Smelly Food in the Theatre, Karate Kid the Musical & Immersive Arts

Welcome back to Pain in the Arts, the weekly podcast exploring the arts and creative sector in Wales — hosted by broadcaster Chris J Birch and artist‑writer‑editor Jak Rhys Birch.This week we’re talking:🎭 The Karate Kid Musical at WMC  • Brilliant cast, strong vocals, great score• But… clunky staging, odd choreography, and timing issues• Why coming‑of‑age musicals feel overdone• Jak’s full review coming soon on The Edit🧬 Evolver — Immersive VR Experience at WMC  • Cate Blanchett meditation• Becoming an air molecule inside the human body• Water jets, swivel chairs, and disorientation• Why VR is pushing audiences to “just try it”• Free trial version available in BOX🎪 Glastonbury (the village, not the festival!)  • Sunshine, community, and a day of wandering• Why small cultural towns matter as much as big festivals⛴️ Penarth Boat Trip  • Walking from Cardiff Bay to Penarth• Boat back to the Bay• A perfect summer arts‑and‑wellbeing day🎨 Tess Powell Exhibition at Unstable Arts  • California‑to‑Wales artistic shift• Mixed media, recycled materials, emotional domestic scenes• A Welsh blanket made from carrier bags• Why non‑pretentious galleries matter🎙️ Q&A This Week  1️⃣ Should smelly food be banned in theatres and galleries?  2️⃣ Where can you find non‑pretentious galleries in Wales?Warm, witty, and rooted in Welsh creativity — this episode is essential listening.Support the show