This theatre company was formed in the early nineties by a group of like-minded actors, designers…read moreand a composer, who felt there were 'very few opportunities for Welsh-based artists to create and perform works of classic texts.' Over the next decade, Mappa Mundi Theatre produced and performed over 20 productions, many of which toured throughout Wales gaining the company a reputation for presenting accessible and entertaining work. The group has performed many classic works with twists that have given them a cult status: Titus Andronicus in Kabuki style, an all male version of Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream performed in a castle with a backdrop of fireworks, and King Lear played by a woman and the daughters played by men. In 2006 Mappa Mundi formed a beautiful co-producing relationship with Theatr Mwldan. The company has also had the support of The Arts Council of Wales for its productions including its six latest co-productions with Theatr Mwldan: Canterbury Tales (2006, 2008), Moll Flanders (2007) and The Importance Of Being Earnest (2008), She Stoops To Conquer 2009 (guest directed by Peter Doran of The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven), and their latest touring production Dangerous Liaisons which began a 34 date UK wide tour in April 2010.

The Tobacco Factory Theatre is an independent business to the Tobacco Factory Café Bar, but they…read moreshare access to the beer garden and each other, and of course, are located in the same building. The owner, the visionary and philanthropist, George Ferguson, leases the space to the theatre, who also offer acting classes as well as an impressive and innovative theatre programme. There's something special about theatre in the round. Before moving to Bristol and discovering this little treasure, I'd only seen one performance in the round before. It was an Oscar Wilde performance at The Corn Exchange in Manchester on St Anne's Square. A lot of Wilde's work is situational and so lends itself to this kind of treatment. Inevitably, I was a convert. Since arriving in Bristol I've seen a number of productions at The Tobacco Factory. All of them have been consummate, but occasionally a little over-ambitious. There are many restraints to a theatre in the round production, and as these theatres are rare, directors generally have little to no experience of it before they come to stage something here.

If you fancy going to watch a play, comedy, or a bit of Shakespeare then this is the venue for you…read more It's small but intimate and the quality of the shows are always of a high standard. Downstairs they have a bar that serves great food, and drinks, there is a small al fresco outside area and regular Sunday Markets and live music. The Tobacco Factory is independantly owned and is part of a growing campaign to encourage and support independant business in the Bristol area, so go along and support the cause. It's a 'one stop shop' for the perfect night out and one in which you will not be disappointed.

National Theatre Wales are a fantastic new company based in Cardiff breathing exciting new life…read moreinto the previously often boring performance programme of the region. Their work is bold and engaging, involves collaborations with the best know (Marc Rees, DJ Britton) and unknown creatives and often takes place in unusual yet engaging places from Swansea's Old Library (Shelf Life) to the seaside (The Beach). The invigorating programme is performed in English, productions and locations changing monthly. Of the shows I've seen so far this year including Shelf Life and The Devil Inside Him the work has been of a strong standard and the aesthetics and production have been of an international standard. A fantastic thing. I'm getting excited about Gary Owen's Love Steals Us From Loneliness (Bridgend, October) and David Harradine's The Weather Factory (Snowdonia, December). Get talking about it, get going, get involved: http://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/

Maggie Andrews has a great studio in a concession within the Old Wool Barn Art & Craft Centre in…read moreVerity's Court, just behind the HIgh Street. You can get there via a handy little alleyway, to the left of Arthur John Hardware. (I had lived in Cowbridge for six months before I discovered this handy little alleyway!) Maggie Andrews is a ceramicist who creates really beautiful, delicate porcelain pieces, mainly for the house and home. As well as being decorative and ornamental, she also makes items that have practical applications, such as lighting and frames for example. Her studio is a fascinating space, containing all of the accoutrements of her trade. It even houses a beautiful big kiln, which I'm sure the other residents are grateful for over the winter! A visit to the Craft Barns is a really inspiring and fun thing to do I highly recommend that you make the time to give it a visit. All of the artisans are happy to talk about what they do, and Maggie is incredibly friendly, and what she has to say is always fascinating.

The Watershed is a welcome break on that row of bars and clubs by the waterside. Where all the…read moreother venues simply exist to be a bar where the rowdy Saturday crowd revel in, the Watershed is more focused on socialising, good food, and screenings of movies with depth and intelligence. Much like the Little Theatre is to Bath, the Watershed is a must -go for more alternative, independent films. I love coming here to watch films because you are ensured that every film being shown is a good film, and not something brainless that you might waste your money on. The cinema rooms are a fraction of the size of a big cinema like the Odeon, which just adds more charm to the movie watching. It feels much more intimate, comfortable and private. Much like you're watching a good secret. Prices are good too, if you come here for a film before 4pm, rates are £4.50 (£3.50 concessions), which is a real good price for a good film. After 4pm, prices go up to £7 (£5.50 concessions). They have movies and documentaries for children too, during their Cinekids days, where kids pay £2 for a movie, and £3.50 for accompanying adults. Plus their Cinebabies days (which I think is such an amazing idea), where parents can bring their under 12 month old babies to watch a movie! The Watershed provides great facilities like a place to change nappies, and even a bottle warming service! This is super for parents to enjoy a film with their newborns, and get to know other new mom's around. The watershed is such a great place, all the years I've been going here, it's never disappointed me in terms of the films they screen, or the friendly service they give you when you're here.

