Friday 17th November 2017, another day off work enabling me to attend another performance of the brilliant ‘Tiger Bay musical’. I was so impressed with yesterday’s show, blown away in fact, so today I’m here in Cardiff Bay really early in anticipation of another fabulous days entertainment. As I have a bit more time to talk today, I think I would like to talk more about the superb voices on show for this excellent musical.

It’s really difficult to single actors out in this show, as all of the cast are brilliant, with so many strong, powerful and even beautiful voices lingering throughout this musical. Just listening to John Owen Jones, as the Marquess of Bute, is worth the admission money on its own, probably the best Male theatrical voice you will ever hear, with great support from Dom Hartley – Harris (Themba Sideko), who, in himself has another stunning voice, worthy of gracing any stage. Carrying on with great voices we have Noel Sullivan (Seamus O’Rourke) and Ian Virgo (Arwen Jenkins), impressive vocal talent from both, and if that’s not enough then Rhydian Marc, Zolani Shangase and Luvo Rasameni come along to bolster the ever growing array of talented singers.

I have to mention the two young girls playing Ianto last night was Louise Harvey tonight was Ruby Llewelyn, and I have to say just how brilliant both girls are in the role, great voices for kids so young. A real treat to listen to this wonderful talent.

You would think it would end there, but, as usual the Ensemble then add another layer of singing perfection to the show, with even more talented singers bursting out all over the place. Then the kids come out and play an absolute blinder, and that’s just the Male cast members, I haven’t even got to the Female members yet. That will probably be my next instalment of Tiger Bay.

Tonight’s show was again just superb. Sitting a bit higher in the auditorium tonight has given me a different view of proceedings. I have to say that second time around the show just gets better and better.

Thursday 16th November 2017, a few extra days off work this week, as a treat for myself. Today I’m watching a performance of the ‘Millenium Centre production of Tiger Bay the Musical’. Boasting a very impressive cast, including the legendary John Owen Jones, Noel Sullivan, Suzanne Packer, Vicki Bebb, Dom Hartley – Harris and Louise Harvey as Ianto. I’m so looking forward to tonight’s show immensely. The last Centre production of Only the Brave was amazing, and from what I’ve heard from staff around the venue, this may well be another brilliant show.

Yet again another fabulous show, I was so impressed with the immaculate singing throughout the performance, with every person involved singing with passion and commitment for the role they played. This musical just flowed from scene to scene with ease, I couldn’t keep my eyes off it, taking joy from every moment I could. I heard a few of the critics not giving this show a good write up. Are they kidding, were they actually watching the same show as me. Well don’t listen to those so called professionals, for me this musical had everything I could have wanted from a show. I cried in so many places, laughed and just had a fantastic time watching this superb show.

May I also say, that the development team at the Centre were awesome tonight, with a few pre and after show get together put on for the worthy supporters of this amazing venue, thank you to all the team involved tonight, and for making us feel so welcome, a massive round of applause to all of you.

Saturday 4th November 2017, and I’m back at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay for two more performances of the excellent Carole King Musical ‘Beautiful’. Today is another milestone for me as the matinee will be my 400th performance of a show in all theatres since December 2012 (for the record I’ve seen 148 single shows in that time). So a little bit of a celebration today, I might treat myself to a glass of Lemonade in the bar before the show.

For today’s musical extravaganza we have Bronte Barbe (who I last saw playing Princess Fiona in the touring production of Shrek, she was also brilliant in that as well) playing Carole. It’s brilliant that I’ve now had the chance to watch Leigh and Bronte play this role, and may I say how magnificent they both are, so impressive. Also in the show I have the chance to see the brilliant Amy Ellen Richardson as Cynthia Weil, who I last saw playing Kathy Seldon in Singin in the rain when it toured a few years ago, she was amazing then and is just made for this role at this time.

The music Carole and Gerry wrote was just phenomenal, along with Cynthia and Barry the two couples were trying to outdo each other for hit records for others to sing. The show revolves around them, until ‘Tapestry’, an album she wrote and sung all her own songs. ‘It’s too late’ just happens to be one of my all time favourite pieces of music, with the girls on stage singing it beautifully, so good it brought tears to my eyes, listening to them belt out this superb number.

I love the way the ensemble play all the top bands of the era and just how amazingly good they all are, of course the songs are legendary and will probably be played for a lot more years to come. I also love the end and the way Bronte and Leigh immortalise the songs I myself love from Carole’s repertoire. Again there were tears for It’s too late, You’ve got a friend and Natural Woman, which were performed brilliantly.

