I went to see Rain Man here a few months ago featuring Oliver Chris and Neil Morrisey. As a…read moretheatre virgin as it were, I entered with much trepidation, unsure of what to expect. I was highly impressed. It's decorated quite lavishly in a pretty old-fashioned way. It certainly conformed to every imagining I had of what a theatre should look like inside and was in keeping with the history of the building, built in 1878. Onto the bar then! The service was quick and the drinks were reasonably priced. A surprise, as I thought I'd get stung for a drink here. A cool service they provided (I have no idea if this is standard fare or not) is that you could order drinks for the intermission, so when you come out, rather than waste any precious time queueing and paying, your drinks are there waiting for you with your name on! I thought this was brilliant. As nobody really wants to stand up in the middle of a tense scene and shuffle past an entire row, there was the expected mad rush for the bathrooms at the end of the performance but the toilets were adequately sized which was great. I'm not a big theatre person but I had a really enjoyabke night here and would definitely go back if something that took my fancy came to town.

The New Theatre is an old classic looking theatre that I always remember when visiting it on school…read moretrips to see what shows they had. I vaguely remember seeing 'The Hobbit' on stage and that was enjoyable. The New Theatre is one of the oldest buildings in Cardiff and still delivers shows for everybody. If I were to put a certain category of shows the New Theatre has it would be pantomimes. Everyone loves the pantomime and The New Theatre knows this, it has had shows like Aladin, Dick Whittington and a variety of other shows. It does have some drama plays too. I went to and see Romeo and Juliet with my girlfriend. However, this does bring me to mention a problem the auditorium has. We were sitting at the back of the stalls and unfortunately we had a giant pillar between our seats so we couldn't even see each other, this wasn't exactly the most romantic way to spend an evening watching Romeo and Juliet's final scenes and all I have to comfort me is a pillar. New Theatre I beg of you, please knock this pillar down. The New Theatre is an old classic theatre that still has a buzz when a performance starts. It may not have the most contemporary shows but it's brilliant for families. My only problem is that annoying pillar. Knock it down!

Each year this Newport-based ballet company tours to around 50 venues throughout the UK and beyond,…read morewith eight dancers and two technicians, presenting innovative and original productions rather than the obvious 'Swan lake' and 'Sleeping Beauty' put on by so many ballet companies. It aims to present classical ballet in an unpretentious and original way - and this definitely comes through in their productions. The next that Cardiff ballet lovers can go to see locally is Lady of the Lake at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. The other side to the company is its workshops and educational work in theatres, colleges, universities, schools, art centres and pretty much any other educational or arts venue you can think of! They hold sessions for all types of classes and groups, and these are advertised on their website and in their brochures for people to book themselves onto the course if they want to.

The town of Bath didn't strike me as a hotbed of evening activity so I secured seats for a show at…read moreTheatre Royal Bath to fill one evening. The show was an enjoyable English farce, comic and well-acted but my enjoyment was overshadowed by the woman next to me whose body slopped into my seat to such a degree that I was forced to sit with my shoulders and arms hunched tightly in front of me. When I dared to try to enjoy the seat I'd purchased, I found I was resting my arm on her stomach. At intermission I lodged a complaint and was immediately accommodated. The seats I wound up with were worse (far further from the stage) and, even though the theater staff did absolutely the right thing, my enjoyment of the show from the new seats was lessened as I couldn't see the stage as well. So here's what I'll say about getting seats at the charmingly intimate Theatre Royal Bath: Aim for aisle seats close to the stage and hope that the person you sit beside is fully contained in their seat. I trust you'll have a better experience here. This theatre was both charming and fun and seemed to feature the sort of light entertainment one might desire when in Bath.

