Cardiff WHAT’S ON Arts, gigs, shows and comedy, it’s all going on in Cardiff

21 March - 17 April WHAT’S ON

John Partridge is Emcee in the new production of Cabaret coming to the Wales Millenium Centre on 24 March

PLAYS / FILM / PERFORMANCES 24 – 28 March CABARET It’s 1931, Berlin is a haven of divine decadence, and the legendary Sally Bowles is about to take to the stage at the infamous Kit Kat Klub. The Tony Award-winning Cabaret features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and those legendary classic songs including Money Makes The World Go Round. Donald Gordon Theatre, WMC; www.wmc.org.uk

27 March DENIS & KATYA The compelling documentary opera follows the accounts of the true story of 15-year-old Russian teenagers Denis Muravyov and Katya Viasova who, in November 26, lived their final hours watched by social media as they filmed while in the midst of a standoff with Russian Special Forces. Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

31 March – 4 April THE RED SHOES Matthew Bourne’s double Olivier award-winning smash hit production returns with its ballet within a ballet tale of obsession, possession and one girl's dream to be the greatest dancer in the world, which turns into a nightmare. See page 15 for more from Matthew Bourne. Donald Gordon Theatre, WMC; www.wmc.org.uk 7 – 11 April LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER When Clifford Chatterley returns from the war a wounded hero, his young bride Connie does her best to care for him. But neglected and alone, she instigates a love affair with the gamekeeper, Mellors, a relationship that bridges the social divide and challenges convention. Based on the book written by DH Lawrence, which when published in 1928, caused a huge scandal resulting in a trial New Theatre Cardiff# ___Ve_\Pea\reKardiffKW]S

MUSIC / BANDS 29 March CARDIFF POLYPHONIC CHOIR Handel’s thrilling setting of Psalm 110, Dixit Dominus – ‘the Lord said’- comes from his early stay in Italy. Composed when he was only 22, it’s an exuberant showcase for the young man’s prodigious talent. The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

1 April RODDY WOOMBLE The lead vocalist of indie rock band Idlewild – known for his enigmatic lyrics, warm baritone voice and consummate gift for a tune – has released five solo albums to date, enhancing his solid reputation as one of Scotland’s finest songwriters. Clwb Ifor Bach; www.clwb.net

6 April PUSSYCAT DOLLS Multi-platinum pop sensation

ABOVE: This stunning work, which is part of an exhibition at the Albany Gallery until 4 April, was made by the artist Peter Kettle using discarded material found on his trek to Kathmandu BELOW: Portrait With Hat by Francisco Rodríguez can be seen at Chapter as part of its Art in the Bar exhibition

COMEDY 2 April KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN Previous shows have seen her tackle structural racism, sexism, child grooming, adoption and emotional abuse, so what seemingly unfunny subject has she picked to turn into laughs this year? Chernobyl? The shrinking size of Creme Eggs? No, empathy is her material of choice. /Tee CT]J# ___OTeeKW]S

2 April MATT FORDE Former adviser to the 4abour Party, Matt is now one of Britain’s leading political comedians and is talking broken pledges and fake deadlines in his new stand-up show Brexit, 8]r[]ed *a ) *ear, and the reviews have been vote winning. Sherman <Pea\re# ___[PerUaV\Pea\reKW]S

4 April FOIL ARMS AND HOG The Irish comedy trio, Sean Finegan, Conor McKenna and Sean Flanagan, are best known for their online sketches which have pulled in over  million hits. They deliver scripted nonsense, twisted characters, and unintentional improvisation. ;\ ,a^id¼[ 0aTT# ___[\da^id[PaTTKardiffKW]S

Pussycat Dolls are reuniting for their first tour in over  years. Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt, Jessica Sutta, and Carmit Bachar make up the group that sold more than 54 million records worldwide and achieved eight =K top  singles including Don’t Cha. 5W\WrXWiV\ )reVa Cardiff# ___UW\WrXWiV\areVaKardiffKW]S

9 April CARDIFF MUSIC AWARDS SHOW 2020 Enjoy a night of celebration, with 22 awards to be given out, live music from local talent including Adwaith and Panic Shack, street food vendors and a lot of Cardiff’s musical talent under one roof. <raU[Ped# ___KardiffU][iKa_ard[KW]S

13 April THE NIGHT CAFÉ The NME said of this poppy Yuartet, who have just released their debut album 0151, ‘The Night Café prove they’ve got the chops to go the distance. Brooding, but still dazzlingly catchy.’ <Pe /TWJe# ___OTWJeKardiffU][iKKWU

ART, PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITIONS Until 4 April PETER KETTLE In March 2!, Peter Kettle and Alexander Green travelled to Nepal to hike to Everest’s basecamp. Along the two-week trek, Peter collected litter to be recycled into mixed media, en plein air paintings, and sketches through the use of collage, acrylic and watercolour ink, to create a fantastic body of work. )TJaVa /aTTera# ___aTJaVaOaTTeraKWU

