arts


published a collection of short stories which were highly commended in a National Eisteddfod competition. The collection, Yr Awyr yn Troi’n Inc (The Sky Turns Into Ink) is written in Welsh and published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch. Most of the 30 stories are set in


Cardiff. The main characters are life’s losers, wounded and abused characters, experiencing physical and mental illness, who have not reached their potential or ambitions because of the blight of loneliness. http://tinyurl.com/yb7wt75w


Theatre Ian McKellen on Stage: Tolkien, Shakespeare and You! UK tour, January 25-September 15 Ian McKellen celebrates his 80th birthday next year by taking a new solo show to theatres up and down the UK. The show will start with Gandalf, he says, and will probably end up with an invitation to join him on stage. An opportunity to see a legend of stage and screen in an intimate performance. http://tinyurl.com/yc4zcy75


All My Sons Old Vic, London April-June 2019 With President Trump seemingly determined to go to war with someone somewhere, this 1947 Arthur Miller classic is a reminder of the personal consequences of state action. Based on a true story of how


aircraft manufacturers conspired with army officers to approve defective aircraft engines destined for military use, this blistering drama shows the American dream come crashing down. It stars Sally Field, Bill Pullman, Jenna Coleman and Colin Morgan.


Television


Original look at Les Misérables Davies, perhaps best known for


It’s not often I get excited by television, but I’ll make an exception for the BBC’s forthcoming adaption of Les Misérables. One of my favourite novels, this


epic tale of crime, love and redemption is set against a backdrop of civil unrest in 19th century France. It has been turned into a six-part


drama by multi award-winning screenwriter Andrew Davies, and stars Dominic West (Jean Valjean), David Oyelowo (Javert), Olivia Coleman (Mme Thénardier) and Lily Collins (Fantine).


www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/ 2019/all-my-sons


Music Guttfull If you were into Riot Grrrl back in the day, then you’ll love Guttfull, who are bringing the genre up to date. Described as dirty sax punk, and drawing comparisons with Bikini Kill, the Undertones, X-Ray Spex and The Slits, their songs address issues such as internet abuse (Keyboard Warrior), sexual harassment (#notallmen) and Donald Trump (Arsehole). https://guttfull.bandcamp.com/music


Comedy The National Trevor Tour Sandi Toksvik UK tour, January-February 2019 The Great British Bake Off host thinks being called a national treasure is a bit


Spotlight: women behind and in front of the lens in Wales Photography pioneers and practitioners


Women in Focus celebrates the role and contribution of women throughout the history of photography – behind and in front of the lens. Coinciding with the centenary of the


Representation of the People’s Act 1918, which gave some women the vote, the exhibition looks at female photographers in Wales from pioneers to contemporary practitioners. It also explores how


women as subjects, from intimate and playful 19th cen tury staged family portraits to contemporary portraiture, fashion and journalism. The work also considers how photography has been used to


misrepresent women through objectification and idealisation. As Janice Lane from the


National Museum in Cardiff says: “Women have been active adopters and practitioners of photography since it was invented in 1839. Historically, their work


has not been as broadly supported, accessed and understood as that of their male counterparts.” This goes some way to


righting that wrong. National Museum Cardiff


Free, until January 28 https://museum.wales/ cardiff/


theJournalist | 21


House of Cards, has vowed to go back to the original novel and delve deep into the many layers of Victor Hugo’s story, revelling in Jean Valjean and Javert’s cat-and-mouse relationship. The BBC’s press office says: “With


a striking intensity and relevance to us today, the novel is testimony to the struggles of France’s underclass and how far they must go to survive. “The adaptation will vividly and


faithfully bring to life the vibrant and engaging characters, the spectacular


embarrassing, so she has decided instead to become a National Trevor – half misprint, half Danish comedian, novelist, actor and broadcaster. Expect tall stories, funny facts and silly jokes . www.sanditoksvig.com


Film


Colette On general release from January 11 Who would have thought intellectual property could be so sexy? Dominic West and Keira Knightly star in this film about a woman who ghostwrites her husband’s best-selling novels, then wants her authorship to be recognised. A true story set in early 1900s Paris,


this feature looks at Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette’s drive to overcome societal constraints, revolutionising literature, fashion and sexual expression. www.bleeckerstreetmedia.com/ colette


and authentic imagery and, above all, the incredible yet accessible story that was Hugo’s lifework.” If the production matches Davies’s


versions of Vanity Fair, Pride and Prejudice, Middlemarch and War & Peace, it promises to be a cracker. It is due to air early next year – set a reminder on your tellybox.


A Private War On general release from February 1 Rosamund Pike stars as celebrated Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin. The film looks at the personal cost of her work – she paid the ultimate price when she was killed in Syria in 2012. A remarkable tribute to a remarkable journalist. www.imdb.com/title/tt2368254/


Poetry Burns Night Everywhere in Scotland (and


beyond), January 25 The perfect combination of haggis, whisky and poetry, Burns night was first held in July 1801 when nine of the great bard’s friends got together to mark the fifth anniversary of his death. The night included a meal, performances of his work and a speech in his honour. It was such a success they decided to hold it again but in honour of his birthday. www.visitscotland.com/blog/ scotland/burns-night-guide/


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