Ah The theatre Royal brings back so many memories for me. I used to come EVERY year and bring my…read moreaging Grandma here for the Christmas Pantomines. This theatre is an English institution. Here is some information - see below - The Theatre Royal in Bath, England, was built in 1805. A Grade II* listed building, it has been described by the Theatres Trust as "One of the most important surviving examples of Georgian theatre architecture". It has a capacity for an audience of around 900. The Theatre Royal was built to replace the Old Orchard Street Theatre, funded by a Tontine and elaborately decorated. The architect was George Dance the Younger, with John Palmer carrying out much of the work. It opened with a performance of Shakespeare's Richard III and hosted performances by many leading actors of the time including Dorothea Jordan, William Macready and Edmund Kean. A major fire in 1862 destroyed the interior of the building and was quickly followed by a rebuilding programme by Charles J. Phipps, which included the construction of the current entrance. Further redecoration was undertaken in 1892; more extensive building work, including a new staircase and the installation of electric lighting, followed in 1902. Despite performances by casts including Sarah Bernhardt, the ballerina Anna Pavlova and Mrs. Patrick Campbell, the theatre was rarely very profitable. During World War II Donald Wolfit, Irene Vanbrugh, John Gielgud and Sybil Thorndike appeared, with shows including Noël Coward's Private Lives and Blyth Spirit, a performance by Ballet Rambert and light entertainment such as Charley's Aunt, but audiences declined. In 1979 the theatre was bought by a trust and, following public donations, it underwent refurbishment, with the rebuilding of the stage and the installation of a new taller fly tower for scenery and lighting. In 1997 a new 150-seat theatre, known as the Ustinov Studio, was opened. Further restoration work to the main auditorium was needed in 2010. In 2005 a children's theatre known as The Egg was opened. The complex also includes bars and restaurants. Here is their website - https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/

This is a great place to go watch a show. Very enjoyable experience watching bedknobs and brooms…read moresticks, slight technical problem but still enjoyable. The seats were comfortable and view was great. Staff friendly and helpful. Great experience and thoroughly enjoyed will return to watch another show.

A little while ago I went to this venue to see Aled Jones take on the role of Caractacus Potts in…read more'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', and finally got to see this splendid new building from the inside. Most people who are at all familiar with Cardiff would recognise the armadillo/woodlouse outer shell of the Wales Millennium Centre, and the giant lettering gracing its sides. But, unfortunately, few people seem to have actually ventured inside. The space is modern and clean, without looking barren, as so easily might have happened. The theatre itself has excellent leg-room, comfortable seats and pretty much unrestricted views. I sometimes struggle with low volume when attending musicals, but the acoustics were excellent, and every word clear as a bell. As well as shows and events, there are also food outlets and guided tours available. There are also free performances most days on the Glanfa stage, which are certainly worth checking out.

If you haven't been to The Gate yet you probably should make an effort to get over there. Its a…read morebeautiful venue with a theatre housed in what used to be a church. Its all wooden and quite inspiring. It also houses dance studio's, an exhibition area and great little cafe. Its quite an amazing community arts centre that deserves lots of support. There's all sorts going on, like dance classes, pilates, open mic nights, quizes and lots lots more. If your a fan of arts you should subscribe to their mailing list and if you live near by check out the cafe bar.

This converted church is now a modern, airy, community arts centre-type venue holding a whole host…read moreof different events, ranging from live music and dance to visual art exhibitions. These performances and regular nights often showcase local talent, from amateur right through to professional artists, and spanning all age groups. Although the centre's ethos is Christian, it does welcome everyone of all faiths, or those with no faith at all! It has a large, trendy café space with comfy sofas hosting regular events such as the Dance Café on the second Tuesday of each month, when people can meet, dance to Motown and Soul, and socialise with a resident DJ and dancer on hand to keep the place moving. Then there's funk fusion night, featuring the six piece band Miles Behind. They even hold debates on current affairs topics, regular quiz nights, open mic nights, and Science Café night when people explore topics relating to science and technology. The venue itself is actually a bit hidden away, just behind City Road, in a Grade II listed building in Keppoch Street, so you have to hunt it down a bit to find it.

I've been to St David's hall a couple of times now, mainly for comedians like Ross Noble and Sean…read moreLock. As a venue, it plays hosts to a huge variety of acts and entertainment. In the coming week alone you can see acts as varied as Stan Stennett (?), Brian Conley, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Roy Chubby Brown. It's not the most aesthetically interesting or pleasing venue in Cardiff, being beaten hands down by the Millenium Centre in the Bay, but it nevertheless remains the favoured venue for most acts, probably due to it's slightly larger seating capacity of 2000 (as opposed to 1897 in the Millenium Centre). It still hosts the annual Welsh Proms aswell. My own experiences have all gone pretty smooth, with very little queuing and helpful, professional staff. I suppose it's good that there's nothing of note I can really say here, as the things that would tend to stick in your mind about something as general as a concert hall would in all likelihood have been bad experiences anyway. It's a top venue though and it's important to Cardiff as a city to have somewhere encouraging the arts and being constantly active in doing so.

