Western Mail

Inside Track

WE like a good party as much as anyone here at Box Office. Just give us the slenderest excuse, a pretext even, and we'll be there, be it the opening of an envelope, a jar, a door even. That's just how it is in the glittering world of arts journalism. But this week we've got a particularly good reason to dig out the old party duds. It's the start of the fifth anniversary celebrations down at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay and they're kicking things off in great style.

Index

Up,Up and Away ; It Took a Trip of a Lifetime to Prepare for Disney-Pixar's Latest Animated Extravaganza. Just How Did They Tempt Their Boffins Out From Behind Their Desks? Asks Rob Driscoll

WHO said film animators are boring boffins stuck in front of their computers as they painstakingly create their fantasy adventures? For their latest box office-conquering sensation Up - the enchanting tale of a 78-year-old man who floats his house to South America with the help of thousands of balloons - the backroom boys at Disney-Pixar went a bit further afield than just the office coffee machine. In fact, to prepare for the film's premise of a magical journey to one of the most beautiful a...

Dvddigest

Coraline PG, 96 The thoughtful fairytale from the pen of Neil Gaiman is brought to life in this animation, both charming and spooky by turns. The eponymous heroine falls into a sinister world and must escape if she ever wants to see her parents again.

Filmreviews

Zombieland (15, 87 mins) Love Happens (12A, 109 mins) Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee (15, 74 mins) and horror are two genres which have always sat very well together. There's something about a satisfyingly-splattery gagfest that just works. Ruben Fleischer's gore-laden Zombieland is no exception. Shambling into the same general area as Shaun Of The Dead, Zombieland is the tale of a disparate group of zombie-apocalypse- survivors trying to get to their various different locations in a zombified near-f...

'I'm Guilty of Being Sentimental' ; Not Only has Meic Povey Penned His Latest Play - He's Directing It Too. Lydia Whitfield Finds Out About the Drama, Which He has Set Once More in the Snowdonia Mountains

LEADING Welsh dramatist Meic Povey's latest gritty play is probably one of his most important to date. For he's also directing the drama and has cast his youngest sister Buddug in one of the seven main roles. Welsh language black comedy Tyner yw'r Lleuad Heno (The Moon Is Tender Tonight) looks at the conflicting emotions that come to light when city dwellers and country folk come together and a catastrophic family secret is at the heart of the plot. "I've been writing it for three years off a...

Hazel Hardy ; Culturevulture

From: Cardiff Occupation: Freelance PR currently working with Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts What was the last movie you saw? G Force with my grandson. Which stage production did you last see? Welsh National Opera's La traviata, which was brilliant. Before that it was Hairspray with Michael Ball, which was also brilliant.

Fivelive On This Week's to-Do List

1Verdi"s Requiem Bryn Terfel joins forces with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Chorus and Orchestra for a performance of one of the great icons of Western classical music - Verdi's Requiem. It rounds off the company's visit to Wales. where? Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. when? Sunday tickets? S where? The Riverfront, Newport when? Tonight tickets? Call 01633 656757 3 The Pitmen Painters Written by Lee Hall, the man behind Billy Elliot, this critically-acclaimed smash-hit follows the true ...

Now We Are Five ... ; This Weekend Sees the Wales Millennium Centre Start Its Fifth Anniversary Season with a Three-Day Gala of Opera From Bryn Terfel and the Mariinsky Theatre. Matt Thomas Meets the Main Movers and Shakers and Discovers Exactly What has Been Going On Behind the Scenes

HE may be singing just a single act of Wagner's Die Walkre at tonight's Mariinsky Opera Gala, but Bryn Terfel says he's treating it like a full Ring Cycle. "You can't really approach it any other way," says the bass-baritone. "It's not going to be a full operatic production , of course, but a concert recital. However you can't view the performance as being of a different quality or intensity.

Celebrating the First Five Years of the Millennium Centre

IT might be the Millennium Centre's fifth birthday, but Judith Isherwood has been looking after the venue for almost seven years now. The former director of performing arts at Sydney Opera House joined the project when it was still in its production phase and has been a constant presence ever since.

'Honour and Privilege to Work with Bryn'

Director of the Mariinsky Opera Valery Gergiev has, over the past 30 years, become one of the most admired and in-demand conductors in the world. Here he talks about his work with Bryn Terfel, his love of the Wales Millennium Centre... and football Q You've performed across the world. What brings you back to Wales Millennium Centre in particular? A I am looking forward to coming back. I remember the venue very well. I have wonderful memories of previous visits and I hope the public will enjoy...

70 Reasons to Celebrate Tom ; As Tom Jones, Who Turns 70 Next Year, Prepares to Step Onto the Cardiff Stage, Michael Curtis Presents 70 Facts About the Singer

1. Tom Jones' real name is Thomas Woodward. Tom Jones is his stage name with the Jones coming from his mother's maiden name. 2. He was born at 57, Kingsland Terrace, Treforest, Pontypridd.

The Power and the Story ; New Work by One of Wales' Leading Contemporary Artists, Tim Davies, Explores Conflict, Connections and Loss. Abbie Wightwick Spoke to Him About His New Exhibition Between a Rock and a Hard Place

TIM Davies is keen not to be pigeon-holed but there's a political thread running through his work. As one of Wales' leading contemporary artists it would be almost unthinkable if his thoughts didn't turn to the nature of conflict past and present. His new solo exhibition at Swansea's Glynn Vivian Art Gallery includes Bridges (2009), a series of work in which he looks at the fragility and meanings, real and symbolic, of bridges the world over.

Darryl Corner the View

TIM FREEMAN, worthy winner of this year's Welsh Artist of the Year award, returns to St David's Hall with a small one-man show called Time + Place. Freeman takes photographs, many from his immediate surroundings in South Wales, and others from trips further afield - notably the Lake District. He then manipulates the images in a variety of sometimes subtle and sometimes obvious ways.

Cool Changes for the Hot Hatch ; Vw Introduces Some Cool Changes to Its Hot Hatch

VOLKSWAGEN has introduced some fundamental changes with a new version of its famous hot hatch. With the GTD, basically a diesel edition of the iconic GTI, VW is on a mission to prove that being eco-friendly does not have to be boring.

Cutting the Cost of Fuel

MOTORISTS can cut fuel bills by the equivalent of 70p a gallon just by driving more economically. That's what this year's MPG Marathon proved with the 28 cars taking part recording an average 15% improvement in fuel consumption.

Picking a Nice Little Number

THE recession has failed to put the brake on the popularity of the personalised number plate. Six plates sold in the last year have reached the top-seller list and the all-time record pounds 352,411 paid in London for the 1D plate six months ago shows business is still booming, claims the DVLA.

'This Is Your Mini Speaking'

FIFTY years after it first took to the roads, the Mini is now able to "talk" to its driver. Smart technology is allowing the Mini Camden, a special version of the evergreen model, to come out with a cheerful "hello" when the engine fires up, "goodbye" and "see you soon" when it is turned off - and also offer a wide range of tips for safer and more economical motoring.

Honda Jazz Strikes Right Note ; British-Built Supermini Tops Reliability Poll

HONDA'S latest British-made car has won top rating in a crucial poll on reliability. On the eve of its UK production start-up, the Jazz was hailed as the most reliable supermini on the road in a Warranty Direct survey.

Hybrid Makes It to Infiniti

BRITAIN'S latest luxury car brand, Infinti, has announced it will have a hybrid on sale within 18 months. Infiniti is launching into the UK market next week with a range of V6 and V8 models priced from pounds 37,000 to pounds 53,000.