Small theatre with cramped seats - no lobby area so intervals are a crush. Poor toilets and badly…read moretrained staff. I will not be going there again!

The Redgrave is a charming little venue tucked away in deepest, poshest Clifton. Affiliated to…read moreClifton College, its main output is productions of classic plays (Shakespeare features heavily) put on by their drama school, which, if you're as deeply untalented as me, is quite depressing as the standard is so good. They also fill out their programme with equally good productions from local amateur dramatics groups, and even find the time to put on the odd national comedian. A very small theatre, it's usually busy and generates a good atmosphere, while the prices are pretty low (a tenner or less) for the standard on offer. Unless you're a real theatre buff who expects the best, this is a good place to catch cut price productions.

Ah, the Sherman Theatre. I've gone to the Sherman for plays and courses many times throughout my…read moreown personal little history. I think I was ever taken there with school and for birthday parties. But what I will always remember is the high standard of the plays and the fact that they are always thinking outside the box. Once upon a time, many years ago, they put on a production of 'The Snow Queen', which probably helped to develop my childhood obsession with the story; it was so beautiful. More recently I recall a version of 'James and the Giant Peach'. The staging, sets and props for this show were absolutely superb. Sherman Theatre is more of a community of local professionals and amateurs. There is a love of the theatre here which I just can't begin to fathom. The theatre is currently undergoing a major redevelopment. I look forward very much to seeing the new thing!

I can't quite believe that the Sherman theatre has yet to be reviewed; I've been coming here for…read moreyears and find this theatre to be simply wonderful. Sure It's certainly not old and beautiful like the New theatre, or trendy and modern like the Wales Millennium centre, but it's the shows which matter, and they put on some jolly good ones. From my experience they tend to focus on more contemporary plays, though I do remember seeing Shakespeare's 'As you like it' many years ago, and they are general thought provoking, and rather relatable (they can be politically motivated as well). As this theatre is in the Welsh capital it's good too see that they put Welsh language plays on, which my bilingual cousins really appreciate, and enjoy. Sherman is also fantastic in regards to young children, there's nearly always a play available for the under 10s, and they're children's Christmas shows are always a highlight (the plays are often based on Roald Dahl novels. Finally I should really mention the Sherman theatre youth group, which has long held the reputation as the best youth drama group in Cardiff. They hold weekly age specific classes (including Welsh language ones) for those between the ages of 10 an 18. So if you know any young budding actors and actresses out there, let them know about Sherman!

The Curzon is like an old comfy slipper, been around forever, you can slip in easily and you…read morecertainly don't go there for the looks. I think if I'd have known that before I went my expectations would have been different. I think I was expecting an old ornate theatre style cinema lovingly preserved over the years. There is an element of that with ornate walls and an old organ at the front but it's not a big selling point of the place. So I guess it's best to look at this as a community cinema. The snacks are affordable (hurray), they sell plain popcorn (great for children) and it's great to have a cinema on your doorstep rather than having to drive to a larger town and pay lots more for your ticket. So as an affordable local cinema you can't go wrong, they put on the latest films and they even had a Q&A session lined up for the people behind the Shaun the Sheep film. Keep up the good work folks and keep cinema alive in Clevedon. P.S. Please try not to burn the popcorn next time...

A cinema. with a bar. that lets you drink alcohol whilst you watch a film....WHAT WHAT!!!…read moreAn amazing experience.

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.

This is one of my local cinemas - set inside a 'leisure' park part of Longwell Green's set of…read moreretail parks. This Vue for some reason has completely abandoned their ticket office and you have to buy tickets from the ice cream stall which, if someone actually wants ice cream, means that it can take forever to get through the queue. Tickets are quite expensive and a bag of Minstrels will set you back over £3! They also have a band of leather seats across the upper middle of the screening rooms which you have to pay extra for - I come here maybe once a week and I have NEVER seen anyone sat in these seats - why do they bother? The staff have even stopped trying to push the 'luxury' seating on to us as we buy tickets so they can't be impressed either. Sadly when they do a special screening (this week was American Werewolf in London - fantastic) it goes down like a lead balloon (5 people in that showing) so they don't do it very often. Does what it does good enough.

