Arts Scene in Wales

Making his professional musical theatre debut in a sparkling new production of High Society that comes to Cardiff on July 21, Freddie Fox reveals: “I’ve been building up to this since the age of four, when I saw my first musical at the National Theatre.” The show in question was Guys and Dolls starring Clarke Peters, Imelda Staunton and Henry Goodman. “And I absolutely loved it,” Freddie recalls.

Wrexham is to host the International Spirit Fest ‘25 outdoor Dance Festival on Saturday July 19 The free multicultural dance and movement festival International Spirit Fest ’25 is set to take place next week in the vibrant city centre of Wrexham on 19th July. Spirit Fest’ now in its third year is produced by Paallam Arts.

I must have been one of the few people left who were yet to see The Book of Mormon musical since it debuted in New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre on March 2011. In the nearly 15 years since, it has won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, won more than 30 international awards and played in three continents. Everywhere it has toured, it has left theatre box offices struggling to deal with demand.

Casting is announced today for the UK and Ireland tour of John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play. Following the hugely successful and critically acclaimed West End run earlier this year and a return three-month summer season this June, “the funniest show in town” (Daily Express) will embark on a major 10-month tour from 30 September 2025 – August 2026. Tickets are on sale now from FawltyTowersTour.co.uk.

A new curated lifestyle store called Armadillo has been opened on Wales Millennium Centre’s ground floor. It is named after the nickname for the distinctive curved, golden exterior of Wales Millennium Centre. Visitors can spot playful nods to the Armadillo throughout the store design, even suspended from the ceiling. But Armadilo is more than just a destination store. Every purchase helps fund the future.

An exclusive first look at rehearsals for the hugely anticipated Nye, starring Michael Sheen, has been been released by The National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre. Following sell-out shows and rave reviews, Nye returns to Wales Millennium Centre’s Donald Gordon Theatre this summer. Featuring Welsh legend Michael Sheen, Nye tells the story of Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, who helped to transform the lives of millions by founding the NHS.

Final casting has been announced for the UK & Ireland tour of the critically acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof which is at the New Theatre, Cardiff between November 18 and 22. This celebrated revival, featuring a cast of exceptional performers, has captivated audiences and critics alike during its West End run.

Tickets are now on sale for Cowbridge Music Festival. The festival runs from September 12 to 21 presenting an eclectic and vibrant line-up across ten days this September, blending chamber music tradition with innovation, Welsh cultural heritage, and global musical influences. This year’s programme showcases a wealth of Welsh talent, from Sinfonia Cymru’s Seascapes and a new festival commission by John Metcalf to appearances by Dafydd Jones, Kat Rees, and folk trio Vrï.

It was an unusual experience to be seeing an opera in Cardiff not by the WNO and not in the Millennium Centre. I have vivid memories of seeing a production of the Magic Flute in the New Theatre, squashed in  the gods, soon after I first came to Cardiff in the late 1990s. Thus I was intrigued to see what it would be like to experience a production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in a smaller venue again.

Everyman does not shy away from work that requires exceptionally strong character actor and this is certainly the case with the Peter Schaffer play Amadeus. Productions of the play always suffer from the fact that the film version is so well known, and frankly brilliant, and comparisons are pointless. The only real similarities are that the two leading male roles require superlative acting.