Get ready for a roaring good time as everyone’s favourite monster comes to Swansea Grand Theatre to celebrate a very special birthday. The much-loved stage production of The Gruffalo is marking 25 years of magical storytelling with a visit to the Swansea Grand Theatre on 2 and 3 June and it promises plenty of laughs, songs and larger-than-life fun for the whole family. Based on the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, this lively adaptation

Get ready to turn up the volume as Sunny Afternoon brings the sound, swagger and spirit of The Kinks roaring back to the stage. Credit Manuel Harlan A five-star show packed with iconic tunes, raw energy and pure nostalgia, Sunny Afternoon rolls into Wales Millennium Centre next month. This Olivier Award-winning musical was a smash hit in London and is coming to South Wales bigger, bolder and ready to get audiences on their feet. Telling the story of The Kinks, Sunny Afternoo

A feel-good favourite packed with heart, humour and unforgettable music, Waitress arrives at Wales Millennium Centre for one week only this June, starring the brilliant Carrie Hope Fletcher. Rehearsal photos from Waitress, credit Danny Kaan Based on the much-loved 2007 film by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress serves up an irresistible story of dreams, resilience and finding the courage to start again. With music and lyrics by Grammy award-winner Sara Bareilles, the show has captivat

Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice is bringing back its popular skydive event for the third year running this summer. Philippa Langley doing a tandem skydive for Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice over Swansea Airfield last year (2025) And this year’s event is giving even more people the chance to do a tandem parachute jump over Swansea Airfield with 60 places available to jump over two days now on offer. Tŷ Hafan’s Skydive will take place over the weekend of Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th

Families are invited to make the most of the Easter holidays at Mermaid Quay, as the waterfront destination unveils a packed programme of free, family-friendly activities - led by a magical Easter Egg Trail running from 30 March to 12 April. Easter holidays at Mermaid Quay at Cardiff Bay Spring has officially sprung in Cardiff Bay, and visitors can follow a colourful trail of “eggceptional” Easter eggs hidden throughout the Quay. Young explorers can pick up a trail sheet fr

Cardiff Animation Festival returns to Chapter Arts this April with its most ambitious programme yet, celebrating bold new voices, Welsh creativity and a vibrant mix of films, games and events. Lauren Orme, director of the Cardiff Animation Festival We caught up with Lauren Orme, director of the Cardiff Animation Festival, who tells us what to expect from this year’s event. For anyone who hasn’t been before, what is Cardiff Animation Festival and what makes it special? Cardiff

The much-loved Kolor Dash is making a vibrant return to Newport, and this time it promises to be bigger, brighter and more colourful than ever. Kolor Dash is making a vibrant return to Newport Set against the beautiful backdrop of Tredegar Park, this lively 5K event invites participants of all ages to run, walk or jog their way through a truly unforgettable experience. Clouds of biodegradable powder paint will fill the air at multiple points along the route, transforming runn

This spring and summer, London Concertante brings five candlelit concerts to Llandaff Cathedral, offering audiences the chance to experience four distinct programmes across the season in one of Wales’ most historic spaces. Candlelit Concerts at Llandaff Cathedral Spanning orchestral re-imaginings, operatic favourites, and classical standouts, the Llandaff series showcases London Concertante’s breadth of programming and commitment to creating immersive live music experiences

Fairwater, Western, Eastern and Maindy leisure centres in Cardiff are hosting fundraising challenges for Swimathon 2026. Swimathon 2026 at Cardiff Leisure Centres The world’s biggest fundraising swim - which began 40 years ago - happens over the weekend of 20-22 March and sees fundraisers’ proceeds going to Cancer Research UK, end of life charity Marie Curie and the Swimathon Foundation. Individuals can choose to swim a variety of distances - 500m, 1.5k, 2.5k, Swimathon 5k

These lasting floral patterns, decorative prints and blossomy motifs will put your space in bloom, says Sam Wylie-Harris. Flowery features will beautify any room (Graham & Brown/PA) If you’re in the mood for some old-school country charm, love the colourful contrast of ditsy florals with pretty blooms and botanical prints, there’s always a modern take on this timeless design. And with springtime and Mother Nature opening its arms to this natural wonder, these prized picks bri

