Author: Rhys Gregory

There are some musicals that never seem to lose their magic, no matter how many times you see them. Annie is undoubtedly one of them. The smash hit West End production has returned to the Wales Millennium Centre for a two week run, this time starring Claire Sweeney as the wonderfully awful Miss Hannigan. We reviewed Annie when it last visited Cardiff in 2023, and while this production remains largely the same, with many familiar faces returning alongside a handful of new cast members, that’s certainly no criticism. If anything, it proves why this production continues to delight audiences wherever…

Drivers heading towards Cardiff faced disruption on the M4 this morning after a broken down vehicle blocked part of the eastbound exit slip road at Junction 32, Coryton. Traffic Wales confirmed that one lane of the eastbound off slip will be closed while recovery teams work to remove the vehicle. Motorists are advised to expect delays in the area. The incident affects traffic leaving the motorway for the A470 at Coryton during the morning commute, with congestion building around the junction.

The National Youth Theatre of Wales (NYTW) is launching a year-long anniversary campaign celebrating fifty years of ambitious theatre-making, creativity and opportunity for young people across Wales. NYTW50: Reconnect. Celebrate. Shape the Future. will bring together generations of former members, current participants, supporters and audiences to celebrate the productions, people and stories that have shaped the organisation since its beginnings. Launching the campaign is acclaimed writer, actor and producer Ruth Jones, one of NYTW’s most celebrated alumni, who is inviting former members from every decade to reconnect with the organisation and share their memories, photographs and stories. Ruth Jones, NYTW Alumni…

Morgan Sindall Construction’s Wales team has celebrated the completion of the brand new Maendy Primary School in Cwmbran, marking the final milestone in the delivery of the town’s new net zero carbon in operation learning environment. The occasion was commemorated with a ceremony on site attended by the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, representatives from Morgan Sindall, Torfaen County Borough Council, and members of staff. At the event, three classes of students sang, attendees toured the site and enjoyed cake. Appointed to the project by Torfaen County Borough Council, the £16.2 million school involved the construction of a two-storey primary…

ne of Cardiff’s best-loved pop-up-to-permanent street food businesses celebrates five years since opening its first restaurant this week, marking a major milestone in a journey that has taken founder Andrew Chongsathien from festivals and pop-ups to a second bricks and mortar restaurant in Bristol. Brother Thai opened on Whitchurch Road on 8th July 2021, giving a permanent home to a brand that had already built a loyal following at festivals, markets and street food events across South Wales and beyond. Now, five years on, the Cardiff restaurant remains a firm favourite, while Brother Thai’s second site opened in Stokes Croft,…

The number of new homes coming onto the housing market in Wales and the number of potential buyers looking to purchase fell through June, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey, but Welsh surveyors are more optimistic about the outlook over the next few months. A net balance of -35% of respondents in Wales reported that new instructions to sell had fallen in the most recent survey. Demand was also muted through June. A net balance of -15% of Welsh surveyors reported that new buyer enquiries fell in the most recent survey, falling even…

Seven women from the same Swansea family are celebrating seven life-changing futures after scooping £1,000,001 on new Lotto. The close-knit family syndicate were some of the first £1M winners of the new Lotto game since its launch, winning £1 in Round 1 and then £1,000,000 in Round 2 in the draw on Saturday 13th June, matching five Main Numbers and the Bonus Ball. As the nation’s Millionaire Maker, new Lotto has already created 27 millionaires since the first draw on 10th June. Syndicate leader Alison Gibson, 57, from Morriston, hadn’t realised that there were now two rounds for each of the syndicate’s Lotto Lucky Dip…

Wales is set to bask in more hot and sunny weather over the coming days, with temperatures expected to reach 34°C as the latest heatwave continues. The Met Office says high pressure will remain firmly in control, bringing widespread sunshine, dry conditions and temperatures well above average. Thursday and Friday are expected to be the hottest days of the week, with many parts of England and Wales exceeding 30°C. The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber and yellow heat health alerts, warning that the prolonged spell of hot weather could have significant impacts on health and social care services.…

SMMT analysis published today reveals the scale of Wales’ contribution to UK Automotive, with the sector directly supporting 7,000 jobs, representing one in 20 UK automotive workers, sustaining skilled livelihoods and generating £477 million for the economy. The findings come as senior leaders from industry, Welsh Government and the defence sector gather in Newport today (Thursday) for SMMT Regional Forum, where discussions will focus on the country’s automotive strengths amid the challenges of electrification, regulation, energy costs and trade uncertainty, plus opportunities for auto suppliers following release of the UK Defence Investment Plan. Wales’ automotive strength lies in the diversity…

New BBC documentary, Hunting the Spycammers, uncovers a dark online network in which footage filmed on hidden cameras in bedrooms, bathrooms, changing rooms and other private spaces is liked and shared. Welsh presenter Jess Davies goes undercover to infiltrate this world and finds spycammers boasting about filming wives, girlfriends and strangers without their knowledge, including someone who plants spycams on a walking route to catch women stopping to wee in a bush where there are no public toilets. Hunting the Spycammers will land on the BBC’s YouTube channels and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday 15 July. It is a co-commission by BBC Current…