Until 4 May MARTIN PARR IN WALES This exhibition brings together, for the first time, photographer Parr’s works that explore different aspects of Welsh life and culture, including male voice choirs, coal mining, and the seaside. In the Reardon Smith 4ecture Theatre on 2 March, actor Michael Sheen will be interviewing him about his work. 6a\iWVaT 5][e]U Cardiff# ___U][e]U_aTe[

Until 10 May IMAGINE A CASTLE This touring exhibition, which is supported by Art Fund, of five paintings from the National Gallery, 4ondon, will complement and highlight the rich and diverse representations of castles in the museum’s existing collections. Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales; www.museum.wales

Until 10 May STANDING STILL Artists Nick Davies, Sasha Kingston and Jayne Walker find inspiration from the coastal geology of South and West Wales, exploring the rock strata and geographical contours shaped by weathering and erosion - the rhythms and cycles associated with the natural world. The Makers Guild Wales; www.makersguildinwales.org.uk

Until 21 May FRANCISCO RODRÍGUEZ As part of its ongoing Art in the Bar exhibitions, the work of Francisco Rodryguez is currently on display. Referencing graphic animations and Japanese drawings, with intriguing situations and a cast of sinister characters, the painter hints at the tradition that inspired the post-impressionists. Chapter; www.chapter.org

Until 2021 MISSION: PLANET EARTH Embarking on a mission through time and space, this virtual reality journey shows what Wales looked

like millions of years ago, including giant bugs, birds, and dinosaurs. Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Cardiff# ___U][e]U_aTe[

21 March – 10 May MEL BRIMFIELD Taking its title from The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, this exhibition From This World, To That Which Is To Come, adopts the parable’s infamous fictional pilgrimage as an allegory for a collapse of mental health and fraught journey to recovery, via a multi-media exploration involving sound installations, sculpture, and films. Chapter; www.chapter.org

2 – 18 April GLYN OWEN The exhibition entitled And the Barricades Stretched from Tonypandy to Madrid: Retracing the Journey of the Welsh Volunteers of the Spanish Civil War is a photojournalism exploration by Welsh photographer Glyn Owen of the 2 Welsh volunteers who travelled to Spain to take a stand against fascism during the Spanish Civil War of !36-3!. Cardiff 5),-# ___KardiffUadeKWU

SPORT 28 March CARDIFF DEVILS V BELFAST GIANTS 4eague, face off pm. >iWTa )reVa Cardiff 1V\erVa\iWVaT ;XWr\[ >iTTaOe# ___Kardiffde^iT[KWU

ABOVE: Kiri PritchardMclean makes empathy funny at the Glee Club on 2 April LEFT: See Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble at Clwb Ifor Bach on 1 April BELOW: It’s last supper talk with Jay Rayner at the Sherman Theatre on 26 March

ABOVE: Hanuman langurs are just one of the amazing natural world stories being told at Motorpoint Arena on 26 March

10 April CARDIFF CITY V BLACKBURN Sky Bet Championship, kick off 3pm. Cardiff Ci\a# ___Kardiff Ki\afKKW]S

OTHER 26 March PLANET EARTH II: LIVE IN CONCERT 2020 Hosted by TV presenter Liz Bonnin, this brings sensational footage from the award-winning BBC series and guarantees to make audiences feel closer than ever to the planet’s spellbinding animals, the stunning landscapes

and wildlife dramas. 5W\WrXWiV\ )reVa Cardiff # ___UW\WrXWiV\areVaKardiff KW]S

26 March JAY RAYNER Based on Jay Rayner’s book of the same name, 5a La[\ ;]XXer" 7Ve 5eaT ) Life\iUe iV \Pe 5aSiVO, in this tour the food critic investigates our fascination with last suppers, reveals how he was introduced to oysters by his late mother, and the time he almost burnt down a hotel because of his love for snails in bubbling garlic butter. Plus, the audience get to design their own last meal. ;PerUaV <Pea\re# ___[PerUaV\Pea\reKW]S ■

A QUICK CHAT WITH... MATTHEW BOURNE

Renowned choreographer Matthew Bourne fi rst produced The Red Shoes as a stage show in 2016, which went on to win two Olivier Awards. His new production of it is being performed at Wales Millennium Centre from 31 March – 4 April. Here, he shares his memories and interpretation of the ballet classic.

“The Red Shoes is considered by many people to be one of the most important and beautiful fi lms ever made in the way the camera was used and the way it captured dance on fi lm for many people for the fi rst time. It is very infl uential and I saw it when I was very young. I didn’t really know anything about that world as I was more into musical theatre and fi lm musicals. My parents didn’t go to the ballet.

“It was an introduction to an extraordinary world which was glamorous and eccentric and full of these larger-than-life characters. It was also this great story about people who spend their lives being creative, creating beautiful things and the passion they have to do that.

“It was a challenge to tell the whole story of the human characters and the central love story and confl ict. All those things have to be told through dance. It is bringing these things to a different medium. The larger-than-life emotions in The Red Shoes are good for dance. You are already on to a winner with those obsessive relationships and passion and confl ict.”

“A lot of people have that confl ict in their lives between work and the relationships they are having whether it is their partners, or other family members, or their friends. I think that is where people can relate to this story.”