Nigel Jarrett casts a cultured eye over the next few weeks to help you plan your days and nights out

EXHIBITION organisers were chancing their arm when they decided on a joint show of paintings by Welsh-born brother and sister Augustus and Gwen John.

But it proved to be one of Tate Britain's biggest draws of recent times, inevitably inviting comparisons, particularly as Gwen was the less flamboyant of the two and her sibling the more uneven. Chalk and cheese almost.

On February 12, the exhibition arrives at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Cardiff for three months. Look out for associated talks and private tours in April (02920 397951).

The Riverfront at Newport (01633 656757) makes a big splash with its first programme of 2005, notably with a procession of theatrical events.

In February, these include Kaos Theatre's novel production of Shakespeare's Richard the Third, which includes film and soundtrack accompaniment. There are just two dates - February 16 and 17.

Another two-nighter, Clwyd Theatr Cymru's production of The Druid's Rest, by Emlyn Williams on February 22 and 23, is a reminder that the author was a gifted comic writer.

Classical music by candlelight and in period costume sometimes seems a theatrical ruse too far in attracting listeners. But it's popular - and behind the dressing-up is usually an uncorrupted sound, as witness the Locarian Ensemble's Vivaldi by Candlelight at the Riverfront on February 24.

For the first three days of next month, Cardiff's Chapter arts centre ends its run of A Very Private Engagement, a compelling film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the director of Amelie and featuring its star, Audrey Tautou.

The Great War story involves a woman's search for her soldier-fiance, who has been court-martialled and as punishment herded into no man's land to almost certain death (02920 304400).

With the opening of the Blake in Monmouth last year (01600 719401), Gwent added another commercial theatre-concert hall to its already formidable list. On February 23, it presents Swansea Ballet Russe in The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky.

Next month, Welsh National Opera's first season at the Wales Millennium Centre opens with a revival of Verdi's La Traviata (Feb 18) and a new production of Berg's Wozzeck (Feb 19) and repeated the following week.

Of the many inviting concerts at St David's Hall, Cardiff, next month, the one by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on February 4 offers a rare chance to hear Tippett's Triple Concerto, his magical outpouring of emotion for violin, viola, cello and orchestra (02920 878444).