10 things for you to do this week in South Wales! Enjoy!
Clara and the Kingdom of Sweets – Mon 12 Feb
Based on the ballet classic The Nutcracker, Allegro Dance bring their Clara and the Kingdom of the Sweets to The Riverfront in Newport. The showcase celebrates delicacies from all over the world such as Spanish chocolate, Arabian coffee, Chinese tea, and Russian candy canes, who all dance for their own amusement. This is guaranteed to cater to the sweet-tooth in every admirer of the dancing arts.
Cost: £11/£9
Women of Flowers – Tues 13 Feb
Award-winning Welsh writer, Siôn Eirian, brings his captivating re-imagination of the Mabinogi myth of Blodeuwedd to the Blackwood Miner’s Institute. Skilfully merging the worlds of Saunders Lewis’ Welsh-language verse drama with Eirian’s own original material, this is sure to create a unique, dark, fantastical atmosphere that adds a twist to traditional Welsh folklore.
Cost £14.50/£12.50
Amigos Gypsy Orchestra – Wed 14 Feb
Sick of doing the same thing every year for Valentine’s Day? Or want to celebrate with your significant other in a more unique way? Then why not commemorate the Feast of Saint Valentine with a 30-piece Gypsy Orchestra at Jazzland in Swansea? Led by Gary Philips, Amigos offer a wide range of European gypsy music such as Parisian swing, Argentine tango, Latin, Cuban, and more!
Cost: £10
Milton Jones Is Out There – Thur 15 Feb
Who doesn’t love a good one-liner? Even if you say you don’t, we all know you low-key do. Pioneer of the pun, Milton Jones, brings his Is Out There tour to the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot. Having appeared on the likes of Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo, Milton’s laugh-a-minute style of comedy offers a nonsensical escape from the scary outside world.
Cost: £28
Bowling For Soup + The Aquabats! + Army of Freshmen – Fri 16 Feb
Pop-punk powerhouses, Bowling For Soup, bring their catalogue of colossal noughties jams to the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff as they play 2002’s ‘Drunk enough to dance’ in its entirety. Opening the bill will be the crime-fighting comedy rock act, The Aquabats – who are playing in the UK for the first time in five years – and Army of Freshmen, who celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band.
Cost: £25
Trainspotting – Fri 16/Sat 17 Feb
Harry Gibson’s theatre adaptation of Danny Boyle’s cult-classic arrives at Llanelli’s Y Ffwrness this Friday and Saturday. Approved by the original author, Irvine Welsh himself, this jam-packed, audience-immersing experience is certain to provide enough passion, violence and controversy to satisfy any original fan’s fix.
Cost: £14/£12
Jack and the Beanstalk starring Owen Money MBE – Fri 16 –Sun 18 Feb
For a more family-friendly production this weekend, legendary fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk comes to Cwmbran’s Congress Theatre – and stars Welsh entertainment giant, Owen Money. The Rainbow Valley panto has toured theatres across South Wales since November and finishes its run this month.
Cost: £15/£11
St Fagan’s Castle Ghost Tour – Fri 16
Explore the grounds of St Fagans Castle in a way that has never been made available to the public – until now! The historic structure has been home to numerous sounds, sensations and sightings of the supernatural reported by staff and visitors over the years, and the castle is now open for members of the public to venture through – with all the lights out! Don’t believe in ghosts? This could change your mind.
Link: http://www.showmewales.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=3&feature=1049&venue=1011054
George Groves vs Chris Eubank Jnr at Shooters – Sat 17 Feb
With no Six Nations rugby this week, why not get your fix of sport in the city centre on Saturday night with George Groves’ semi-final Boxing Super Series bout with Chris Eubank Jnr? Shooters Sports Bar in Cardiff will be showing the full card on their big screen to get you pumped for the main event.
Cost: from £10
Greazy Vegan Pop-Up at Tiny Rebel – Sun 18 Feb
The end of veganuary doesn’t mean that you have to go without your dose of meat and dairy-free dishes. Cardiff vegan takeaway, The Greazy Vegan, is making it easier than ever for animal-lovers to transition to cruelty-free cuisine in the Welsh capital – and Womanby Street’s Tiny Rebel is teaming up with them to host a pop-up shop on Sunday to celebrate the world of vegan junk food, from burgers, to hot dogs, and beers!
Cost: Free entry, menu prices may vary.
words ROSS DAWSON
photo LES HAINES
