After 10 very successful years, the ending in July of Monico Movies, Rhiwbina's own community cinema, was a sad occasion for the village, regular audience members and the crew themselves. Previously, we reported on the generous donation of Monico Movies' equipment to Hwb Y Gors in Ammanford. And now the Monico Movies team have further cemented the legacy of the local cinema by making a financial donation to Made in Wales, a Film Hub Wales project. Film Hub Wales' objective i

A locally made animated short film has just dropped its first teaser trailer. A Fish Out of Water , co-written by our own Andy Weltch and award-winning Rhiwbina-born scriptwriter Robert Lancey, is now swimming steadily through production. The teaser offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the animation magic taking shape. Billed as “a tale of the fantastical and bizarre,” the film follows Victorian investigator Henry Godliman, voiced by the much-loved TV actor Robert Daws (from

REVIEW: 'Sleeping Beauty' at The New Theatre Panto season is back and is in full swing at The New Theatre, with Sleeping Beauty ! We all know the story of Princess Aurora, who sadly lost both of her parents. She is raised by Nurse Nellie, and is protected by her, and the Spirit of Pantomine up until her 21st birthday when the evil Carabosse is plotting her revenge in order to get the throne. Luckily for Aurora, she has the help of Nurse Nellie, the Spirit of Pantomine, Muddle

REVIEW: 'The Frog Prince' at Sherman Theatre The Frog Prince is currently playing at The Sherman Theatre, and we were lucky enough to go and have front row seats to one of the performances! It follows the story of a young princess, Biwti, and her father, the King, who both love Christmas. Like most families, they spend the day together celebrating and want the day, as well as everything else in life, to be “perfect”. During the planning of their special day, her father gifts

REVIEW: 'Alice: Return to Wonderland' at Sherman Theatre The seasonal festive cracker from the Sherman Theatre was much anticipated in our house after a couple of immensely pleasing December visits, and it once again exceeded all expectations. Billed as a spectacular and supremely silly adventure into Wonderland, the show is based on Lewis Carroll's 1871 novel, Through the Looking-Glass . But we are removed to a 1940s Cardiff via the direction and words of Sherman regular Han

The New Theatre's eagerly waited pantomine Sleeping Beauty opens on Saturday (6 December). Once upon a time in a land far away, Princess Aurora is given a 21st birthday present by her evil aunt Carabosse. By pricking her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel she is placed under a curse and forced to sleep for 100 years.  Who will outwit the evil Carabosse and foil her wicked plans?  The show promises magic, music, comedy and special effects.   Gethin Jones stars as Prince Ge

A new book by a local author aims to 'lift the lid' on the history of Whitchurch - a North Cardiff suburb which has been the site of conflict, agriculture, and heavy industry over the centuries. One Man's Whitchurch - A Step Back in Time by Terry Chard is published this weekend (30 November), and it covers parts of Rhiwbina too, as they used to be in Whitchurch parish. Terry said the book "acts as a reminder of how much history and heritage has been lost and not just lost,

REVIEW: 'Death on the Nile' at New Theatre, Cardiff A new production of an Agatha Christie classic has arrived in Cardiff, offering the chance to leave chilly South Wales for a luxurious cruise under the Egyptian sun. Death on the Nile opened to a packed house at the New Theatre last night (Tuesday 25 November), and the audience was not disappointed. This is another high quality Christie adaptation from the team that gave us Murder on the Orient Express earlier this year. W

Young performers from North Cardiff were among those representing the South-East Wales Youth Orchestra and Choir, who took centre stage at the Royal Albert Hall. Brought together by Cardiff and Vale Music Education, the ensemble included 92 pupils from across the two local authorities. The North Cardiff schools involved were Whitchurch High School, Llanishen High School, The Bishop of Llandaff, Cardiff High School, Radyr Comprehensive, and Ysgol Gymraeg Glantaf. The wider Sou

REVIEW: 'Fiddler on the Roof' at New Theatre, Cardiff A packed audience responded with a standing ovation for the opening performance of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof 's Cardiff run last night (Tuesday). After a sold-out season at the Barbican in London, this Olivier Award-winning production is now nearing the end of a hugely successful UK and Ireland tour. And what a treat it is. The show, which won the Oliviers for Best Musical Revival, Best Set Design, and Best S

The UK tour of the Olivier award-winning production of classic musical Fiddler on the Roof arrives at Cardiff's New Theatre next week (18-22 November). The show, which won the Oliviers for Best Musical Revival, Best Set Design, and Best Sound Design, stars Matthew Woodyatt as Tevye, Jodie Jacobs as Golde, and Olivier Award nominee Beverley Klein as Yente. WIdely regarded as one of the greatest musicals of all time, it features much-loved songs including If I Were A Rich Man

REVIEW: 'Murder at Midnight' at New Theatre, Cardiff It's New Year's Eve in the fancy Kent home of one-eyed gangster, pig farmer, and Robbie Williams fanatic, Jonny 'The Cyclops' Drinkwater. Jonny (played by TV and stage favourite Jason Durr) also owns seven angry Rottweilers and can get angry himself. When he does, those who get in his way may find themselves murdered, chopped up, and fed to the pigs. So, when he arrives home unexpectedly, just as his girlfriend (Katie McGly

Rhiwbina-based artist and designer David Hopkins , recalls some of the experiences and events and that have influenced and contributed towards the artworks that he now produces and sells, which put a different perspective on familiar subjects. Do you sometimes reflect how you got to where you are now? Was there a plan? Or did it just happen? In my case, I think it just happened, but now I’m not so sure. It appears that I’m revisiting what I started doing almost a lifetime ago

REVIEW: 'No Man's Land' at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff The title of No Man's Land - whose press night we attended last night (Wednesday 15 October) - suggests an unflinching theatrical journey through modern masculinity, and that is what's delivered. It also suggests necessary psychological detachment or abandon in the face of pure horror, of wartime battlefields and 'going over the top' to face an enemy, a state of unknowable terrifying existential limbo. The theme of conflict

REVIEW: 'Slava's SnowShow' at New Theatre, Cardiff Unique, bizarre, surreal, fantastic, joyful, spectacular, unforgettable. It's hard to find the right adjectives for Slava’s SnowShow , but all of those apply - and more. This multi award-winning show, which debuted in Moscow more than 30 years ago, and reached international audiences at the 1996 Edinburgh Festival, is back touring the UK, and we were at tonight's (Wednesday 15 October) opening of its Cardiff run. Slava’s Snow

REVIEW: 'Myra's Story' at New Theatre For the second time this year, Cardiff theatre-goers were treated to a performance of the...

REVIEW: 'Romeo a Juliet' at Sherman Theatre A new bilingual production of Shakespeare's romantic tragedy has opened in Cardiff this week....

REVIEW: Surge performed by the National Dance Company Wales at The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff National Dance Company Wales have debuted...

REVIEW: 'An Orange in the Subway' performed outdoors at Parc Mackenzie, Cardiff An Orange in the Subway is a story of home, hope, and...

Stewart Lee brings his highly anticipated new show to Cardiff next week, when he shares the stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian...