NEW SHOW – THE KING AND I
Direct from the London Palladium sold out season, The King and I announces its UK & Ireland tour, coming to Wales Millennium Centre in January 2020.
This multi Tony Award winning production, with music by Richard Rogers, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and direction from Tony Award Winner Bartlett Sher, has triumphed in London. Racking up five stars from The Times and Sunday Express, it has also been hailed “London’s theatrical event of 2018” by The Daily Express, and “ravishing” by The Daily Telegraph.
The news of the tour comes hot off the heels of the cinema release of the live production of The King and I: From the London Palladium, which has become the biggest live event in cinemas of 2018.
Featuring well-known songs such as Getting to Know You, Shall We Dance and Whistle a Happy Tune, this joyous show tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the King brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children in Bangkok in the 1860s.
Accompanied by a full-scale orchestra and over 50 world-class performers, The King and I is a testament to the lavish heritage of gloriously romantic musical theatre. Casting is yet to be announced.
The King and I will be at Wales Millennium Centre 8 – 18 January 2020
Tickets for The King and I go on sale to the public 31 January 2019
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NEW SHOW – NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL
Direct from London and back by popular demand after sold out performances last year, Nativity! The Musical announces the return of a UK tour, opening late in 2019 and coming to Wales Millennium Centre in November 2019.
Every child in every school has one Christmas wish, to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette’s School they’ve decided to mount a musical version! Join teacher Mr Maddens and his crazy assistant Mr Poppy as they struggle with hilarious children, and a whole lot of sparkle and shine to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true. Featuring all of your favourite sing-a-long songs from the smash-hit films including Sparkle and Shine, Nazareth and One Night One Moment. NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL promises to be the perfect feel-good comedy for all the family.
Producer, Jamie Wilson said: “Nativity! The Musical is currently one of the largest and most logistically challenging shows touring the UK with a cast of adults, live band, over 35 children and a dog. We are so thrilled with the phenomenal success of the show over the last two years and delighted to be bringing it back for a third year running”.
NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL is written and directed by the creator and director of the blockbuster film series, Debbie Isitt, with music and lyrics by Nicky Ager and Debbie Isitt. It is choreographed by Andrew Wright, designed by David Woodhead, with lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Tom Marshall and musical supervision and orchestrations by George Dyer. Casting is yet to be announced.
Nativity! The Musical will be at Wales Millennium Centre 19 – 23 November 2019
Tickets for Nativity! The Musical go on sale to the public 31 January 2019
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NEW SHOW – RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE: WERQ THE WORLD (Hosted by Michelle Visage)
The queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race must save the galaxy in their brand new Werq The World show. Produced by Voss Events, Drag Race producers World of Wonder and VH1, the all-new production follows a team of intergalactic queens including Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, Naomi Smalls, Kim Chi, Monét X Change and Violet Chachki on their mission to the sun to save our solar system from a dark entity intent on harnessing its power.
Mission leader Michelle Visage guides the audience through the universe for a dynamic display of the wonders held by each planet and its regal sovereign. Audiences will be in awe as their favourite queens come together on some incredible numbers.
This line-up is subject to change. Please note, also, that RuPaul does not appear at this event.
“Werq the World is the official Drag Race tour for a reason. The show has always been a theatrical production of the highest calibre but in 2019, we’re stepping it up into the stratosphere. This show is going to leave fans gagging and I’m not afraid to say that my performance, in particular, will give you life.” – Michelle Visage.
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World will be at Wales Millennium Centre 19 May 2019
Tickets for RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World go on sale to the public 11 January 2019
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NEW SHOW – MILKSHAKE! LIVE – MILKSHAKE MONKEY’S MUSICAL
In its spectacular new musical for all, Milkshake! Live comes to Wales Millennium Centre this year, creating the most dazzling show you have ever seen!
As your little ones learn the amazing songs and dances with their favourite Milkshake friends, be part of this fantastic production of Milkshake Monkey’s Musical where anything is possible. Starring Fireman Sam, Noddy, Shimmer & Shine, Digby Dragon, Wissper, Nella the Princess Knight and the Floogals, alongside two Milkshake presenters, this brand-new show has plenty of laughter, audience interaction and great fun to get everyone up on their feet.
A family show not to be missed!
Milkshake! Live – Milkshake Monkey’s Musical will be at Wales Millennium Centre 12 May 2019
Tickets for Milkshake! Live go on sale to the public 11 January 2019
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COMING SOON – JERSEY BOYS
Telling the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons with their rise to fame from the wrong side of the tracks, Jersey Boys struts into Wales Millennium Centre next week!
The cast includes Michael Watson as Frankie Valli, Simon Bailey as Tommy De Vito, Declan Egan as Bob Gaudio and Lewis Griffiths as Nick Massi. Jersey Boys originally played for nine years in the West End and its first UK & Ireland Tour was a record-breaking success and ran for 18 months.
Jersey Boys will be at Wales Millennium Centre 16 – 26 January 2019
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CASTING NEWS – MATTHEW BOURNE’S ROMEO & JULIET – WELSH DANCERS ANNOUNCED
Casting has been announced for Wales Millennium Centre’s leg of Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet UK tour. As part of New Adventures’ ambition to support the next generation, Romeo and Juliet will feature the finest emerging male and female dancers from around the UK.
Romeo and Juliet at Wales Millennium Centre will include four young Welsh dancers: Rachel Brookes-Brent, Berwyn Cooper, Llewelyn Brown and Francesca Rees. Both Berwyn Cooper and Llewelyn Brown will be returning to the Centre, following their Welsh debut on stage in Lord of the Flies in 2014. Llewelyn said, “I was fortunate to be part of the Cardiff cast of Lord of the Flies, and it was because of this experience that I am pursuing a career in dance”.
The rest of the young cast is made up of Seirian Griffiths and Atlanta Hatch, who join the previously announced Cordelia Braithwaite, Seren Williams, and Bryony Harrison in the role of Juliet, and Andrew Monaghan, Paris Fitzpatrick, and João Carolino in the role of Romeo.
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet is a contemporary reimagining of a well-known tragic love story. Bursting with Matthew Bourne’s trademark storytelling as director and choreographer of this production, accompanied by the Prokofiev score by Terry Davies, the show is full of talent and spirit.
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet will be at Wales Millennium Centre 18 – 22 June 2019
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COMING SOON – BING LIVE!
Minor Entertainment presents the CBeebies favourite on stage in Bing Live! produced by Acamar Films. Join Bing, Sula, Coco and Pando in Bing Live! as they embark on their first ever stage show full of fun, laugher, music and magical puppetry. As the four learn to tell stories by pretending, dressing-up and singing songs, this show is the perfect first theatre trip for pre-schoolers and their families.
Bing Live! has been adapted for the stage by Helen Eastman, with costumes and puppet design by Tahra Zafar. Since its launch on CBeebies, Bing Live! has been a huge ratings hit, is the number one pre-school show on BBC iPlayer and has won multiple awards, including an International Emmy Award in the Kids’ Pre-School category, a Writer’s Guild Award and a BAFTA nomination.
Bing Live! will be at Wales Millennium Centre on 6 and 7 March 2019
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COMING SOON – MOTOWN THE MUSICAL – CAST ANNOUNCEMENT
Motown the Musical, a musical inspired by Berry Gordy – the founder of Motown music and the man responsible for launching the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and many more – bursts into Wales Millennium Centre in March 2019.
The casting for the show has been announced, with Edward Baruwa (Motown the Musical; Les Misérables; Five Guys Named Moe; Sister Act) in the role of Berry Gordy, Karis Anderson (pop band Stooshe) as Diana Ross, and Shak Gabbidon-Williams (The Lion King; Hairspray) as Marvin Gaye.
