03/12/2019

Photo credit Steve Ullathorne   Just before her recent tour of the UK, our entertainment columnist Carl Marsh caught up with the American comedian, writer, actress and entertainer Ruby Wax for an exclusive interview! Carl Marsh:  You yourself Ruby, started as a serious actor, but what made you decide to go down the comedy route? Ruby Wax:  That was about 400 hundred years ago [laughs] when I was a serious actress, but I wasn’t a serious actress. I got into…

03/12/2019

Our entertainment columnist Carl Marsh recently interviewed singing and songwriting star Jack Savoretti, who has released a new album, and played a one off gig in Cardiff last month.   Carl Marsh:  Would you call yourself a storyteller more so than a songwriter? Jack Savoretti:  Absolutely! That’s probably why I’ve never had a hit (record) because I think the story is more important than the hook. I put the story first. Some songwriters are hunting for hooks, and there are…

22/10/2019

How did you set about preparing to portray such an iconic figure that is Gloria Estefan? Yeah, yeah, well, we had the absolute luxury and blessing to have Gloria with us during rehearsals back in April. So I was able to, and as she was so open, to sit down with her and talk. We also talked about the role, spoke about the story and talked about how the songs come in and out of the journey. So that was,…

17/10/2019

CURRENTLY AT NEW THEATRE IN CARDIFF UNTIL SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER, JASON MANFORD IS APPEARING IN CURTAINS. CARL MARSH CHATTED TO HIM EARLIER THIS WEEK.   EVERYONE WILL PROBABLY KNOW YOU AS THE COMEDIAN SO IT MUST BE NICE BEING ASKED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE CURTAINS,  A MUSICAL SHOW; BUT ISN’T MUSIC IN YOUR FAMILIES BLOOD? It’s a massive privilege, but I think performing in general and being on stage, or the telly (sic) or radio is a privilege, but it…

21/06/2019

  “This timeless story of forbidden love, repressed emotions and teenage discovery is no better told than by the young.” First things first, this is Matthew Bourne’s Romeo + Juliet, and there are so many changes to the original version. Shakespeare scholars may question ‘why’ the story changes as Romeo and Juliet is supposed to be about power, corruption, gang violence, young love and tragic consequences, and the effects on the people that become trapped in that crossfire. So yes,…

02/05/2019

Britain’s Got Talent’s Micky P Kerr had us all laughing with his performances last year. He talks to Carl Marsh ahead of his performance at The Glee Club on Sunday 5th May 2019 Carl Marsh: Would you say that of all the comedians, Bill Bailey has been a significant influence to you? Micky P Kerr: Yes, I think so because I’ve seen Bill Bailey a couple of times. I believe we are quite similar in the sense that we’re musical…

02/05/2019

Starring in The Hustle alongside Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, which is in cinemas in May 2019, Carl Marsh speaks to actor Ingrid Oliver about her character Inspector Desjardins.   Carl Marsh: You’re appearing in a remake of the film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which I have seen about 50 times, and it’s called The Hustle.   Ingrid Oliver: Really?   Carl: – Yes, it is my ‘go-to-comedy’, you can’t beat a bit of Steve Martin’s character Freddy pretending to be…

02/05/2019

Appearing at St Davids Hall on Sunday 26th May 2019,Howard Jones chats  to Carl Marsh. Carl Marsh: Am I correct in saying that this new tour is going to be about the new album Transform and your first album, Human’s Lib? Howard Jones: Yes, I’m structuring it so it’ll be like one song from the heritage section and then one new one. We’ve gone back to all the songs I’ve chosen from the catalogue and revisited some of the sounds…

02/05/2019

On Tuesday 7th May 2019, Katherine Jenkins performs at St David’s Hall in Cardiff, Carl Marsh chats to her in advance. Carl Marsh: Can I ask what your reasoning was behind the tracks you chose for this new album? Katherine Jenkins: It’s been four years since my last album came out and a lot has changed in that time. I was just married when the last album came out. Two children since. I just felt in a very different place….

20/04/2019

Currently showing at the Wales Millennium Centre until the 27th April 2019 is the the musical production of The Bodyguard, which closely follows the plot of the the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Starring as Rachel Barron is Alexandra Burke, she who won The X-Factor, so her impeccable voice is never questionable but can a great singer actually act?! Yes she can, and that means both serious and comedic, timings were spot on too. She portrays the…