The Watershed function spaces are great for small to medium conference events. They are…read moremultifunctional; the three cinema rooms (seating 43, 102 and 198 respectively) offer comfortable, air conditioned lecture spaces and the watershed 1, 2 and 3 rooms can be used individually or joined together to create a large space. The cafe/bar/restaurant sits between the cinemas and function rooms, offering food, drink and free wireless Internet. The staff are extremely hospitable; catering for all of your needs throughout the running of the event; from setting up spaces, to catering and even running last minute photocopying or printing. The Watershed is newly refurbished, clean and welcoming and in an ideal central location.

I first discovered Undeb Theatre Co. at the Cardiff Identity Festival where I was also performing…read morelast month. They are a young and feisty writing and performing theatre company who have taken up residence in Cardiff Arts Institute, the heart of the city's cultural revolution. Founded in 2009 by Artistic Directors, Tom Cullen and Alexander Vlahos with the aim of bringing exciting, quality work to new audiences at non-theatre venues. In their own words: 'Undeb started because we we're frustrated at the lack of theatre that spoke to us; it was expensive, irrelevant & boring. Theatre that our mates didn't want to see; pretentious and intimidating. For us it's all about the event, a night out where you can relax, drink, dance, chat and watch some excellent theatre.' As such Undeb work with new writers, directors and actors. They workshop full length plays and offer first time writers a chance to develop their work. So far the results I've seen have been impressive and engaging from the CAI event, to the Balloon madness that was Harder, Better, Faster, Rhondda at Clwb Ifor Bach. Their latest theatre experience is selling out fast.

Fresh from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Undeb Theatre have already made a brilliant name…read morefor themselves on the Cardiff arts scene. Made up of the incredibly friendly Tom Cullen and Alex Vlahos, the company pull in a spectrum of Wales' finest writers and performers and make theatre which is exciting, relevant and moving. It is also, perhaps most importantly, absolute barrels of fun. Frustrated with what Cardiff had to offer and keen to make works that their mates would actually want to go and see, the two Artistic Directors decided to use their college contacts to make performances to change the face of Welsh theatre. They certainly have the vision and, fortunately for us all, have proved themselves full of the imagination and energy necessary to make truly genre defying pieces. Now they have been welcomed as resident theatre company at Cardiff Arts Institute, Cullen and Vlahos have seized the opportunity to blur the boundaries between theatre and a casual night out. As a result of their aims and their talent, their work tends to be charmingly interactive and seriously cutting-edge. URBAN CHALLENGE: Join Undeb's mailing list. Yes, now.

What a great space. As we wandered to a restaurant for dinner (that ultimately turned out to be…read moreclosed), we noticed this hall all lit up with purple lights which of course pulled us inside. There was a live band playing in the foyer...all Prince covers. The band was great, the acoustics were good and the crowd was grooving. Turns out we had walked into a Prince tribute. People were dressed in their best 80s/purple/Princewear and it was great. We listened for a few songs but then headed off so we didn't get to see Purple Rain or the inside of the theater. I'm sure it was great.

Just completed this is a building in its own right, although most people would only come here…read morebecause they're watching something a the Colston Hall. It's hard to miss, finished with Gold coloured cladding. It looks a bit like someone put a gigantic gold ingot onto the skyline of Bristol. Inside is all black metal and ikea-ish coffee tables. There's a rather smart bar on the ground floor, which is fairly expensive (more than three quid for a pint) but not too bad. They sometimes have events here (I recently came to see my friend playing the guitar). The sort of thing you get is usually quite small, community based events, to give you an idea of what to expect. It's a brilliant space for some light theatre - a few sketches or something like that . The big windows mean that it doesn't' get too dark though. It's not a proper venue, that's the Colston Hall itself. Recently finished and still feeling new Colston Hall Foyer is pretty sleek, and only feels a little like its trying a bit to hard with the gold cladding.

"If you want small-scale perfection, try Hijinx Theatre. Their shows are with almost uncanny…read morereliability little masterpieces, miniatures where every aspect of the product is finely crafted." David Adams ~ The Guardian. Set up in 1981 by Gaynor Lougher and Richard Berry, this Theatre Company's mission statement is 'to create high quality theatre which is accessible, entertaining and challenging for small communities throughout Wales and England.' In the spring and early summer they create a play for adults with learning disabilities and their community. They've developed a good working relationship with Mencap Cymru who provide excellent advice about topical issues in the learning disabled community. A Background Information Pack is produced for each production with copies left with carers to enable follow up work on the themes of the play. Each autumn Hijinx tour a new production for the general public in community venues for 11 weeks. Over the years they've also developed a strong commitment to new writing, commissioning plays from many of Wales' leading playwrights. Hijinx have developed a strong fusion of music, movement and visual imagery in all our work. They're great!