Featuring hits such as Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, Stop! In The Name Of Love, My Girl and I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Motown the Musical continues to play to standing ovations at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, but you can catch it right here in the heart of Cardiff!
Motown the Musical will be at Wales Millennium Centre 26 March – 6 April 2019
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COMING SOON – WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE AND WILTSHIRE CREATIVE’S PRODUCTION OF THE MIRROR CRACK’D FEATURING SUSIE BLAKE AS MISS MARPLE
Wales Millennium Centre and Wiltshire Creative present The Mirror Crack’d, a new stage adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery novel, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side.
This is the first time the novel has been adapted for the stage in the English language. The thrilling new play tours the UK and Ireland this year, with a European premiere on 15th February 2019 at Salisbury Playhouse, then touring to Dublin, Cambridge and Cardiff.
Leading cast members include Susie Blake in the role of Miss Marple and Simon Shepherd in the role of Chief Inspector Dermot Craddock.
Susie Blake said “I’m absolutely thrilled to be taking on this part, I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to play a role like this my whole career. I loved watching the great Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple and always wanted to be her when I was growing up.”
Susie Blake’s TV credits include Mrs Brown’s Boys; Coronation Street; Victoria Wood As Seen On TV; and stage credits include When We Are Married; Pygmalion, Wicked; High Society. Simon Shepherd’s TV credits include Peak Practice; Casualty; Father Brown; Doctors; and stage credits include Misalliance; Precious Little Talent, Evening at the Talkhouse; Hay Fever; Duck House; Posh.
The Mirror Crack’d has been adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and is being directed by Melly Still, co-produced by Wales Millennium Centre and Wiltshire Creative.
Artistic Director of Wales Millennium Centre, Graeme Farrow, said that “The ever-increasing range and variety in the Centre’s work is thrilling to engineer, and nothing more than a European premiere of a stage adaption of one of the great Agatha Christine novels with its endless twists and turns”.
The Mirror Crack’d tours from 15 February – 6 April 2019 at the following venues:
Salisbury Playhouse 15 February – 09 March (European Premiere)
Gaiety Theatre, Dublin 12 – 16 March
Cambridge Arts Theatre 19 – 23 March
New Theatre, Cardiff 26 March – 06 April
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RAISING ASPIRATIONS – RAWFFEST
For the first time, Wales’ national youth arts festival comes to Cardiff with an explosion of performances, gigs, exhibitions and workshops. A festival for 14-25-year-olds, RawFfest promises live music, theatre shows and more.
This original, quirky and daring festival runs from 25th to 28th April 2019 and will feature art installations, a dance showcase, radio broadcasts, stage combat workshops, a silent disco, a writing den, body art, blogging and podcasting, opera-in-a-day, a poetry slam, film screenings, a fashion show, music industry guidance and lots more…
RawFfest is a partnership of 5 organisations, led by Wales Millennium Centre. As a charity, Wales Millennium Centre strives to work with young people with a mission to broaden people’s horizons and offer every young person in Wales access to the arts.
RawFfest will be at Wales Millennium Centre 25 – 28 April 2019
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RAISING ASPIRATIONS – RADIO PLATFFORM
Radio Platfform is Wales Millennium Centre’s youth-led radio station and training programme that gives young people a platform to build their confidence, find their voice and express their opinions.
In two core elements – a six-week accredited course, and a youth-led radio station –Radio Platfform has trained more than 80 young people since 2017, with more than 35 participants still delivering radio shows.
In 2018, Radio Platfform was successful in its launch of its second studio and training space and the recruitment of five young people in paid roles to help run the station.
In 2019, Radio Platfform will continue to go from strength to strength. From January to February 2019 the team will be starting outreach work in Grassroots, working with a group of young people with Asperger’s and a young mum’s group.
Radio Platfform will also start running a series of workshops in Grange Primary School, looking at using radio to increase pupil’s oral and literacy skills.
Radio Platfform will start a new training course 15 January 2019 – email radioplatfform@wmc.org.uk for more information