There are times when I wished I could have booked the week off work and came to watch all of the shows, this fabulous musical would have been in that bracket. It’s just brilliant. My life has been so enriched watching these superb shows, long may it continue.

Friday 3rd November 2017, and for my second show today, I’m back at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay for a performance of ‘Beautiful the Carole King musical’. So looking forward to watching this, since it announced its tour dates, I’ve been told so many good things about this show from friends who saw the London cast version, now I have the chance to witness this first hand.

For tonight’s performance we have Leigh Lothian playing Carole King, and can I say now she was absolutely brilliant, what an amazing voice, just blew me away with her performance. In fact all the cast were just brilliant, so many great songs, superbly sung. This show has everything you could want from a musical production. 

Beautiful is just that, a great story of a truly magnificent song writer brought to life on stages around the uk. Has to be up there with my favourite shows of all time. The great news for me is that I have tickets booked for tomorrow as well, so I can talk more about this fabulous show for another day.

Saturday 21st October 2017, and onto my second show of the day, with a quick trip across Cardiff to the New Theatre, in the heart of the city, for an evening performance of ‘Cabaret’. Again, this is another show I have never seen, even the various films released I have been oblivious to, but this promises to be brilliant, with its casting of Louise Redknapp (Sally Bowles) and Will Young (Emcee), we have two actors with great singing voices, in the lead roles. I also note that Fraulein Schneider will be played by another fabulous actress in Susan Penhaligon.

Oh my god what a superb show, so impressed, the music, the singing, the theatrics, just oozes fabulousness. Really glad I managed to get a ticket for this sold out production.  Louise and Will are just brilliant, with Charles Hagerty as Clifford Bradshaw making a superb triple. The whole cast are just fabulous, and just make this show so  watchable. 

The ending was so harrowing, really putting into place the events of the past in Germany of old. I must admit to a few tears at that point, so brilliantly done with such dramatism. Has to be one of the best shows I’ve seen in my short history of watching great theatre.

Saturday 7th October 2017, and a special treat for me today. I’m taking Gareth and Amy (my Son and Daughter in law), to a performance of ‘The Addams Family’ at the Belfast Grand Opera House. Another chance to see this wonderful musical, and also to share my enjoyment of shows with my kids, while visiting them in Carrickfergus. 


This show is amazing, with all the Cardiff cast in place , only one change, with the brilliant Scott Paige playing ‘Uncle Festa’ instead of the also brilliant ‘Les Dennis’.  The singing is once again superb, with Carrie Hope Fletcher leading the way with her stunning voice, as usual, although the show contains many fabulous voices throughout, as I’ve said in previous blogs. 

I never really noticed until tonight how family values dominate this musical, until Amy pointed this out to me in the interval, and I had an even greater respect for this show upon its finale. Amy and Gareth totally love it, and I’m glad they do, it really makes me feel so good that they get to see what I see in these fabulous show nights. I have been to this theatre twice now, it’s quite impressive, and have seen two great shows in the process. 

Saturday 30th September 2017, and a really busy day for me show wise. First off it’s a visit to the New Theatre in Cardiff City Centre, for the matinee of the brilliant musical ‘Blood Brothers’, an absolutely superb show, it’s got everything, comedy, drama, and lots of mascara moments in this epic production, with an amazing score, sung with heart and sole, to an always appreciative audience. Having seen this before on its last tour, I knew what to expect, but I’ll still probably be in tears myself for most of the show.

A strong cast head up this amazing musical with Lyn Paul as mrs Johnston and Dean Chisnall (Shrek on its last U.K. tour) as the Narrator, Sean Jones and Mark Hutchinson play Mickey and Eddie respectively. For today’s show Eddie is played by Andy Owens, who just happens to play the role brilliantly. Also I have to say that Sean is incredible as mickey, the acting in the second act is just phenomenal, so lifelike. 

A few other names are familiar from previous tours, but everyone just fits in perfectly with this exceptional musical. With it’s comical kids first act, to its more serious adult second act, the show is just spectacular.

With a live band playing the music in the pit, everything just flows into each song, once again brilliantly sung by the cast. Lyn Paul has a stunning voice with added oomph from Dean Chisnall and Sean Jones (who is really magnificent as Mickey). I have to admit that as I predicted, I’m in tears for most of this show, it’s so brilliant yet emotional all at the same time. And that ending, so powerful and so emotional. A classic musical, which you could never get tired of watching. Looking forward already to it’s next tour.

