"Summer Holiday" / "Let It Be" / "H.O.R.S.E."

I’ve paid two visits to the Wales Millennium Centre in the past couple of weeks, to see and review large-scale touring productions in the Donald Gordon Auditorium. First on the agenda was a revival of the West End adaptation of the Cliff Richard film “Summer Holiday”, with a surprisingly charismatic Ray Quinn in the leading role, and a charmingly ramshackle London bus. The week later came the rebooted Beatles musical, “Let It Be” – not much more than a lavish tribute band performance, but extremely well done, with the songs given due respect.

"Let It Be" (Annerin Productions/Mark Goucher Productions )

In between came “H.O.R.S.E.” at Chapter – a collaboration between performance artist Tim Bromage and magician Joseph Badman, with paranoia and U.S. Government research into paranormal powers as themes – well executed, but falling a little awkwardly between the two disciplines, I felt.

My Eisteddfod Diary

I managed to pay my first ever visits to a National Eisteddfod this week – being held in Cardiff for the first time since 2008. Unprecedentedly, since this celebration of Welsh language and culture has been taking place at Mermaid Quay in the Bay, there’s no charge to get onto the site itself, and take in the stands, stalls and tents (some cultural, some commercial); although the big events, of course (gigs, contests, plays etc), charge admission.

One of these was Hwn yw fy Mrawd (“This is my Brother”) – a tribute to the legendary African-American singer Paul Robeson, at the Wales Millennium Centre, from the almost as legendary Sir Bryn Terfel, which I had the chance to review. A history lesson/musical, outlining Robeson’s personal and political struggles and his links with Wales (including an appearance at the Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale exactly 60 years ago), there was probably not enough of either Terfel or Robeson on offer for it to be entirely satisfying, but there were many other talented people involved.

Later in the week, I went back to check out some visual art. Firstly there was the display by the Contemporary Arts Society of Wales, in the Pierhead Building, of some historic works by the likes of Ceri Richards and Siani Rhys James. Then I braved the lengthy security queue at the Senedd (the Welsh Assembly Building) to experience the exhibition of new pieces selected for the Eisteddfod; some beautiful stuff, with some striking sculpture, photography and video, but I felt most drawn to the paintings – hazy portraits by Casper White, and James Moore’s work, redolent of surreal film stills.

"Eczema" / Edinburgh

My most recent theatre reviewing experience provided my first opportunity to experience the acoustics at the B.B.C.’s Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre. This was “Eczema!” –  part of National Theatre Wales season celebrating 70 years of the National Health Service, and a rare Cardiff appearance by the company. A clever collaboration between writer Maria Fusco and composer John Harris, performed by popular actor Rhodri Meilir.

Rhodri Meilir (Photo: National Theatre Wales)

As ever, I won’t be going to the Edinburgh Festival, but at least I’ve managed to see Cardiff productions of a few shows from Wales which will be running on the Fringe, namely “The Flop”, “Tremor” and “Lovecraft”. I will be monitoring reviews with great interest.