Over the past 100 years Cardiff’s New Theatre’s has been everyone’s first choice for city centre entertainment. Now, in her centenary year, the New presents an autumn and winter season that’s bursting at the seams with celebrated drama, magnificent musicals, children’s classics and, of course, the spectacular Christmas pantomime – JACK AND THE BEANSTALK! An exhilarating programme of drama includes the Tennessee Williams classic CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF starring William Gaunt and Rosemary Leach, Alan Bennett’s multi-award-winning THE HISTORY BOYS, the star-studded comedy THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE A HOME, the Pulitzer prize winning TO KILL A MOCKINBIRD and HEROES, an Olivier Award-winning comedy from Tom Stoppard. There is an abundance of musicals to suit all tastes including the Gilbert & Sullivan classic THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, the heart-warming family musical ANNIE starring Ruth Madoc, Cardiff’s own Orbit Theatre presents the Rodgers and Hammerstein favourite CAROUSEL, Michael Aspel and Suzanne Shaw star in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and THE RAT PACK LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS is back by popular demand. Music Theatre Wales returns with new opera HOUSE OF THE GODS and for spotting the stars of tomorrow the BBC RADIO 2 VOICE OF MUSICAL THEATRE is a must-see. The Wales Theatre Company is back with two festive treats, A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES and A CHRISTMAS CAROL starring Ron Moody. There is plenty to appeal to the younger audience including Roald Dahl’s classic DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD and TRACY BEAKER GETS REAL, a fun-packed show full of music for all the family. A galaxy of famous faces appear in SUNDAY WITH THE STARS, a special Wales Theatre Company Fundraising Gala full of music and mayhem and the CARDIFF GANG SHOW returns to the New with a week of Broadway inspired entertainment. There’s an exciting start to the season with Roald Dahl’s DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD! Perfect for children of 5 years and up and their families, this adventure from The Birmingham Stage Company and the Sherman Theatre is sure to thrill and entertain all ages from Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 September Following a hugely popular The Mikado in 2005, the New is delighted to welcome back The Carl Rosa Company with Gilbert & Sullivan’s much-loved comic opera, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Opening on Tuesday 26 September, it’s brimming with fun and favourite songs such as I am the Pirate King and A Policeman’s Lot is Not a Happy One. The heart-warming musical ANNIE, starring Wales’ own Ruth Madoc as the dastardly Mrs. Hannigan, comes to the New from Tuesday 3 October. First seen 30 years ago and featuring favourites such as It’s the Hard Knock Life and Tomorrow, this family musical is full of laughter and charm. On Sunday 8 October a host of stars from stage and screen including Peter Karrie, Mal Pope and Philip Madoc appear in the Wales Theatre Company’s Fundraising Gala SUNDAY WITH THE STARS. From Tuesday 10 October William Gaunt, Rosemary Leach, Ben Hull and Lesley Harcourt star in the Tennessee Williams classic CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Big Daddy, an affluent Southerner, and his dysfunctional family have gathered home for his 65th birthday. In this tense drama, family secrets threaten to change the hierarchy of this old-fashioned southern dynasty forever. Part of the Cardiff International Festival of Musical Theatre once more is the BBC RADIO 2 VOICE OF MUSICAL THEATRE. From Sunday 15 October performers from around the world compete for the glittering title, a cash prize, a recording contract and BBC Broadcast engagements. Our second Festival show is a new adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES. Brought to life from Tuesday 24 October by the Wales Theatre Company, this nostalgic, uplifting musical celebrates a bygone era and the wonder of Christmas. A magical treat of music and laughter for all the family. Cardiff’s own Orbit Theatre returns to the New from Tuesday 31 October to Saturday 4 November with a rousing production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic love story CAROUSEL. Featuring songs including You’ll Never Walk Alone, When I Marry Mr. Snow and The Soliloquy, this evergreen musical is utterly unforgettable. To get in to the Christmas spirit, the Wales Theatre Company continue their festive programme with Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Starring the legendary Ron Moody, this popular tale set in Victorian London is brought brilliantly to life from Tuesday 7 November. On Sunday 12 November, Music Theatre Wales presents a new opera by Lynne Plowman and Martin Riley, HOUSE OF THE GODS. Set in a back street pub during the First World War, Jack O’Connor, a cynical and disillusioned soldier back from the Front, finds himself living through what seems like a macabre and surreal opium