Saturday 9th September 2017, and the weekend is finally here, so I’m back at the Millenium Centre in the magnificent setting of Cardiff Bay for two performances of ‘Crazy for you’ with the excellent ‘Tom Chambers’ in the title role, along with the equally brilliant ‘Charlotte Wakefield’. I also get the chance to see ‘Caroline Flack’ in a lead role at a theatrical event. So looking forward to this production, with so many great songs associated with this musical, it promises to be a wonderful days entertainment

The show, written by George and Ira Gershwin, has loads going for it. Fabulous songs played brilliantly by the onstage cast, who play all the instruments, live as it happens. I love that big band sound of the early music hall days and brought together with the absolutely gorgeous voice of ‘Charlotte Wakefield’ (wow, she has an amazing voice, yet another to grace the stage of this wonderful theatre) really makes this another superb show.  There’s also the comedy factor thrown in, with all the cast getting involved in proceedings. 

The dancing is wonderful, with a masterful display from Tom Chambers, showing us just how good he is, adding this to his-repertoire, along with the role as Jerry Travers in ‘Top Hat’ (another of my favourite shows). Charlotte adds the glamour to the routines, and can dance pretty well to go with her amazing voice skills. The whole cast were just amazing, so much talent on show. to sing, dance and play all the instruments live on stage, was just out of this world. So enjoyable, with a massive feel good hit straight to your senses. I must admit a few tears were had when Charlotte sang, just incredible, and even better live.

I have to say yet another fabulous musical I really enjoyed, a real shame it wasn’t on for another week, I don’t think one is long enough. Still I managed to get to watch this twice on its final day in the Bay.

Saturday 26th August 2017, back at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay for two more performances of the brilliant Hairspray the Musical. Not only that, also this weekend we have the Extreme Sailing extravaganza going on, loads to photograph and watch between shows. The weather is glorious too, meaning the Bay is the best place to be this weekend. I’ve walked about 5 miles and taken about 150 photos before lunch, today is going to be brilliant and it’s Amy and Gareth 1st weeks wedding anniversary.

Today happens to be the last two performances of Hairspray at the Centre before it moves to another venue. I have been so impressed with this production, it has everything. Fabulous singing from every member of the cast, catchy songs to sing along with, superb dance routines, a great set and lighting to match, complete with a brilliant on stage band, playing to absolute perfection on every performance I’ve had the pleasure to watch.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous blogs, the cast for this musical has been fabulous, with so many names revisiting the Centre from previous shows I’ve seen recently. The quality of the touring productions has also been out of this world. I think I will never see anything as good as the last show, but then the next one up is just as good. So far I’ve seen 141 different shows and have yet to hate one, they are all so brilliant.

I have yet to mention the costumes for the show, so beautiful, bright and full of life, with so many fabulous shades and colours blending together on this giant stage, the end scene especially captured the shows essence to a tee.

Again, for the umpteenth time, I’m going to miss this show, so I’m glad I’ve got the CD and have just procured a copy of the American TV special on DVD (only available on region 1 DVD).

Wednesday 23rd August 2017, and another bonus today, as I get to see Hairspray twice at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay, before I go back to work tomorrow. This has to be the best break I’ve had, with a superb wedding and a few shows to finish off, couldn’t be any better. 

After my first show last night I couldn’t get over just how good the singing was. But where to start, I think that belongs to Rebecca Mendoza as Tracy, a beautiful voice and perfect for the role. Brenda Edwards (Motormouth Maybelle) has such an amazingly powerful voice, which is just right for this huge auditorium. Gina Murray plays Velma, another with a tremendous voice. I’ve also heard Amana Jones (Little Inez), again so good, and she’s the understudy. All the female cast vocals are really impressive, I’m always hearing such high vocal standards, from everyone.

The same can be said for the Boys, with Layton Williams (Seaweed), Edward Chitticks (Link), Jon Tsouras (Corny Collins), to name but a few,  although all of the male cast are just as good to go with it. I have to say I love the work of Tracy Penn (Female authority figure), so impressed with everything she does for the show. 

Matt Rixon as Edna and Norman Pace as Wilbur are brilliant, really getting to grips with their characters, and providing plenty of humour on the way through this hugely impressive production, which seems to get better and better on every showing. Hopefully be able to catch a few more shows before it ends in Cardiff, bound for a new destination on its uk tour.