It’s been another fascinating year on the Welsh theatrical landscape, so here is Wales Arts Review’s highlights, the list of the best of Welsh theatre 2016, plus our pick in the worlds of dance and opera. It is a rich and diverse list, and displays a huge array of talent – just click on the red to read our original review of each production.
The Best of Welsh Theatre 2016:
Plays:
Play/Silence (The Other Room, Cardiff)
Emily Garside was at The Other Room in Cardiff to review two plays, Play by Samuel Beckett and Silence by Harold Pinter for the start of their new season.
Sand (The Other Room, Cardiff)
Elin Williams casts a critical eye over The Other Room’s production of Nick Gill’s Sand starring Sara Lloyd Gregory and directed by Kate Wasserberg.
Meet Fred (Hijinx Theatre, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff)
Emily Garside critically discusses Hijinx Theatre Company’s puppetry production of Meet Fred at the Chapter Arts Centre.
St Nicholas (The Other Room, Cardiff)
Emily Garside takes a critical look at The Other Room’s production of the Conor McPherson play St Nicholas starring Christian Patterson.
Cosy (The Llanarth Group and Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff)
Gary Raymond casts a critical eye over Kaite O’Reilly’s play Cosy staged by the Llanarth Group at the Wales Millennium Centre.
Only the Brave (Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff)
Jemma Beggs attended Wales Millennium Centre to see Only the Brave, its first own main stage co-production depicting courage in many ways.
Rhith Gân (Theatr Genedlaethol and National Eisteddfod, Abergavenny)
Elin Williams is at the National Eisteddfod in Abergavenny to cast a critical eye over a production of Rhith Gân by Wyn Mason.
Constellation Street (The Other Room, Cardiff)
Jemma Beggs walks through the very affecting new promenade play from Matthew Bulgo and The Other Room, Constellation Street.
Wonderman (Gagglebabble with National Theatre Wales, Tramshed, Cardiff)
On the night of Roald Dahl’s centenary celebrations, Gary Raymond reviews Wonderman, National Theatre Wales’ and Gagglebabble’s stage celebration of the author’s stories for adults.
Cyrano de Bergerac (Theatr Clwyd, Mold)
Twm Morys discusses with Emily Garside his previous experience with theatre and his involvement in a production of Cyrano de Bergerac.
Opera
La Voix humaine (WNO and Wales Millennium Centre, Penarth)
Steph Power casts a critical eye over a production of La Voix humaine at the Cardiff Festival of Voice with music by Francis Poulenc.
Kommilitonen! (Welsh National Youth Opera, Barry)
Steph Power is at the Memo Arts Centre in Barry to review the WNO Youth Opera’s production of Kommilitonen.
The Merchant of Venice (WNO, Cardiff, UK premiere)
Steph Power shares her opinions on the Welsh National Opera’s productions of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice.
The Devil Inside (Music Theatre Wales & Scottish National Opera, Aberystwyth)
Steph Power is at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre to cast a critical eye over Music Theatre Wales and the Scottish Opera’s co-production of The Devil Inside.
Figaro Gets a Divorce (WNO, Cardiff, world premiere)
Steph Power shares her opinions on the Welsh National Opera’s ‘Figaro Forever’ series featuring a production from contemporary composer Elena Langer.
Dance:
Shadow of a Quiet Society (Gwyn Emberton Dance, Riverfront, Newport)
Jane Oriel casts a critical eye over Shadow of a Quiet Society by Gwyn Emberton Dance at The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre, Newport.
Folk (National Dance Company Wales, Sherman Cymru, Cardiff)
Jane Oriel casts a critical eye over Folk, a National Dance Company Wales production at Sherman Cymru created by Caroline Finn.
Lucky Trimmer in Wales (Lucky Trimmer, The Dance House, Cardiff)
Jane Oriel is at the Dance House in Cardiff Bay to review the Berlin-based dance platform Lucky Trimmer.
Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra (Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff)
Cath Barton is in Cardiff to cast a critical eye over the Mariinsky Ballet’s residency at the Wales Millennium Arts Centre.
Little Red Riding Hood (Ballet Cymru, Riverfront, Newport)
Jemma Beggs was at the Riverfront Theatre, Newport, to review Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs by Ballet Cymru.
For a look through all of our theatre reviews of 2016 just click here.
