The cast of the New Theatre Cardiff pantomime got together for the first time recently to meet each other, and spend some time with us. CINDERELLA runs from Saturday 7th December right through to Sunday 5th January 2025.
TV’s Morning Live and radio broadcaster GETHIN JONES will lead the cast as Prince Charming. Alongside Gethin will be BBC Radio 2 presenter OWAIN WYN EVANS as Dandini, celebrated New Theatre panto Dame extraordinaire MIKE DOYLE as the Baroness with DENQUAR CHUPAK returning as Cinderella and STEPHANIE WEBBER is the Fairy Godmother and the main cast is complete with panto newbie JACK RYAN as Buttons.
You can find out more about each of the cast below, but here’s our feature from their first meeting at the New Theatre……
Gethin Jones currently hosts the hugely popular Morning Live, every weekday on BBC1. His career started by chance on S4C. After three years of presenting a variety of different live shows, Gethin joined Blue Peter. There he broke four world records and fulfilled a lifetime ambition of flying with the Red Arrows. He visited 32 countries taking on the most extreme and obscure challenges. Then from one extreme to another, in 2007 he went on to dance his way to the semi-final of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing, before joining the Strictly family to become their roving reporter for all the backstage gossip with It Takes Two.
Owain Wyn Evans is an award-winning television and radio presenter, perhaps best known for his record-breaking drumathon for Children In Need. Owain wakes up the nation with his Early Breakfast Show, Monday-Friday on BBC Radio 2 and has built a loyal fanbase of “Bora Darlings” across the country. Owain found national and international fame in 2020 when a video of him drumming along to the BBC News theme tune went viral. It was viewed six million times online and made its way into several newspapers, from India to Australia. This was the platform for his incredible record-breaking 24-hour drumathon for Children in Need in 2021, which raised an astonishing £3.8m.
Mike Doyle has been in show business for 47 years and has performed for 33 years in pantomime. Mike is no stranger to New Theatre Cardiff stage having been the regular Dame at the City Centre venue, performing in titles including Cinderella, Jac and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Mike also works on luxury cruise lines such as Cunard, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises, Regent, Seabourn, SilverSea and Viking Line. When on land, Mike tours with his one man show, and is an in-demand after-dinner speaker and voice-over artist.
Denquar Chupak is a performing artist, session singer, actress, musician, composer and producer. She is no stranger to panto at New Theatre Cardiff having performed as Princess Jill last year in Jac and the Beanstalk and Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the year before. A songwriter at heart, she composes original music and performs at various venues and jazz clubs in London, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Her original works include Praying On Science with the Scottish Session Orchestra (Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow) and So This Is Love in collaboration with Mark Pelli from the hit band Magic!
Stephanie Webber has appeared on television and in numerous stage productions on land and sea across the globe including headlining roles on board luxury cruise liners. In 2016 she continued her nautical career by starring opposite David Hasselhoff as Mimi the Mermaid in Peter Pan at New Theatre Cardiff having previously appeared with him on tour in Last Night a DJ Saved My Life. In 2015, Stephanie auditioned for the BBC One talent search The Voice, receiving the fastest reaction from will.i.am upon hearing her spectacular singing voice. Stephanie returned to New Theatre Cardiff in 2021 in the cast of Aladdin.
Jack Ryan, the Liverpool-born stand-up comedian, is a riotous force of nature on the stage. With a cheeky charm and a personality bigger than the Mersey, Jack is a comedian who knows how to light up any room. What sets Jack apart is his unparalleled skill in spontaneous humour and off-the-cuff crowd work. He’s a master at reading the room and effortlessly weaving audience interactions into his routines, turning even the most mundane moments into comedic gold. Whether he’s riffing on the quirks of everyday life or playfully poking fun at audience members, Jack’s wit is as sharp as it is endearing.
Cinderella is staged by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, led by MICHAEL HARRISON and the creative team behind recent New Theatre Cardiff successes including last year’s production of Jac and the Beanstalk.
Michael told us……
“I’m thrilled to be announcing such a talented lineup for our New Theatre panto this Christmas. The nation is well accustomed to spending their mornings in the brilliant company of Gethin and Owain and we can’t wait to have them with us entertaining our Cardiff audiences this festive season. Joining them are our fabulous returning regulars: Mike Doyle, who this year plays evil as evil Baroness, Denquar Chupak in the title role of Cinderella, and the return of Stephanie Webber to our Cardiff show.”
Theatre Director of New Theatre Cardiff, Stephan Stockton, added……
“I am delighted to be welcoming back Crossroads Pantomimes again for this year’s production of Cinderella. To continue the long tradition of Pantomime is one of the most important responsibilities that we at New Theatre Cardiff have. It’s really exciting to have so much Welsh talent this year, in a Pantomime in the Capital city of Wales. I’m really looking forward to working with this fantastic cast and delivering a traditional yet fresh pantomime to the people of Cardiff. ’
CINDERELLA is at the New Theatre in Cardiff from Saturday 7th December right through to Sunday 5th January 2025. There are lots of performances and prices, from £25 to £48, but a little word of advice, they do tend to fill up very quickly. For more details and tickets go HERE.
