Latest On Song column – December 06

 YES, folks, it’s that time of year again – Pantomime season!

One of the most eagerly-anticipated pantomimes in west Wales is the show staged by Theatrau Sir Gâr / Carmarthenshire Theatres at The Lyric in Carmarthen.

This year, it is the turn of Beauty and the Beast, which will run from December 12-29.

The festive favourite promises to be a spectacular show filled with magical moments, plenty of laughs, and all the panto fun that families have come to love.

Following on from the success of last year’s pantomime (seen by nearly 8,000 local people), Beauty and the Beast will be produced in-house again by the Theatrau Sir Gâr team, in arrangement with the renowned pantomime producing company, Imagine Theatre. 

This year’s Beauty and the Beast cast includes three Carmarthenshire-born cast members.

The line-up includes Steve Elias as the hilarious and larger-than-life Dame Sylvia Scrub-it, Carwyn Glyn as the lovable sidekick Sammy Scrub-it and Ceri-Anne Thomas as the beautiful and kind-hearted Belle.

Jonathan Alden stars as both the dashing Prince and the fearsome Beast.

There will be a ‘relaxed’ performance of Beauty and the Beast on December 27 at 6pm and a BSL signed performance on December 15, 6pm. There are also selected daytime performances in the last two weeks of term for school audiences. Full details are available on the website or by calling the box office. 

For ticket information and booking, please visit www.theatrausirgar.co.uk or contact the Box Office on 0345 226 3510.

At the Miner’s Theatre (Glowyr), Ammanford Community Theatre will be back with their latest fun family Christmas pantomime, Scrooge the Panto! 

This brand new panto version of the classic Christmas story, A Christmas Carol, is for all ages. 

The show is filled with lots of laughter, classic characters, new characters, singing, dancing and lots of Christmas! 

It’s a show that goes from Bah Humbug to a Big Warm Hug!

Tickets are £10 and £8, Performances run from December 6-8.

Llanelli Musical Theatre Group present the traditional family pantomime Mother Goose in Stiwdio Stepney at the Ffwrnes Theatre

Following on from two sell-out pantomimes (Aladdin and Puss In Boots), Mother Goose runs from December 19-23.

Tickets are available online at https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk/en/shows/mother-goose or by calling Theatrau Sir Gar Box Office on 0345 226 3510

Tickets are £12 each, or £45 for a group of four.

The annual Friendship Theatre Group pantomime in Llanelli runs from January9-26 at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.

This year’s panto is Sleeping Beauty, with its magical land of castles, fairies, dragons, and spinning wheels! 

The enchanting tale sees the beautiful Princess Aurora prick her finger on a spinning wheel that has been cursed by the evil enchantress, making her sleep for 100 years. Only true love’s kiss can break the curse and wake the princess.

Will she find her true love and live happily ever after? 

The fabulous family pantomime at Ffwrnes Theatre Llanelli is set to be a laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, top musical hits, fantastic costumes and exciting special effects to keep audiences both young and old entertained! 

Premium Performances: (Fri, Sat, Sun) full price: £16, concession £14, family booking £56 Group 10+ £14 (auto discounts in cart when 10+ tickets are added).

Standard Performances: (Tues, Weds, Thurs) full price £14, concession £12, family booking £48 Group 10+ £12 (auto discounts in cart when 10+ tickets are added), Group 25+ £10 (must be booked through the Box Office).

BSL-interpreted performance: Tuesday January 14, 6.30pm - Anthony Evans BSL Interpreter. Relaxed performance: Tuesday January 21, 6:30pm 

Ammanford Youth Theatre and the young performers from Starquest Children’s Community Theatre Group present their Christmas pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Miner’s Theatre in Ammanford.

The two young community theatre groups, made up of more than 100 children, meet on a weekly basis, and are excited to perform their fun-filled pantomime this festive season.

Tickets £9 and £8. The show runs from January 3-5.

This year’s pantomime at Pontyberem Memorial Hall will be Aladdin. It will run from January 8-12 and tickets are available through the TicketSource website - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/

St Elli Parish Church in Llanelli town centre will be the venue on Friday evening for a festive concert staged by popular singer Chris Judd Caine.

Chris promises an evening of Christmas music in a concert which starts at 7pm.

Tickets are £6.50 and are available from the TicketSource website or from Chris on 07568 542768.

Llanelli District Music and Drama Club will present their Christmas Charity Concert (in aid of Tyisha Food Bank) at St Elli Parish Church on Friday, December 15, 7pm.

The concert will feature The Celtic Sinfonia – Director, Edward Skinner; Leader, Paul Lewis.

The programme includes Troika (Prokofiev), Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson), Sleigh Ride (Mozart), Toy Symphony (Mozart), Gabriel’s Oboe (Ennio Morricone).

Tickets: £5 at the door or call Edward Skinner 07575 754 764.

In the Gwendraeth Valley, there’s a busy schedule of events coming up at Pontyberem Memorial Hall.

On Saturday, December 7, there is a Triple Tribute evening, featuring The Valli Boys, The Take That Show and a Neil Sedaka tribute act. Tickets are £15.50 and it starts at 7pm.

Saturday, December 14, sees a ‘Christmas At The Hall’ event, featuring Ed Sheeran and Meat Loaf tribute acts and the popular Cover Notes band. Tickets are £20.50 and the show starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available through the TicketSource website - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/

Looking further ahead, Carmarthen tenor and BBC radio star Wynne Evans will be bringing his Christmas Special to Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre on December 20.

Tickets are £40.50.