The Riverfront’s RAPUNZEL is the kind of pantomime that reminds you why this tradition still matters: it is loud, warm, gloriously silly, and rooted in Newport without ever trying too hard. We were in last night to review it for South Wales Life, and within minutes the room had that familiar Riverfront buzz.
The Riverfront has a real knack for making the annual panto feel incredibly local without being twee, and this year is no exception.
Rapunzel drops us into a storybook version of Wales, where a wicked sorceress, Ceridwen, has designs on more than just a missing princess. The plot hits all the comfort-food beats you want from panto: a tower, a spell, a scramble for freedom, and a forest full of trouble. It is easy for kids to follow, but it still finds space for jokes that land with the grown-ups too.
A big part of why it works is how at home the cast feel. There are lots of returning faces, and that is always a good thing at this venue. They know the theatre, they know the audience, and the audience clearly knows them back. GARETH TEMPEST, stepping back into his much-loved Dame heels, is a constant engine of mischief, spinning chaos into something oddly wholesome. RICHARD ELIS is back for yet another Riverfront panto season, and he brings that familiar combination of warmth and quick timing that lets the show be silly without ever feeling sloppy.
We spoke to three of the main stars after the show and grabbed a little look at what you can see on stage.
It is also a treat to see MIA TURLEY make her Riverfront debut as Rapunzel. STEVIE MCAVOY as Ceridwen, RYAN OWEN as Hector, MANDIFADZA MUPITA as Tylwyth Teg and ELIN PHILLIPS as Gruff, mke up the fun with the sort of bright, confident stage presence that panto needs. They play directly to the crowd, they handle the noise, and they never look fazed when the audience decides it has opinions. Newer performers fold in well, which matters. Panto is a team sport, and this one feels properly ensemble, not a string of solo turns.
Most importantly, Rapunzel has heart. The best family shows are kind, and this one is. The humour is cheeky rather than cruel, the heroes are easy to root for, and when the story needs a moment of sincerity, it earns it instead of winking it away. That balance is harder than it looks, and The Riverfront team consistently get it right.
The script also knows what a Riverfront crowd comes for: participation. There is plenty of opportunity to shout warnings, boo the baddie, and get swept up in the call-and-response rhythm. Characters like Muddles, Dame Winnie Wiggins and the brave Hector are built for that kind of playful audience relationship, and the show leans into it without letting it take over.
A quick note for families planning ahead: it is worth checking the schedule for the accessible performances. There are BSL dates listed, and an audio-described show too, which is exactly the sort of practical welcome that makes this theatre feel genuinely community-minded, not just festive.
On that note, it was nice to see the final number BSL signed – a very nice addition.
If you are deciding whether to book, the simplest answer is yes. You will laugh, you will leave humming, and the kids will replay their favourite bits all the way home. Rapunzel is consistently, properly funny, packed with good songs, and it feels like Newport in the best possible way.
Rapunzel is a big-hearted, laugh-out-loud treat that feels unmistakably Newport.
RAPUNZEL is running at The Riverfront from until 4th January, and it is a cracking choice for a festive night out. For tickets and further details, please visit The Riverfront’s website HERE. Or contact the Box Office at 01633 656757.
