Welcome to our ALADDIN PANTOMIME SPECIAL. Scroll down the page, grab yourself a cuppa, and watch our visit to the rehearsal room to catch-up with the stars of the show.
The New Theatre’s unmissable family pantomime is back. The festive favourite Aladdin is open right now. Featuring eye–popping special effects, stunning songs and dance and a lamp-load of laughter, promising a magic carpet ride for all the family. The colourful scenery and beautiful costumes will provide the perfect backdrop to the adventures of Aladdin and his friends.
Okay, that’s what the show has, but what’s it really like?
We went along to a packed New Theatre to join the audience for a performance of ALADDIN, and as strange as this might seem, it’s with the audience where I want to begin.
Right at the end of the show, Welsh favourite MIKE DOYLE thanked the crowd for coming along, and being such an incredible audience – of course you’d expect this, and no doubt Mike will say it at the end of every show. But he couldn’t be more right, the audience were incredible, and the cast enjoyed our presence as much as we did having them on stage.
It’s been a difficult 18 months for all of us, and actually it’s now two years since we’ve seen any panto action on the New Theatre stage. What the cast didn’t see or feel, and I’m here to tell them now, was the almost hysterical excitement from everyone, young and old, as we waited to get into the auditorium.
I think we all really needed this right now. A few hours of pure family entertainment, with the kids having a chance to scream, yell, boo and hiss and really go wild. For me, the pure pleasure on the eyes of the hyper-excited kids, and the clearly delighted parents, was a great way to begin any trip to the theatre.
The show was fantastic, it’s a simple as that, but if you just go to share an experience we’ve missed for so long, then scroll to the bottom of the page and book your tickets right now.
Aladdin has it all, plenty of puns, one-liners galore, and the obligatory laugh-out-loud slapstick comedy, you wouldn’t expect anything else with a Chuckle Brother (PAUL CHUCKLE) and MIKE DOYLE heading the cast.
There is so much to love about this updated take on the traditional story. A lot of it is set in Cardiff, and the local references came thick and fast throughout the show, much to the delight of the audience. But Aladdin firmly sticks to those panto traditions with all the elements which make the story so well loved.
Playing the title role of Aladdin is pop and musical theatre star GARETH GATES. Gareth rose to fame in 2002 as runner-up in the UK’s first Pop Idol. In a phenomenal career that followed, he has sold more than 3.5 million records in the UK, released three albums and had four UK number one singles.
Gareth is the perfect Aladdin and with DENQUAR CHUPAK as Princess Jasmine, they make a great pairing, who have some really nice routines together – including the big romantic number ‘Unchained Melody‘ which was Gareth’s first number one single. There were lots of Mum’s pleased to hear that one I can tell you.
The musical numbers throughout the show were perfectly picked and had everyone singing along with them. I do want to give a special mention to the New Theatre Orchestra under the direction of MICHAEL MORWOOD. They made a great sound, and kept perfect pace with a ‘playful’ cast.
None more so than PAUL CHUCKLE. Paul is the hapless and hilarious younger (seriously) brother to Aladdin. Of course he is best known as one half of the legendary Chuckle Brothers, the much-loved duo were known to generations of children for their popular prime-time children’s television show Chucklevision, of which more than 290 episodes were made.
Out on his own Paul is outstanding, throw Mike Doyle into the mix, and you have a fantastic double act. They never try to recreate what Paul and his brother Barry did so well, but there is always a reverent nod to Barry’s sadly missed talent.
Paul and Mike both have their own catchphrases, so keep your wits about you to shout along at the appropriate moments. And we must give a special mention to Mike’s costumes – awesome. Who would have known you could wear a washing machine so elegantly!
Mike Doyle – Aladdin Pic Tim Dickeson)
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Mike Doyle – Aladdin Pic Tim Dickeson)
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The script is sprinkled with COVID references, with jokes about jabs and lines about lockdown, it was so nice to laugh about something which has devastated our lives for so long.
STEPHANIE WEBBER returns to Cardiff for a fourth Christmas as the Spirit of the Ring, Stephanie’s TV credits include BBC’s The Voice and her theatre credits include Tiger Bay at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium centre. We reckon Steph’s family and friends were in when we were there, ask anyone who was sat around them – boy they were loud, and hilariously supportive.
STEFAN PEJIC is widely regarded as one of the most versatile entertainers in Wales and he demonstrates that so well as the wicked Abanazar. He is really good, with a commanding voice, which fills the theatre, almost as much as the booing from all of us kids in the audience when he walks on stage.
LORRAINE BROWN is the Empress, and as you can see in our interviews below, this is her first panto, and we think not her last – great job Lorraine.
And then of course there is local hero and rugby legend GARETH ‘ALFIE’ THOMAS who is back to the New Theatre pantomime for a fifth season as the wish granting Genie of the Lamp. The audience were eagerly waiting for Alfie’s appearance, and weren’t disappointed when he finally, and magically came out from the lamp.
Aladdin 2021. Stephanie Webber (Scherezade), Gareth Thomas (Genie of the Lamp) and Gareth Gates (Aladdin). Photography by Tim Dickeson.
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Aladdin 2021. Stephanie Webber (Scherezade), Gareth Thomas (Genie of the Lamp) and Gareth Gates (Aladdin). Photography by Tim Dickeson.
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The Bridgend-born rugby player is one of the most iconic and respected figures in the sporting world, having played professional rugby for Wales and is one of the most capped Welsh rugby union players in history. Since retiring he has gone on to forge a career in commentating for Sky Sports, has appeared on reality shows including Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice.
But we reckon Panto is the job he really loves, and clearly missed over the last year or so. He launched himself into the role brilliantly. Singing the Bowie classic Jean Genie. Getting the ‘chop’ in a, very much for adults scene with Paul Chuckle (you’ll get what I mean when you see the show). And dancing as a ballerina in an absolutely side-splittingly hilarious end routine, which is so well choreographed.
Which brings us to another special mention. MATT SLACK returns to Cardiff to direct the show, and has done an outstanding.
Did we like ALADDIN – of course we did, in fact, we have never been more ready to watch a full-on, laugh-out-loud, sing-a-long show, which delighted every member of the audience, as we have this one. Just ask the crowds who smiled all the way out of the door as they left the theatre, we did and they loved it too.
With plenty of matinees and evening performances during the festive period there are lots of opportunities to book tickets and get together with the family for a great afternoon or evening of Christmas entertainment, fun and laughter. Aladdin runs through to Sunday 2nd January 2022.
There will also be relaxed performances, British sign language showings, audio described and captioned performances.
Tickets for Aladdin are £19.50 to £43.50 with family and group booking discounts and concessions available.
For more details on performance times and to book tickets go HERE or call the Box Office on New Theatre Box Office on 0343 310 0041.
A few weeks ago went along to the rehearsal rooms and spent a couple of hours with the entire team, who we must thank for making us feel very welcome and allowing us to chat for so long during their crucial rehearsal time.
So, enjoy our ALADDIN PANTOMIME SPECIAL. We meet the two Gareth’s, Gates and Thomas. Comedy icon Paul Chuckle, Denquar Chupak and Lorraine Brown. We talk about the show, and how much they are enjoying their stay in Cardiff.
But we begin with the seemingly age-old question – how nice is it to be back after such a long period away from performing?
The music comes from a fresh-faced Gareth Gates, back in the days (almost 20 years ago) when he was on Pop Idol (remember that?).
