If you’ve been to the Wales Millennium Centre over the last few weeks you’ll have been directed to temporary entrances at either side of the building. Some of that work has been taking place in what used to be the Ffresh Restaurant and this week we’ll get to enjoy a new venue within the centre called CABARET.
With a provocative, joyful and sometimes wild line up, Cabaret will be a safe space for everyone to express and enjoy themselves. Tickets are on sale now – HERE. We have added a link to all the individual shows at the bottom of this page (it’s a long list too).
Before the doors open for the first performances we went along to have a look inside, and I can tell you, it’s everything we were expecting, and more.
We spoke to the Cabaret Producer PETER DARNEY about the entertainment we can expect over the next few months and also what the thinking was behind this new performance space.
The centre is renowned for utilising every part of the building for a host of projects. For most of us the emphasis will always be on the main Donald Gordon stage, where they will continue to bring some incredible ‘world class’ shows to the capital. Step away from the big stage and you’ll find great spaces, which bring together artists and performers, creators and producers, who turn out shows and events and some real unique experiences in this amazing building.
An immersive digital experience was the most recent addition, bringing a full season of extended reality arts in a purpose-built space.
The first of its kind in a Welsh arts centre, BOCS (Welsh for ‘box’) presents a programme of 360° films and projections as well as extended reality (XR) experiences – including augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality (VR).
There are plenty of places to eat and drink around the centre, and lots of performances take place on temporary stages close to these bars and cafes. They also exhibit art installations which have adorned the walls and ceiling – there’s been the recent Windrush exhibition for example and the hugely impressive Museum of the Moon which mesmerised visitors back in 2019/20.
CABARET seems like a natural extension of some of the shows they’ve presented in the Weston Studio recently, which was transformed into a cabaret style space. Such was the success of productions like XXXMAS CAROL, that a dedicated area for these shows, was the natural next step.
Cabaret’s inaugural season features local collaborations with CARDIFF CABARET CLUB and THE QUEER EMPORIUM, as well as hot-ticket touring acts BIG BAND BURLESQUE and TV’s PAULUS who celebrates the music of Victoria Wood.
Wales Millennium Centre’s own work will also take to the stage. Luke Hereford’s heart-warming show GRANDMOTHER’S CLOSET returns following an award-winning run at the Edinburgh Fringe, and QUEERWAY – produced by Leeway Productions with support from RCT Theatres and Wales Millennium Centre – will debut telling life stories of LGBTQ+ people from Rhondda Cynon Taf.
CWM RAG, a gaggle of LGBTQ Welsh drag performers, will celebrate and interrogate what it means to be Queer and Welsh in their bilingual show, while translator-turned-comedian Steffan Alun will treat Cardiff’s audiences to COMEDY TRANSLATES – a bilingual comedy night (sort of) featuring some of the Welsh language scene’s best acts.
Relaxed matinee performances are on offer for people living with dementia for GRANDMOTHER’S CLOSET and JUDY & LIZA, a sensational musical that tells the turbulent tale of Hollywood’s mother-daughter duo. Mothers, daughters and people who menstruate will also be ‘edu-tained’ with BLOOD, GLORIOUS BLOOD!, a taboo-busting show celebrating menstruation.
The programme has been curated by producer, PETER DARNEY, who masterminded two sell-out adult Christmas cabaret shows at Wales Millennium Centre – XXXMAS CAROL (2021) and THE LION, THE B!TCH AND THE WARDROBE.
Peter told us……
“With Cabaret we wanted to create as diverse a programme as possible and to make sure that it remained affordable in such difficult times. It’s going to be wild, provocative and fun.
“There’s a Bhangra night, dementia friendly performances, and something for the young and the young at heart. We want to create a special community here in South Wales – a safe space where you can be yourself, find yourself, and lose yourself.”
