligent and hilarious comics in the industry with her quick wit, self-depreciation, and dizzyingly warm charm. Support comes from Canadian stand-up Phil Nichol.
Mark Olver, Lloyd Langford and Dan Thomas (Glee Club, Cardiff Bay, Fri 27 Nov – Sat 28 Nov, Tickets: £16.25/£5 NUS) are this weekend’s line up in the reputable and intimate comedy club. They’re joined by someone who Glee is describing as a ‘Very Special Guest’; sadly we’ve no idea who it is – but we recommend taking the gamble!
Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair is back in Cardiff (City Hall, Cardiff, Sun 29 Nov, Tickets: £2/Under 12s free), for anyone who loves a bit of vintage. Expect to find an array of vintage clothing, collectables and furniture, alongside a pop-up salon to get your locks quiffed or curled and have your make up done in your favourite vintage style, and a vintage tea room serving tea in old-fashioned tea cups and sweet treats such as cupcakes, cake slices and brownies.
Happy Mondays (The Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Cardiff, Sun 29 Nov, Tickets: £28.50), the definitive Mancunian alternative-rock-Madchester-baggy-electronica-‘acid house’ band of the 80s and 90s, are back on the road to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches album. Promising to perform the album in its entirety, there’s no doubt that this will be one hell of a gig. Don’t miss it!
words EMMA-LOUISE SMITH
photo MANUEL HARLAN