upfront
AFROVIBES
CELEBRATING 20 years of democracy in South Africa, through dance, music
and theatre, Afrovibes is bringing its festivities to two areas in South Wales this
year. Swansea's Taliesin Arts Centre and Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff will
become centres for the festival's African events. Both areas will be changed into a
spectacle of art and culture, debating and celebrating South African culture and
history.
Both sites will be home to The Soil, a multi-award-winning a cappella group that
specialize in everything from jazz and hip-hop to soul – with an added touch of
beatboxing throughout, which is definitely going to make you want to get up and
dance. Also gracing both events with their presence will be Biko’s Quest: a large,
powerful cast of dancers who will take you on an emotional journey through the
legacy left by black South African campaigner Steve Biko, and the cornerstones
left behind by him: Memory, Identity, History and Emotion.
Also confronting racial identity is Rainbow Scars, a play that probes into what it
could be like for a black teenager to be adopted by white parents in present day
South Africa, and how she will deal with her heritage and identity.
Are you after some thought-provoking dance pieces? Then look no further than
Uncles & Angels and Dark Cell. Uncles... uses interactive video and dance to
represent the traditional reed dance that symbolises the respect for young women,
and for them to remain virgins until marriage, yet also demonstrates the state of
those in power.
Dark Cell is an award-winning dance piece by Themba Mbuli, which incorporates
prison chains to represent mental imprisonment, yet with minimal male nudity,
this is probably one show to not bring the children to. If that isn’t enough, there is
plenty else the festival has to offer, from free events and family workshops to lots
of themed food. CHARLOTTE CARTER
pic: TYLER DOLAN PHOTOGRAPHY
BRINGING BACK
THE BAFTAS
THE 2014 BAFTA Cymru Awards nominations have been released, with duallanguage drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll leading the pack.
This year, there are 28 categories celebrating excellence in Welsh film and
television. Aberystwyth-based crime drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll leads the
nominations with nine nods, including Best Television Drama, Best Writer, Best
Actor and Best Actress. Following closely behind are Emmy Award-winning BBC
detective drama Sherlock and S4C’s Welsh-language murder-mystery series 35
Diwrnod, both receiving five nominations.
The most exciting and exceptionally close category is Best Television Drama.
All three nominees – Stella, Sherlock and Hinterland/Y Gwyll – are highly
acclaimed, with all three drawing in large audiences upon their broadcasts. This
award looks to be the closest of the night, with no obvious leader at the moment.
Stella and Hinterland/Y Gwyll are also up against each other in another big
category of the night, Best Writer.
Welsh broadcast journalism is also having its chance to shine with the BAFTA
Cymru’s News Coverage award. BBC Wales Today and ITV News Wales have both
been nominated for their coverage of the Mark Bridger verdict, and ITV News
Wales have also received a second nomination in the category for their coverage
on the verdict of disgraced Lostprophets singer, Ian Watkins.
On the night, BAFTA Cymru will also announce the winner of the BAFTA Special
Award for Outstanding Contribution To Television and the Sian Phillips Award.
Radio and TV presenter Jason Mohammad is to host the ceremo