Full House at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Cardiff theatre
Hannah Lad performs in Full House. She is dressed in an orange polo tshirt, sat in a shabby red chair and pointing at the camera, with an oh expression on her face

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Walking into the studio theatre to watch Full House at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre you know this is going to be something special.

We’re greeted by brightly coloured foil curtains which contrast beautifully with the blackness of the studio, cabaret style seating, and our very own bingo boards and dabbers.

And then writer-performer Hannah Lad takes to the stage and captivates us for an hour and 10 minutes in a brilliant one-woman show that has you laughing out loud one minute and holding back the tears the next.

Hannah is Sam, calling the numbers at Cloud 9 bingo hall as she tells her story of friendship and family with a proudly Valleys wit. She’s a brilliant performer – dancing around the stage, getting the audience involved, and conveying complex emotions. Quite how she manages to stay in character in such a small and intimate space, when people are creased with laughter, is impressive.

Hannah Lad performs in Full House. She is dressed in an orange polo tshirt, holding a plastic head with an orange wood on the right hand side of the image, holding a microphone to its lips
Hannah Lad performs in Full House. She is dressed in an orange polo tshirt, sat in a shabby red chair and pointing at the camera, with an oh expression on her face

It soon becomes clear that this is no ordinary bingo night – and not just because Sam has an urn with her. As her story unfolds, we’re drawn into a very human and relatable story of love, loss, and grief as Sam recounts anecdotes that are in turns chaotic, hilarious and sad, as Sam works through her feelings.

Full House is a co-production between Hannah Lad and RCT Theatres, Ccommissioned and supported by the Sherman Theatre and supported by the Arts Council of Wales. It’s great to see emerging talent being supported and given a space to shine – and I hope we’ll see more from this bright young voice.

You’ll have to be quick if you want to see Full House as there’s only one more performance – tonight at 7.30pm with limited tickets available.

Full House is at the Sherman Theatre, Senghennydd Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4YE. The final performance is tonight, Saturday 7 February, 7.30pm. Tickets are available from £12.50, limited availability. Age guidance 14+ Visit the Sherman Theatre website here. 

Also coming up at the Sherman Theatre:

My Mix(ed Up) Tape, 17-21 March

Pride, 31 March-18 April

Under Milk Wood, 30 April-9 May

Forgiveness of a Monster, 8-23 May

Twelfth Night, 21-23 May

Hannah Lad performs in Full House. She is dressed in an orange polo tshirt, holding a light blue urn in one hand and a black coat draped over the other. The background is black behind her.

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