Unlike the title suggests, this isn’t me having a breakdown – that is a Monday morning activity – this is a look at the year that has passed I have seen a lot of people writing their 2018 in review, some of have been amazing, articulate, interesting and thought provoking. Unfortunately, this will not be that.
I am writing this on the morning on New Years Eve as it’s the only time I have been able to sit down with a laptop for a bit. So, it will be a little more concise as It’s a focus on the things that come to mind when I am sat on my couch writing this, in somewhat more of a note format – exciting, huh?
- It’s been a heck of a year for The Other Room, haven’t they done well? They have, yeah.
- It’s also been a heck of a year for Kevin Jones, hasn’t he done well? He has, yeah.
- It’s also been a heck of a year for Clocktower, haven’t they done well? Yeah.
- Spilt Milk did Five Green Bottles, wasn’t that great? Yeah.
- Faebian Averies put on her debut piece Detention, wasn’t that great? Yeah
- Big Loop did their longest run to date of a show, isn’t that exciting? Yeah
- Performances for the Curious, wasn’t First Lady amazing? It was, yeah.
- Remember when some artistic directors were elitist? Yeah
- Remember when some artistic directors were awesome? Yeah.
- Remember all the open letters? Yeah.
- Remember the awesome amount of scratch, R&D, and exploration work that has been facilitated by big arts institutions this year? Awesome.
- Remember some of the great scratch performances you have seen this year? These are important.
- Remember some of the rubbish scratch performances you have seen this year? These are important, too!
- Remember at the start of the year when some major arts institutions revealed they had a 1970’s view on inclusion and diversity? Yeah.
- Remember when at one point about four different theatre companies held a quiz night within the space of a week in different venues? Yeah.
- What is Mike Smith doing? Nobody knows.
A shout out to a bunch of other Cardiff/Wales based critics/organisations I have enjoyed the work of in 2018;
- Get The Chance
- Wales Arts Review.
- Jafar Iqbal,
- Luke Seidel-Haas/Whiplash Review
- Gareth Ford-Elliot
Here are a few honorable mentions that really stood out to me;
Christian Britten’s video design in Terry Victor’s Clarissa
(Photo Noel Le Conte)
When thinking of cool video production and design this year, Britten’s design is honestly the one that totally stands out above the others – this photo does little justice to the wonders that were created.
Service! By Clocktower Theatre Company
I saw this towards the start of the year in The Gate – It’s so fun. Something I wish I saw more of is fun, a lot of theatre I see is so thought provoking, beautiful, measured – but rarely is it just for fun. Service! Is just pure unadulterated fun and side splittingly funny.
Flossy and Boo – The Alternativity
The same notion applies towards Flossy and Boo’s The Alternativity for just being great fun. (I was the Stage Manger for this, but it’s not a conflict of interest if it’s also just true.)
Five Green Bottles
(Spilt Milk, written by Joe Wiltshire-Smith)
The honorable mention here is for how it was marketed, the writing, and the overall quality of the performances.
Thanks to everyone that follows this little page I started about a year ago now, some people even invite me to press nights now because of this, mental. I really appreciate your support in reading these little strands of chaos I occasionally post out on twitter.
Speaking of twitter, this now has it’s own little twitter – you can find it at @ReviewCardiff
Here’s to 2019, for more awesome work, more opportunities for everyone, and more theatre subsidised free wine.
Danny.
Cardiff Theatre Review 