Oh yes we have... got all you need to know about this year’s top pantos
It’s impossible to escape magic lamps, glass slippers and old dames during panto season and this year’s share of pantos have it all. If you want to make sure you’ve got one of the best seats in the house for the Christmas 2017 pantos, we’ve compiled a lis
Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs ■ Where: New Theatre, Cardiff ■ When: December 9 to January 14 ■ Tickets: 029 20787 8889
Samantha Womack, Gareth Thomas, Mike Doyle, former X Factor star Chico and Stephanie Webber will bring the panto to life with an abundance of comedy and music, dance numbers, fabulous costumes and stunning scenery.
Throw in a magical mirror, seven friendly dwarfs, a beautiful princess, a handsome prince and plenty of audience participation as we outwit the Wicked Queen, then you have a glittering festive treat for all ages.
Shane a’r Belan Aur ■ Where: Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot ■ When: November 22 ■ Tickets: 01639 763214
Joining Shane on stage will be rugby referee Nigel Owens and rugby presenter Sarra Elgan, as well as actors Tara Bethan, Ieuan Rhys and Rhys ap William.
It’s a panto based on the life of one of our best loved rugby players and, written by comedian Tudur Owen, the show, which tells Shane’s unique story, will be broadcast on S4C on Christmas Day in Welsh.
Peter Pan ■ Where: Venue Cymru, Llandudno ■ When: December 9 to December 31 ■ Tickets: 01492 872000
Swapping the cobbles for the boards, Corrie’s Ryan Thomas will be starring in the 2017 pantomime Peter Pan.The heartthrob will be starring as prolific pirate Captain Hook in the highly anticipated family experience.
Jack and the Beanstalk ■ Where & When: Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot (December 1 to December 7); Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen (December 9 to December 16); Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli (December 19 to 24); Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon (December 28 to January 6) ■ Tickets: 0845 2263510
Leading this magical beanstalk tale is panto hero Jack Trott, who is played by Jay Worley, from S4C’s Rownd a Rownd. You may also recognise him from Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor, where he got to the judge’s houses round. Doctors, Hunky Dory and E4’s Shelf-Stackers star Adam Byard will play Jack’s brother JJ and Antony Argyle takes the role of the Dame.
Waving her magical wand as Fairy Green Bean is Laura Phillips (who has starred on stage in Spamalot) and Lelia Hughes from Gwaith Cartref and Pobol Y Cwm is Princess Jill while the panto villain is Liam Dascombe as Fleshcreep.
Aladdin ■ Where & When: Aberdare Coliseum (December 1 to 10); Park and Dare, Treorchy (December 16 to 24) ■ Tickets: 03000 040 444
Written and directed by Richard Tunely, it stars Frank Vickery as Widow Twankey, Maxwell James as Aladdin and Laura Clements as Princess Jasmin. Get ready for the ride of your life as Aladdin whisks you away on a magic carpet ride to Old Peking for plenty of thrills, spills and heaps of laughs too.
Gorgeous costumes, dazzling scenery and a fantastic cast are the magical ingredients in this lavish and vibrant traditional family panto.
Dick Whittington ■ Where: Torch Theatre, Milford Haven ■ When: December 19 to 30 ■ Tickets: 01646 695267
This panto follows Dick and his cat Tommy in the much-loved story of the poor boy who sets off to make his fortune in London.
This year’s show is fab for the whole family with its usual slapstick humour, music and mayhem.
Cinderella ■ Where: Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. ■ When: December 16 to January 7 ■ Tickets: 01656 815995
You shall go to the ball at this year’s production in a show packed with fab scenery, brilliant costumes and some stunning special effects. And, of course, there will be the gruesome twosome in pantoland trying to stop Cinders from going to the ball.
Aladdin ■ Where: Swansea Grand Theatre ■ When: December 14 to January 15 ■ Tickets: 01792 475715
It stars Benidorm’s Tony Maudsley as the Genie of the Ring, Britain’s Got Talent’s Matt Edwards as Wishee Washee and, of course, radio and TV personality Kevin Johns in his 19th panto at Swansea who will play Widow Twankey.
Sleeping Beauty ■ Where: Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold ■ When: November 24 to January 20
■ Tickets: 01352 701521
If you love panto and rock ’n’ roll then you will be in for a treat with this production which features hits including Superstition, Wake Me Up Before You GoGo, Celebration and Sex Bomb.
It stars a talented cast including James Ifan, who was a finalist in Britain’s Got Talent in Only Boys Aloud , Sean McKenzie as Dame Taffeta Trott (he’s appeared recently in the international tour of Warhorse as well as TV roles in Downton Abbey and Shameless) and also Lynwyn Haf Roberts, from Rownd a Rownd.
Cinderella ■ Where: Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil ■ When: December 13 to 23 ■ Tickets: 01685 384111
The story of the wicked stepmother, the ugly sisters and Cinderella doesn’t need retelling and this traditional family panto featuring musical numbers and local comedy is suitable for all ages.
It will feature children from the Redhouse Performance Academy.
Aladdin ■ Where: The Riverfront, Newport ■ When: December 5 to January 7 ■ Tickets: 01633 656679
A whole host of colourful characters join him in his story as he struggles to see that good is rewarded and that bad is punished.
There’s wicked Abanazar who tells everyone that he is the long lost brother of Widow Twankey’s late departed brother Dafydd and the beautiful Princess Jasmine and her slightly domineering mother, the Empress Double Chinn.
And at Suds-U-Like poor old Widow Twankey and Wishee Washee must wash a mountain of smalls for the Royal Wedding.
It stars former EastEnder Richard Elis.
Cinderella ■ Where: Congress Theatre, Cwmbran ■ When: December 14 to 24 ■ Tickets: 01633 868239
This timeless story has remained a childhood favourite for centuries and this show brings to vibrant, colourful life such memorable characters as the beautiful Cinderella and her father, the eccentric Baron Harduup, as well as The Ugly Sisters, Prince Charming and his valet Dandini, a largerthan-life Fairy Godmother and Cinderella’s loyal protector, the loveable Buttons.
It’s directed by Welsh funnyman Owen Money.
Jack and The Beanstalk
■ Where & When: The Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale (November 28 to December3); Blackwood Miners Institute ( December 6 to December 30); Paget Rooms, Penarth (January 4 to 10); Maesteg Town Hall (January 12 to 21); Tumble Hall in Tumble (January 25 to 28) and The Congress Theatre, Cwmbran (February 16 to 25). ■ Tickets: 01656 260602.
The legend of Jack and The Beanstalk can be traced back through many centuries. It’s a thrilling tale of adventure... magic beans... a mysterious land way up in the clouds... a hidden treasure... and the terrifying Giant – which today provides the exciting, funpacked storyline for family-friendly pantomimes.
Rainbow Valley Productions are presenting their funny (and occasionally scary!) version, which will tour the theatres of South Wales between November and February.