Many performers have been keeping busy online during the coronavirus lockdown – none more so than actress, singer and writer Carys Eleri, who has released two hilarious comedy songs for charity. Downloads of Fat ‘N’ Clean and Beyond The Fence are raising money for Tarian Cymru, a campaign to make and distribute personal protective equipment … Continue reading
Doing The Harvard Tango with Mal and David (and Dirk, Evie, and Bess)
I was first drawn to Essex pop-rock band The 1957 Tail Fin Fiasco, not just by their wonderful name, but by their Steely Dan-ish music, with influences from other ’70s bands, which many people of my age enjoy. So I was very pleased to hear they have a new album, The Harvard Tango, now available … Continue reading
The Thief of Bagdad: a childhood spectacle of colour on a rainy day
Can you remember the first film you saw on colour TV? I can remember mine because, by pure luck, it was a spectacular timeless classic that had me glued to the screen – The Thief of Bagdad. It was a rainy August Bank Holiday in 1975. As a family, we were late adopters: for whatever … Continue reading
The Flock: award-winning horror is also a Midlands ‘Western’
A new British horror movie, which has already scooped a string of awards for its script, has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the production budget. The Flock has won four awards for its script, most recently the 2019 Special Jury Prize at the Barcelona International Film Festival. Continue reading
West Country horror ‘Sacrilege’ premieres in London
The latest release from West Country-based horror production company Bad Blood Films will premiere in London next week. Sacrilege will screen at the Empire Cineworld, Leicester Square on Thursday 5th March (2020). The film follows four lifelong friends as they head to a remote lodge for a weekend of fun. What begins as an idyllic … Continue reading
All The Rage – more delight for crime fiction fans
Fans of brilliantly plotted crime fiction will be delighted that the latest DI Adam Fawley thriller has been published. I was doubly delighted because I got to go to the launch party. All The Rage by my ultra-talented friend Cara Hunter is out now from Penguin Books – the fourth in her Oxford-set Fawley series … Continue reading
From Coronation Street to Ed Reardon’s Week via Agatha Christie: Nicola Sanderson talks stage, screen and radio
Nicola Sanderson is an incredibly versatile British actor with a record of success on stage, screen and radio – from thrillers to soap operas to comedies. I was lucky enough to see her as Auntie Lou in the stage production of Agatha Christie’s Love From a Stranger last year [2018] and have thoroughly enjoyed her … Continue reading
Supernatural and super – Watermill Ensemble’s Shakespeare double bill
A double bill of supernatural Shakespeare has been touring the UK, performed by the remarkable Watermill Ensemble. I don’t normally review plays on this blog (I normally review them for this hyperlocal site in Cardiff), but these exceptional productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth deserve exceptional treatment. Continue reading
Horror, comedy, sci-fi and more – Dawn is as busy as ever
Dawn Noel was the first performer I profiled in this blog – and three-and-half years on, it’s great to see she’s as busy as ever. We have kept in touch since that blog post in March 2016, and the Los Angeles-based actress, producer (and more) recently updated me on her latest projects. Continue reading
Swansea Jazz Festival returns
Swansea International Jazz Festival is back! It returns for the sixth consecutive year (October 2 – 6), but with a slightly different look. The event has grown to replace Brecon as Wales’s premier jazz festival, thanks in part to support from the Arts Council of Wales and Swansea City Council. But due to budget uncertainties … Continue reading