I have always found St David's Hall to be a little bit of a strange venue. That's not to say it's…read morenot good. Just odd. I think that's because it was, when built, quite a modern design, and that design was not universal enough to quite stand the test of time. What remains is an odd mixture of wood, green carpets and wide areas which make sense when they're full of people, but which are just tired when not. That being said, the selection of music, comedy, ballet and theatre in this venue is great. The theatre itself is vast, but seems much more intimate because of their carefully tiered seating. Seats encompass the stage, and there is a massive organ on display. Unfortunately, I've always found this venue to a little dampening to sound. Or the speakers aren't loud enough, or something. A good venue though.

WID is a national organisation for professional dance artists working independently in Wales,…read moreoffering programmes and services to develop their skills and career. It's a kind of umbrella organisation aiming to develop a strong dance sector in Wales by nurturing the talent of both dancers and choreographers. From a practical point of view, they offer touring opportunities; professional development summer schools, workshops and seminars; and even administrative assistance and low-cost studio hire. For dancers or choreographers mainly living or working in Wales, it's a first port of call for help and support. Their website also advertises opportunities for choreographers and dancers, from projects taking on staff to dance auditions.

When I was growing up I used to dance. I went to as many classes as I could get Mum to take me to -…read moreballet, tap, modern, folk. I adored it, until the day I broke my toe, and then kept breaking toes. I returned to it in secondary school, at university and in my twenties. I didn't quite make my dream of being a dancer professionally, but I still love to dance and to watch dance. Welsh Independent Dance (WID) is the national organisation for professional dance artists working independently in Wales. They encourage dancers to develop their craft through a variety of programmes and services, and they also support their career development. Their main mission not-so-impossible is to support, nurture, encourage and promote the careers of independent dancers and choreographers in Wales, and develop a strong, vibrant, and diverse dance sector. They do good.

Welsh National Opera is a world-renowned touring opera company based in the Millennium Centre in…read moreCardiff Bay. It has a permanent company of 250 people, including the chorus, the orchestra, the principal singers, various music staff and other creative teams as well as supporting administration staff. I'm not very good at sitting still for very long, and the idea of going to an opera that's nearly three hours long makes me feel nervous. They do, however, put on some shorter performances which are more suitable for first-time opera goers. This huge operation is often off on tour elsewhere - it's incredibly well-respected and tours Wales, the rest of the UK, and other worldwide destinations - each year giving more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a total audience of around 150,000 people! Luckily, they do often give performances in their home city of Cardiff, too - at the Wales Millennium Centre and St David's Hall - and even occasional outdoor performances at St Fagans. They have lots going on in September/October 2010 in Cardiff, as well as in February, March, May and June 2011.

Now I must start this review by saying I'm not the biggest fan of opera. I like the idea of it, but…read moreI don't get moved to tears by it, unless I have no way of escape. I like singular songs from some opera. I can appreciate the beauty of someone bursting into operatic song, even if they are in Grangetown. I like people like Antony and the Johnsons. Okay, now I've confessed that, I have still enjoyed some of the projects by Welsh National Opera. Projects like their collaboration with National Theatre Wales for Shelf Life. I also have plenty of friends who rave rave rave about them. So this is just a matter of taste, okay. I also don't like football, but you probably do. WNO is Europe's busiest touring opera company and the largest provider of touring opera in the UK. The world-class touring opera company has a permanent company of 250 people.

Was quietly impressed by this little venue. On my visit went to see the 80's Liverpuddlian soul…read moreband The Christians in concert. The theatre is centrally located next to the Aberafan Shopping Centre and is in fact a wing of the council offices (not a seperate physical building like I expected or assumed.) It is easy to commute to as I travelled by rail and stopped off at the Port Talbot Parkway station, although car owners can easily slip off the M4 to get there. Quite a modern building inside & out and the theatre has little bar too. Staff are very helpful & friendly at the theatre too. Well worth going to in order to check out a music or comedy act of your choice.

From the owner: Performing Arts. Live music. Live comedy. Theatre events. Conference facilities.read more

Founded in 1988, Music Theatre Wales is a pioneering force in contemporary opera in Britain and has…read morea growing international reputation. The company tours annually through Wales and England and regularly performs its productions of newly commissioned works and contemporary classics in Europe. Productions have been broadcast on BBC Radio on 3, BBC 2 TV and recorded for CD. In 1992 and 1997 Music Theatre Wales was shortlisted for the Prudential Award for Opera for 'creativity, excellence, innovation and accessibility' and has won constant praise from critics and audiences. The company has worked with a veritable who's who line-up of eminent composers including Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies, Michael Berkeley, Philip Glass and Michael Nyman. They have also nurtured the talents of a new generation of composers commissioning works from Lynne Plowman, Huw Watkins, Nigel Osborne and Param Vir.