Hollywood Bowl, High Society & Welsh Arts on the Move: Pain in the Arts Takes on a Packed Week
Some weeks in Welsh arts feel busy. This one feels like someone pressed fast‑forward. In the latest episode of Pain in the Arts, broadcaster Chris J Birch and artist‑writer‑editor Jak Rhys Birch unpack a week filled with musicals, mixed‑media exhibitions, leisure openings, Fringe‑bound theatre, and three big questions about the future of Welsh creativity.
It’s energetic, funny, and full of the cultural detail that makes the podcast such a reliable pulse‑check on Wales’ creative sector.
Hollywood Bowl XL: Cardiff’s New Playground
Cardiff has a brand‑new leisure giant: Hollywood Bowl XL, a multi‑level entertainment space that feels like someone dropped a theme park under the bowling lanes.
Chris and Jak attended the opening night with friends — and discovered:
Bowling lanes with full‑scale lighting rigs
A basement go‑karting track beneath the building
Arcade machines that shake, tilt and threaten to eject you
Electronic darts
A bar, restaurant and social spaces
It’s not “arts” in the traditional sense — but it is part of the creative ecosystem. As Jak points out, creatives often use leisure spaces to decompress, reset, and reconnect. And with Cardiff losing Vue Cinema, the city desperately needs recreational venues that aren’t tied to nightlife.
Hollywood Bowl XL fills that gap — and proves that community leisure is still a vital part of cultural infrastructure.
The Bodyguard at the Wales Millennium Centre: Whitney, Pyro & Pure Nostalgia
Earlier in the week, Jak reviewed The Bodyguard at the Wales Millennium Centre — a Whitney Houston musical that Chris openly admits he would have slept through.
Jak, however, loved it.
Highlights included:
A powerhouse lead who didn’t impersonate Whitney, but honoured her
A second‑act vocal performance strong enough to blow metaphorical socks off
Pyrotechnics so hot the front row may have left eyebrow‑less
A crowd who clearly adored every moment
Jak’s full review is live on The Edit.
High Society at the New Theatre: Golden Age Glamour Returns
Next up: High Society, starring Helen George (Call the Midwife) and Freddie Fox (Slow Horses, House of the Dragon).
Jak describes it as:
A nostalgic, golden‑age musical
Packed with iconic songs you didn’t realise you already knew
A showcase of Helen George’s unexpectedly brilliant vocals
A reminder of how well classic cinema translates to stage
It’s elegant, warm, and beautifully performed — and the full review is now live on The Edit.
Tess Powell at Unstable Arts: California Meets Cardiff
One of the week’s standout moments was visiting Tess Powell’s exhibition at Unstable Arts — a mixed‑media showcase exploring her shift from California to Wales.
Her work is:
Grounded
Emotional
Everyday
Deeply human
Paintings of mantelpieces, quiet moments, and domestic stillness sit alongside:
A Welsh blanket woven from recycled carrier bags
A cardboard house sculpture
Mixed‑media pieces that feel both intimate and universal
Jak describes her work as “recentring” — art that reminds you you’re one person among billions, living ordinary moments that matter more than we realise.
It’s the kind of exhibition that makes you breathe differently when you leave.
Pubes at 10: A Welsh Story Heads to Edinburgh Fringe
Chris also interviewed the cast and creative team behind Pubes at 10, a Welsh comedy‑drama heading to Edinburgh Fringe.
The story follows three women gossiping on a church wall in St David’s — a slice‑of‑life narrative rooted in Welsh humour, community, and character.
The interview is live on The Edit, and the show is already gaining attention from Fringe‑goers and Welsh creatives alike.
It’s exactly the kind of Welsh story that deserves a global stage.
Q&A: The Best Theatre & Art Exhibitions of 2024 (So Far)
One listener asked:
“What has been your top theatre production and favourite art exhibition so far this year?”
Jak’s answer — without giving away his full end‑of‑year roundup — highlights:
Top Theatre (So Far):
Physical Education (Grand Ambition)
High Society (New Theatre)
Annie (WMC)
The Bodyguard (WMC)
Top Exhibitions (So Far):
Tess Powell at Unstable Arts
Art on the Edge (Newport)
Contemporary showcases at Chapter
Community‑led exhibitions across Cardiff and Barry
It’s shaping up to be a strong year for Welsh arts — with summer promising even more.
A Week That Shows Welsh Arts in Motion
This episode of Pain in the Arts captures everything that makes Wales’ creative sector vibrant:
New leisure spaces
Classic musicals
Emerging artists
Fringe‑bound theatre
Community exhibitions
Big questions about creativity and support
It’s lively, thoughtful, and full of the cultural texture that makes Welsh arts so distinctive.
If you want to understand the creative heartbeat of Wales, this episode is essential listening.
