Cardiff’s New Theatre – home to Wales’ no.1 family pantomime – has announced today that Samantha Womack, Gareth Thomas, Mike Doyle, Chico and Tam Ryan will star in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This year’s fun-filled, spectacular comes to the New from Saturday 9 December 2017 – Sunday 14 January 2018.
Actress and singer Samantha Womack is best-known for her role in EastEnders as the late Ronnie Mitchell, whose chilling on-screen departure was seen by over nine million television viewers last Christmas. Having appeared on numerous television dramas and comedies including Game On, Home Again, The Grimleys and films including Up’n’Under and Lighthouse Hill she has firmly established herself as one of the country’s most prolific actresses. Her stage work includes the role of Sandy in the West End revival of Grease at the Dominion Theatre, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls opposite Patrick Swayze and in the West End and UK tour of South Pacific as Nellie Forbush and she is currently touring the UK as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. Samantha will play the Wicked Queen, hoping to ensure she remains the fairest of them all by plotting the demise of the beautiful Snow White.
Starring as her Henchman will be Bridgend-born Gareth Thomas, known as ‘Alfie’, who was the first Welsh rugby player to reach 100 caps and is one of the most iconic and respected figures in world sport. Now retired, Gareth has gone on to enjoy a varied media career including appearances on Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice, The Jump and regularly commentates for BT Sport and Sky. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs mark’s Gareth’s return to pantomime at the New Theatre where he made his panto debut in 2014.
Back for his fifth consecutive Cardiff pantomime will be British Comedy Award winner, singer, comedian and much-loved dame Mike Doyle who will star as the Nurse. Following last year’s critically acclaimed appearance as Mrs Smee opposite David Hasselhoff in Peter Pan, Mike will bring his array of comedy, costumes and audience participation to New Theatre audiences this Christmas.
Starring as Prince Charming is The X Factor’s Chico, who became a household name as a finalist on the show’s second series. Not content with knocking Madonna off the top of the UK chart with his hit Chico Time he swapped singing for skating and captivated the nation with his spectacular routines and reached the final of ITV1’s Dancing on Ice. Since then he has appeared on numerous television shows and in several pantomimes, winning rave reviews for his performances.
Completing the line-up is funny man Tam Ryan as Muddles. Tam has had a successful and varied career in live entertainment for a number of years, regularly starring on stage in venues across the country, as a highly sought after entertainment on cruise ships and a regular in the world of pantomime having starred alongside David Hasselhoff, Warwick Davis and Priscilla Presley. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs marks Tam’s first appearance in pantomime for Qdos Entertainment.
Staged once again by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, and the team behind last year’s record-breaking pantomime Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will feature all of the traditional pantomime ingredients Cardiff theatregoers have now come to expect in a fantastic new production of the well-loved fairy tale.
Jonathan Kiley, Executive Producer for Qdos Entertainment said: “After last year’s fantastic production of Peter Pan we’re delighted to be bringing our sensational production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the New Theatre. With Samantha Womack at the helm as our very Wicked Queen alongside the brilliant Gareth Thomas, Mike Doyle, Chico and Tam, audiences are in for a real festive treat.”
With over 50,000 theatre-goers attending last year’s pantomime audiences should book now for the fairest panto of them all, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which runs from Saturday 9 December 2017 – Sunday 14 January 2018. Tickets are £13 – £37. For further details and to book tickets visit newtheatrecardiff.co.uk or call the Box Office on (029) 2087 8889.
