stage live review
AVENUE Q Tues 14 June, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay words AMY PAY After five years of sitting firmly on London’s stage listings, Avenue Q, per- haps the naughtiest musical of the decade (complete with a strict parental advisory warning), has embarked on its debut UK tour. The Wales Millennium Centre played host to the potty-mouthed puppets as they sang away their misery caused by failing at life. The story follows recent graduate Princeton as he attempts to find his purpose on earth, though he soon realises that neither he nor his loser neighbours know where they stand. The unusual combination of human characters and undisguised-human-con- trolled puppets created a complex task for the actors, but this didn’t seem to trouble the cast one bit. Human characters interacted seamlessly with their furry friends, something which appeared instantly genuine. A number of the actors held even more challenging roles; some of them had multiple puppets to master, meaning that they had to carry off at least two different voices. Rachel Jerram did so convincingly, effortlessly leaping between the squeaky high-pitched charms of Kate Monster and the husky provocative jests of Lucy The Slut. Chris Thatcher, puppeteer of one of the Bad Idea Bears (two teddies of temptation) and porn-obsessed Trekkie Monster, pulled cartoony faces whilst speaking. His comical looks juxtaposed the puppets’ filthy lines, giving them an innocent spin. The score was strengthened by video clips that illustrated the characters’ thought processes, the majority of which involved sex jokes and dirty word play narrated by harmless children’s TV-style voiceovers. Judging by the roars of laughter, the layers of cynicism and self- loathing and the outrageously hilarious matter-of-fact approaches towards typically hush-hush topics will leave a lasting smile in the minds of those who saw the show. Either that or a feeling of being deeply offended.
Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £20-£34. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sat 9) Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Grand Theatre, Swansea. 2 + 5 + 8pm, £13-£27. Info 01792 475715. (Until Sat 9) Lifedeathlife Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 01792 295526. Avant-garde dance piece by Caroline Sabin that explores ideas of infinity and mortality. Moby Dick The Musical Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 7.15pm, £10.50/£9.50. Info 01792 475715. (Until Sat 9) Penbobi Hapus / Happy Bobiday Pontardawe Arts Centre. 10am, £4. Info 01792 863722. Roger Monkhouse + Holly Walsh + Dave Fulton + Wes Zaharuk Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £14.50/£6.50 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. (Until Sat 9) Sally-Anne Hayward +
Liam Mullone + Junior Simpson + Carey Marx Jongleurs, Oceana, Cardiff. 7pm, £12. Info 08700 111960. On tomorrow also. Secondary Cause Of Death Little Theatre, Blackwood. 7.30pm. Info 01495 223485. (Until Sat 9) Tell Me On A Sunday New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10- £26.50. Info 029 2087 8889. (Until Sat 9) The Pirates Of Penzance National History Museum, St Fagans. 8pm, £16 adv. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sat 16) The Wizard Of Oz Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale. 7pm, £7/£6. Info 01495 355800. (Until Sat 9) Titillation Grade 3 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2030 4400. One-woman show performed by Emily Underwood-Lee, based on her life after being diagnosed with breast cancer. There is, it is claimed, gratui- tious nudity. On tomorrow also.
Why Must I Be So Black And Blue? Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £6-£10. Info 029 2030 4400. (Until Sat 9)
SATURDAY 9 And The Birds Fell From The Sky Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £6. Info 029 2063 6464. (Until Sun 10) Billy Elliot Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 7.30pm, £10/£8. Info 0800 0147111. (Finishes today) Bluestocking Lounge’s Summer Scorcher Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 0845 2263510. Burlesque regular make anoth- er showing here, with perform- ers including Domino Burlesk (your name is like the thing that you do, which is clever), Ally Katte, Luna De Lovely, The Bay Belles and Lily Belle. Disney’s High School Musical Junior Theatr Elli, Llanelli. 7.30pm, £8. Info 0845 2263510. (Finishes today)
Fireman Sam Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot. 1pm, £12. Info 01633 656757. Half Moon Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2 + 5pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Clown/rope dancer from Chicago; part of the Blysh Festival. On tomorrow also. In The Night Garden Live! Bute Park, Cardiff Bay. 9.30am- 6.30pm, £15-£22. Info 0844 5811251. If you have small children chances are you will be going to this, or considering it. There are shows every day at 9.30am, 11.15am, 1pm, 3.15 and 5pm, which depending on the time might be a Pinky Ponk show or a Ninky Nonk show. Basically I’d have a look at
www.nightgardenlive.com/ cardiff for specifics. (Until Sat 23) Jekyll & Hyde Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £20-£34. Info 029 2063 6464. (Finishes today) Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Grand Theatre, Swansea. 2 + 7.30pm, £13-£27. Info 01792 475715. (Finishes today) Little Ruby Red Tells Tales Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 12 + 2.30pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2030 4400. Musical play for kids, presented by Theatr Iolo. Moby Dick The Musical Grand Theatre Arts Wing, Swansea. 2.15 + 7.15pm, £10.50/£9.50. Info 01792 475715. (Finishes today) Ribbons/Mid Wales Dance Academy 16th Annual Spectacular Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 6pm, £9.50/£8. Info 01874 611622. On tomorrow also. Roger Monkhouse + Holly Walsh + Dave Fulton + Wes Zaharuk Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £17.50. Info 0871 4720400. (Finishes today)
Sally-Anne Hayward + Liam Mullone + Junior Simpson + Carey Marx Jongleurs, Oceana, Cardiff. 7pm, £15. Info 08700 111960. Secondary Cause Of Death Little Theatre, Blackwood. 7.30pm. Info 01495 223485. (Finishes today) Tell Me On A Sunday New Theatre, Cardiff. 2.30 + 7.30pm, £9-£26.50. Info 029 2087 8889. (Finishes today) The Pirates Of Penzance National History Museum, St Fagans. 3 + 8pm, £16/£12 adv. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sat 16) The Jungle Book Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd. 5pm, £6.50/£6. Info 01443 485934. Presented by Richard’s School Of Dance. The Wizard Of Oz Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale. 7pm, £7/£6. Info 01495 355800. (Finishes today) Titillation Grade 3 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £10/£8. Info 029 2030 4400. Why Must I Be So Black And Blue? Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £6-£10. Info 029 2030 4400. (Finishes today)
SUNDAY 10 Albert Herring National History Museum, St Fagans. 4pm, £18 adv. Info 029 2057 3500. Benjamin Britten’s comic opera, presented by Shadwell Opera. And The Birds Fell From The Sky Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. £6. Info 029 2063 6464. (Finishes today) Boxing Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2.30 +
4pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Featuring clowm Fraser Hooper. Blysh Festival show. Half Moon Wales Millennium
WEDNESDAY 13 Ardal O’Hanlon + Matt Price + Wes Packer + Johnny Disco Glee Club,
The Junket Club, pop-up comedy promoters of note, help some standups test out the material they’ll be doing at the Edinburgh Festival in August, with two comedians performing at Cathays cafe Thé Pot every Tuesday this month. Can’t promise you
can still get tickets, but you’ll never know unless you try.
Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. In The Night Garden Live! Bute Park, Cardiff Bay. 9.30am- 6.30pm, £15-£22. Info 0844 5811251. (Until Sat 23) Ribbons/Mid Wales Dance Academy 16th Annual Spectacular Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 3pm, £9.50/£8. Info 01874 611622.
MONDAY 11 Cheong-Bae: One Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01873 850805. Korean dance showcase. In Ystradgynlais tomorrow. Community Dance Showcase Blackwood Miners Institute. 7pm, £5.50/£4.50. Info 01495 227206. On tomor- row also. In The Night Garden Live! Bute Park, Cardiff Bay. 9.30am- 6.30pm, £15-£22. Info 0844 5811251. (Until Sat 23) Royal New Zealand Ballet: From Here To There Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £10-£28. Info 029 2063 6464. Three new dance works by this acclaimed company. The Pirates Of Penzance National History Museum, St Fagans. 8pm, £14 adv. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sat 16)
TUESDAY 12 5x60 Dance Evolution 4 Grand Theatre, Swansea. 6.30pm, £5/£3. Info 01792 475715. Swansea secondary school pupils showcase their street dance talent. Cheong-Bae: One The Welfare, Ystradgynlais. 7.30pm, £8/£7. Info 01639 843163. Community Dance Showcase Blackwood Miners Institute. 7pm, £5.50/£4.50. Info 01495 227206. Henry Paker + Josh Widdecombe + Clint Edwards Thé Pot, Cardiff. 7-10pm, £5 adv. Info 029 2025 1246.
Outdoors Arts Centre, Aberystwyth (central point). 7.15pm, £12/£10. Info 01970 623232. One Night Only Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot. 7.30pm, £8.50/£7.50. Info 01633 656757. Song and dance from the students of Fame Factory Theatre School. Sarah Millican + Jarred Christmas The Ice House, Swansea. 7pm, £10 adv. Info 01792 649060. A Swansea Comedy Festival show. This is pretty cheap for Millican now, I think. The Pirates Of Penzance National History Museum, St Fagans. 8pm, £14 adv. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sat 16)
Cardiff Bay. 7.15pm, £16/£14 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. A Cardiff Comedy Festival show. In The Night Garden Live! Bute Park, Cardiff Bay. 9.30am- 6.30pm, £15-£22. Info 0844 5811251. (Until Sat 23) One Night Only Pontardawe Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £8.50/£7.50. Info 01792 863722. An evening of song and dance from the students of Fame Factory Theatre School. Temporary Shelter Market Theatre, Cowbridge. 7.30pm, £6 adv. Info 01446 773874. Rose Tremain’s 1980s radio play, adapted for the stage here by CADS. (Until Sat 16) The Pirates Of Penzance National History Museum, St Fagans. 8pm, £14 adv. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sat 16)
THURSDAY 14 A Journey Through Stage And Screen Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare. 6.30pm, £10/£8. Info 0800 0147111. Hits from the world of movies and stage. Andy Askins + Mick Ferry Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £9.45/£6.50 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. (Until Sat 16) Andrew Lawrence + LLoyd Langford The Ice House, Swansea. 7pm, £10 adv. Info 01792 649060. A Swansea Comedy Festival show. Does My Bum Look Big In This? New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8-£19. Info 029 2087 8889. Comedy musical about dieting, the gym etc, starring Scott Wright (Coronation Street) and Vicki Michelle. (Until Sat 16) Gala Night Theatr Elli, Llanelli. 7pm, £10/£8. Info 0845 2263510. The Academy Theatre Group’s 30th anniver- sary celebration concert. In The Night Garden Live! Bute Park, Cardiff Bay. 9.30am- 6.30pm, £15-£22. Info 0844 5811251. (Until Sat 23) Kai Humphries Queens Hall, Narberth. 7.15pm, £10/£8. Info 01834 869323. A Killforaseat comedy night. Russell Kane: What Happens In... Swansea Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 7pm. Info 01792 473238. Recording of this new Radio 2 show hosted by one of the comedy Russells. You can book tickets for this by going to www.dylanthomastheatre.
org.uk , or at least you could at one point. Temporary Shelter Market Theatre, Cowbridge. 7.30pm, £6 adv. Info 01446 773874. (Until Sat 16) The Pirates Of Penzance National History Museum, St Fagans. 8pm, £14 adv. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Sat 16)
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