I get the feeling these things come in flat packs, complete with popcorn machine, questionable…read morecarpets, and no character whatsoever. With that said, it's actually pretty good. They've got plenty on offer, I counted 12 films showing last time I went. The showings run late as well, with films starting at midnight. It's obviously a bit of a trek getting out to Cribbs Causeway. Probably not worth the hassle unless you've got a car given Bristol's got the Showcase and Odeon in town. There's plenty of free parking. Popcorn is horrifically over priced, as you would expect. You can also buy Ben and Jerries ice cream, which is pretty cool. At £6.65 for an evening showing it's not that cheap but not too bad. The cinemas themselves are really good. Big comfy seats and big screens. It's usually fairly empty as well, you'll probably have a couple of rows to yourself. Don't get taken in by the 'VIP' seats. They do some films in 3D, which is pretty cool. However, I'm yet to see anything I like being shown in 3D. Vue is a souless multiplex but a fairly good one.

Theatre aside, the kitchen and bar is excellent. Top quality small plates and interesting local…read morebeers.

I've been coming to the old vic for many years so not only is it a great venue but for me it holds…read moremany great memories and is where my love of theatre began. The shows you get to see at the old vic are a far cry from the tacky unoriginal touring shows you get at the Hippodrome. Showcasing its own in house productions you find a lot more edgy and original theatre, so it's a must for all theatre lovers. On this occasion I took my one and half year old son to his first ever theatre production, Magic Elves. The show was in the small theatre downstairs and was perfect for small children and adults alike! He was engaged and mesmerised from the off and I hope this starts a similar love of theatre...

The Unknown Theatre Company was formed in 1997 and is an amateur company for young people aged…read morebetween 13-25, concentrating on musical theatre, although they also stage one-act plays with members aged over 15. It is all about making good theatre, giving young people a chance to perform in quality productions. The company's 40 past productions include Seussical, Just So, Peter Pan, Little Shop of Horrors, Honk!, Godspell, as well as a small number of musical compilation shows. New members are welcome to audition whenever a new project is started, but interested individuals are welcome to make contact with the Company throughout the year. There are 40 or so (at any one time) members of their main company who range in age from 13-25. The regular sessions work towards a production every six months or so, together with an increasing amount of exciting unique projects from time to time. During the course of the year, the young people's experiences will include singing, improvisation and movement sessions. They also run special sessions and productions for 20 or so younger members, aged 8-13, in their YoYos group. Rehearsals are held on a Tuesday evening in Roath Church (opposite the park) on Waterloo Road. Speak to Jane.

The Watershed is a welcome break on that row of bars and clubs by the waterside. Where all the…read moreother venues simply exist to be a bar where the rowdy Saturday crowd revel in, the Watershed is more focused on socialising, good food, and screenings of movies with depth and intelligence. Much like the Little Theatre is to Bath, the Watershed is a must -go for more alternative, independent films. I love coming here to watch films because you are ensured that every film being shown is a good film, and not something brainless that you might waste your money on. The cinema rooms are a fraction of the size of a big cinema like the Odeon, which just adds more charm to the movie watching. It feels much more intimate, comfortable and private. Much like you're watching a good secret. Prices are good too, if you come here for a film before 4pm, rates are £4.50 (£3.50 concessions), which is a real good price for a good film. After 4pm, prices go up to £7 (£5.50 concessions). They have movies and documentaries for children too, during their Cinekids days, where kids pay £2 for a movie, and £3.50 for accompanying adults. Plus their Cinebabies days (which I think is such an amazing idea), where parents can bring their under 12 month old babies to watch a movie! The Watershed provides great facilities like a place to change nappies, and even a bottle warming service! This is super for parents to enjoy a film with their newborns, and get to know other new mom's around. The watershed is such a great place, all the years I've been going here, it's never disappointed me in terms of the films they screen, or the friendly service they give you when you're here.

The Watershed function spaces are great for small to medium conference events. They are…read moremultifunctional; the three cinema rooms (seating 43, 102 and 198 respectively) offer comfortable, air conditioned lecture spaces and the watershed 1, 2 and 3 rooms can be used individually or joined together to create a large space. The cafe/bar/restaurant sits between the cinemas and function rooms, offering food, drink and free wireless Internet. The staff are extremely hospitable; catering for all of your needs throughout the running of the event; from setting up spaces, to catering and even running last minute photocopying or printing. The Watershed is newly refurbished, clean and welcoming and in an ideal central location.