The singer had two rounds of egg freezing when she was 24 and 27. Rita Ora told Women’s Health UK she is happy that she decided to freeze her eggs in her 20s (Ian West/PA) Rita Ora has opened up about why she chose to freeze her eggs while she was still in her 20s. The 35-year-old British singer, songwriter, and television personality, who is best-known for songs such as Hot Right Now, How We Do (Party) and I Will Never Let You Down, had two rounds of egg freezing when she wa

This traditional dish is known as pasta all’anciova e muddica in Italian. Gennaro Contaldo’s pasta with anchovies and breadcrumbs (David Loftus/PA) “This traditional dish from Palermo is linked to the migration of many Sicilians to Northern Italy in search of work, and so is often called La Pasta Milanisa (the Milanese pasta),” says chef Gennaro Contaldo. “They brought with them long-lasting ingredients from home, like preserved salted anchovies, homemade tomato estratto (a r

The iconic cook talks about how gardening has helped her through good times and bad. As Mary Berry releases her gardening book, she offers insight into her time outdoors (Yui Mok/PA) Dame Mary Berry may be famed for her great cooking skills, foolproof recipes and mouthwatering bakes, but her passion for gardening comes a close second. While she claims to be no expert and over the years has taken advice from top plantsmen and women including Alan Titchmarsh, Jekka McVicar, Bun

Also known as Mabshoor, this easy dish is perfect for spring barbecues. Mabshoor (Patricia Niven/PA) “I don’t think there is a simpler kabab recipe out there than this one,” says Madeeha Qureshi. “Simple, quick and juicy kababs, bursting with meaty flavours of lamb and its fat – yes, fat is a flavour, my darlings. There is a copious amount of garlic, so don’t be alarmed. Enjoy at a BBQ party with fresh naans, salad and my famous three sauces – Jajeek, Daqqus and Tahiniya.” Ma

Measures include staying hydrated, maintaining a balanced diet low in sodium, and controlling blood pressure. Your kidneys work hard for you, so protect them with these lifestyle tweaks (Alamy/PA) Relying too heavily on anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen for pain relief could negatively affect kidney health, warn experts. Kidney Care UK and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have urged consumers to be cautious about frequently using NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflamm

The new go-to, green is having a moment in the home, says Sam Wylie-Harris. Bring the outdoors in with Mother Nature’s favourite colour (Dulux/PA) Some might say some shades come and go… making headlines one season, gone the next. Today, spin the colour wheel and the result is far from random… the arrow is firmly pointing towards green. “Green is one of the most naturally comforting colours we can bring into our homes because it connects us instantly to the world outside,” hi

Irish creative director Jonathan Anderson showcased a mesmerising display in the Tuileries gardens. Peplums, ruffles and bustles dominated Dior’s AW26 show (AP/Emma Da Silva) Dior returned to a historic Parisian stage for autumn/winter 2026, unveiling its collection at the Jardin des Tuileries – the 17th-century Baroque gardens on the Seine long associated with the house’s legacy. Guests were seated on traditional green park chairs arranged in a circular formation around a ce

A much-loved recipe that is really addictive. Qahwa (Saudi coffee) and Hawaij sticky chicken wings with pomegranate BBQ sauce (Patricia Niven/PA) “Anyone who knows me from my teen years knows well enough of my chicken-wing addiction,” says Madeeha Qureshi. “I am a diehard admirer and a self-proclaimed authority in my household on where to get the best chicken wings. Be it deep-fried, breaded, grilled, baked, crispy or sticky, smothered in a nice buffalo sauce, I love them in

Creative director Andreas Kronthaler delivered exaggerated headwear, suspenders, stockings and sculptural silhouettes. Chappell Roan, left, and Lola Young at the Vivienne Westwood autumn/winter 2026-2027 (Tom Nicholson/AP) Stockings, oversized headwear and 80s punk tailoring dominated the runway at the autumn/winter 2026 show for Vivienne Westwood during Paris Fashion Week, as creative director Andreas Kronthaler delivered a theatrical collection that continued the house’s le

Lauren Taylor heads to Bognor Regis to discover what the classic holiday park has to offer in 2026. 2026 is the 90th anniversary of the holiday resort (Butlins/PA) “There are four pirate hats,” my five-year-old daughter offers enthusiastically, as I’m fumbling various numbers into a lock in an attempt to free ropes attached to iron bars trapping us in a small room. We’re inside one of the four escape rooms at the indoor Playxperience at Butlins, Bognor Regis, each with a diff