dream. Exploring sacrifice, sex, death, science and innocence this original and entertaining gothic opera is a must for all opera fans. Alan Bennett’s multi-award winning play, THE HISTORY BOYS, visits the New Theatre from Tuesday 14 November. The action takes place in a boys’ grammar school in the north of England in the 1980s as a group of history students apply to Oxbridge under the guidance of two teachers with contrasting styles. Full of Bennett’s trademark wit and wisdom, the play has won countless awards in the West End and on Broadway. THE HISTORY BOYS contains some strong language. The CARDIFF GANG SHOW returns from Wednesday 22 November for another dose of music, dance, comedy and song in a trip to Broadway featuring a talented local cast of 130 young Scouts and Guides. From Tuesday 28 November Dora Bryan, Gorden Kaye and Ken Morley head an all-star cast in the wonderful new comedy THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE A HOME. Stollberg Retirement Home for Theatrical Performers is under threat of closure and its residents do what any self-respecting company of former household name entertainers would do… They decide to kidnap a celebrity and demand a ransom in a plan so theatrical and entertaining they might just pull it off! Naughty fun and frolics return with the brand new production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW from Monday 4 December. Starring David Bedella, Suzanne Shaw and Michael Aspel as the Narrator, this musical, full of timeless classics including Sweet Transvestite and Time Warp, is a non-stop party! Warning – This show has rude parts. Getting into the full festive swing, this year’s New Theatre pantomime is JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. From Saturday 16 December 2006 to Saturday 27 January 2007, John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Dancing on Ice), Welsh comic Andy Jones and Capital Gold’s Tony Wright take children of all ages on a spectacular adventure with stunning sets and costumes, a magnificent giant and an ice rink! It’s an unmissable treat for all the family. From Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 February Duncan Preston stars Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. This popular and widely read story looks at life in America’s Deep South through the inquiring eyes of a child. Most suitable for ages 11+. Back by popular demand, THE RAT PACK LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS returns from Monday 12 February with its celebration of the incredible singing talent of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr. With a talented cast and 15-piece orchestra, this trip back to the glamorous, glitzy nights in Las Vegas brings the lives and music of these legendary characters together again. Tracy Beaker explodes onto the New Theatre stage from Tuesday 20 February in TRACY BEAKER GETS REAL. Based on Jacqueline Wilson’s The Story of Tracy Beaker, this brand new show has music and fun for all the family. Rounding off the season is the Olivier Award-winning HEROES from Monday 26 February. Adapted by Tom Stoppard this hilarious comedy set in 1959 follows the lives of three First World War veterans who meet every morning in the military hospital. In between bickering and teasing each other, they dream of escape and hatch a mad plan together. Autumn / winter performances interpreted in British Sign Language are DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD (Saturday 23 September, 2.00pm), A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Saturday 11 November, 2.30pm), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Saturday 9 December 6.00pm), JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Saturday 20 January 2007 2.30pm, Sunday 21 January 1.00pm, Tuesday 23 January 1.30pm) and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Saturday 10 February, 2.30pm). On Saturday 14 October at 2.30pm CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF will carry a live Audio Description for visually impaired theatre-goers, as will CAROUSEL (Saturday 4 November, 2.30pm), THE HISTORY BOYS (Saturday 18 November, 2.30pm), JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Friday 26 January, 7.00pm and Saturday 27 January, 2.30pm), THE RAT PACK LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS (Saturday 17 February, 4.30pm) and HEROES (Saturday 3 March, 2.30pm). These performances are interpreted or described by Erika James, except for THE HISTORY BOYS which will be described by Vocaleyes. There will also be a captioned performance of THE HISTORY BOYS on Wednesday 15 November at 7.30pm and a Touch Tour on Saturday 18 November at 1.00pm. Tickets for all these shows are on sale now from the New Theatre Box Office on Cardiff (029) 2087 8889 or online at www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk |
| new theatre cardiff web site: www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk |
| e-mail: |
Monday, September 11, 2006 |
Older news
stories have been carefully archived.
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999