CABARET is part of Wales Millennium Centre’s ongoing transformation into a creative hub for everyone. The dedicated venue will seat around 120 and serve emerging and eclectic talent like nowhere else in Wales, bringing a taste of Soho to Cardiff Bay.
The venue has been designed to make everyone feel at home with accessible and gender-neutral facilities.
Events range from £7 – £20, with discounted tickets available for those who are living with a disability, students, under 30 or unwaged. See the full season information at HERE.
QueerWay – Produced by Leeway Productions, supported by RCT Theatres and Wales Millennium Centre
3rd February 8.30pm & 4th February 3pm – 14+ £8 – HERE
The Queer Emporium Takeover: Comedy in the Canolfan – Hosted by Leila Navabi
9th February 8.30pm – 18+ £12 – HERE
Cardiff Cabaret Club: Steampunk Burlesque – Hosted by Velma Von Bon Bon with FooFoo Labelle, Betty Blue Eyes, Kitty Katastrophy, Goldie Luxe, The Steampunk Cowboys and Oola Pearl
10th February 8.30pm = 18+ £18 – HERE
The Sam Hickman Variety Hour – Guest artists to be announced
11th February 8.30pm – 18+ £7 – HERE
Drag Queen Wine Tasting – With Vanity von Glow and Beth Brickenden
12th February 3.30pm – 18+ £20 – HERE
Steffan Alun: The Bubble – Support from Cerys Bradley
16th February 8.30pm – 14+ £15 – HERE
The Queer Emporium Takeover: Transition – Hosted by Justin Drag
17th February 8.30pm – 18+ £12 – HERE
The Queer Emporium Takeover: Sound Check – Artists to be announced
18th February 8.30pm – 18+ £12 – HERE
Grandmother’s Closet – A Wales Millennium Centre and Luke Hereford Production
23rd – 26th February & Thu – Sat 8.30pm & Sat + Sun 3.30pm (Relaxed performances) – 16+ £15 – HERE
The Queer Emporium Takeover: You’re Invited – Hosted by Aunty Ji (Muz) and Alia Ramna
2nd March 8.30pm – 18+ £12 – HERE
I’ve Been Clare Summerskill!
3rd March 8.30pm – 16+ £15 – HERE
OUTside: My Stories… His Music – Morgan James sings George Michael
4th March 8.30pm – 16+ £15 – HERE
Glitter Cymru presents: A Glittery Evening! – Hosted by Rahim El Habachi
5th March 6.30pm – 16+ £10 – HERE
Bingo at Tiffany’s – With Audrey Heartburn
10th March 8.30pm – 16+ £15 – HERE
Paulus: Looking For Me Friend – The Music of Victoria Wood
11th March 8.30pm – 14+ £15 –HERE
The Queer Emporium Takeover: Chwarae’r Chwedlau – Welsh language night
16th March 8.30pm – 18+ £12 – HERE
Cwm Rag: Homecoming – Bilingual drag parti
17th March 8.30pm – 18+ £15 – HERE
Blood, Glorious Blood! – A celebration of menstruation with Belszki
18th March 8.30pm – 12+ £15 – HERE
Big Band Burlesque – With Oriana Curls, Beatrix Valhalla, Belle de Beauvoir and Pete Saunders (Dexy’s Midnight Runners)
25th March 8.30pm – 18+ £18 – HERE
Comedy Translates – A bilingual comedy night. Sort of! With Steffan Alun
30th March 8.30pm – 16+ £15 – HERE
Prejudice to Pride: The Great Gay Songbook – With Wilma Ballsdrop
31st March 8.30pm – 16+ £15 – HERE
RSVP Bhangra Night
1st April 8.30pm – 14+ £15 – HERE
Burlesque: Easter Bunny Boilers – With FooFoo LaBelle and Cardiff Cabaret Club
7th April 8.30pm – 18+ £18 – HERE
Judy & Liza – The amaZING bio-musical
15th April 3.30pm (Relaxed performance) + 8.30pm – 12+ £16 – HERE
