It’s great to see that our theatres and Christmas events have been so well supported throughout the festive season, with many reporting record-breaking box office figures.
Two of our venues have seen increases in audience attendance, which of course is great news as we look forward to the 2026 productions.
Christmas at Bute Park also had a bumper year, despite the occasional weather related challenge. Well over 90,000 people wrapped up in their winter woolies to head out on the spectacular winter light trail.
Swansea Grand Theatre has been the home of premium pantomime for decades, and this year’s panto funfest, ALADDIN, was no exception; ticket sales outstripped last year’s and next year’s seasonal spectacular, Snow White, is already selling well.
Over 34,000 theatre goers of all ages witnessed the wonder of Aladdin and for the second year in a row box office sales have exceeded expectation.
With comedy legend JOE PASQUALE at the helm, the hugely popular KEV JOHNS as the Dame, Welsh musical theatre star, CELYN CARTWRIGHT and a talented ensemble, this year’s panto had an additional Hollywood sheen courtesy of Welsh actor, MICHAEL SHEEN, appearing digitally as the Genie.
Elliott King, Cabinet Member for Culture & Equalities said…….
“Aladdin has built on the success of previous pantos and has raised the bar considerably. This has proved, once again, that Swansea loves a great panto and for many, a trip to the Grand Theatre is one of their Christmas traditions.”
Advance sales and reservations for the next panto, SNOW WHITE, are already ahead of previous years, and the theatre is looking forward to another bumper year.
You can read our Aladdin review and interview with the cast HERE.
Swansea Grand Theatre Manager, Grant McFarlane told us……
“Our digital pantos keep growing in popularity and our ticket sales for Aladdin are testament to this. It’s been fabulous to see so many people of all ages having such a magical time and we hope they all come back for Snow White.”
Snow White runs from 5th December to 3rd January 2027. Tickets are available from HERE.
The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre in Newporty has announced that RAPUNZEL has officially become its best-selling pantomime in the venue’s history, surpassing the previous record set by Beauty and the Beast in 2023.
With over 27,000 tickets sold, including an outstanding 13,000 pupils and staff attending school performances, Rapunzel has captured the hearts of audiences and reaffirmed pantomime as one of Newport’s most cherished festive traditions. Audiences have travelled from across the country to experience the magic, making Rapunzel a true national celebration of family theatre.
The production has received glowing reviews throughout its run, praised for its laugh-out-loud comedy, spectacular staging, and heartfelt storytelling. A particularly special milestone was reached this season as RICHARD ELIS celebrated his 800th pantomime performance, an extraordinary achievement that highlights his long-standing contribution to pantomime and his enduring popularity with audiences of all ages.
The record-breaking success comes during a landmark year for the venue, as The Riverfront celebrates 20 years of pantomime magic with Rapunzel as its 20th production. Since opening in 2004 with Aladdin, The Riverfront has welcomed generations of families, schools, and first-time theatre-goers through its doors, making pantomime a cornerstone of its cultural identity, and introducing countless young people to live theatre for the very first time.
Jamie Anderson, Creative Development Manager at The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre, and Producer of Rapunzel told us……
“Seeing Rapunzel become our best-selling pantomime ever is an incredible achievement.
The response from audiences, schools, and families has been incredible. It takes a huge team to create a brand-new pantomime of this scale, and this success belongs to every single person who helped bring Rapunzel to the stage.”
You can read our Rapunzel review and interview with the cast HERE.
Building on this phenomenal success, The Riverfront is already looking ahead to its next festive adventure. CINDERELLA will return to the stage from 27th November – 31st December, with over 10,000 tickets already booked.
Book your tickets HERE
CHRISTMAS AT BUTE PARK has closed its doors after another jam-packed festive season that saw 94,000 visitors flocking to enjoy the beautiful light trail.
This year, guests enjoyed the spectacular display at the award-winning event, with a re-imagined route of all new installations created by a selection of world-class artists and designers, and tasty street food.
Celebrity guests included Aaron and Colleen Ramsey, Love Island’s Nicole Samuel, former Big Brother and Miss Wales star Imogen Thomas, darts and radio presenter Polly James as well as rugby’s Scott Quinnell and Jonathan Fox Davies.
Visitors enjoyed a selection of stunning displays, including Water Willow, featuring three large tree structures illuminated with thousands of LEDs, Icefall, a vertical light installation designed to simulate a waterfall using cool white and blue tones and Crystal Avenue – five illuminated chandeliers along the path that lead to the Secret Garden Café, programmed to light up in time with Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
There were also rousing performances from several choirs to get people in the Christmas spirit. Mark Jermin’s Love Actually Choir kicked off the celebrations and other singing guests included the Rock Choir and Pencaerau Primary School Choir, who raised funds for Cardiff Mind Charity.
Organisers worked with Togather Events to bring new local traders to the light trail this year, ensuring people’s appetite were as full as their festive spirit. Food lovers had the chance to sample delights from Cattle Co. Burgers, Hash & Dash, Frico Pizza & Loaded Fries, Daddy Mac’s, Oh My Sausage, Let’s Wrap Fried Chicken, Chocomelt Station and Crumble Pots as well as enjoy a festive drink at The Bute Park Tavern.
Roxy Robinson, Creative Director at From the Fields, the team behind Christmas at Bute Park, said……
“Now in its fifth year, Christmas at Bute Park has once again enjoyed an incredible response, and we’ve been delighted by the warm welcome from the people of Cardiff, as well as visitors who travelled from far and wide. Seeing so many families, friends and even a few familiar faces enjoying the trail has been truly special.”
Christmas at Bute Park also welcomed a new partnership with Cardiff’s luxury hotel voco St David’s in 2025. Located on the stunning Cardiff Bay waterfront, voco St David’s is the city’s only five-star hotel and proud winner of Cardiff Life’s Tourism Award 2025.
John King, Director of Sales at voco St David’s Cardiff, said……
“We were proud to be the official hotel partner for this year’s Christmas at Bute Park – one of Cardiff’s most iconic festive events. As a leading destination hotel in the city, we were perfectly placed for guests looking to combine a magical evening at the light trail with a relaxing overnight stay by the bay.”
