Newport’s Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre recently celebrated a record-breaking run for festive family pantomime Cinderella, but already the theatre has programmed a range of exciting shows and events to continue engaging and inspiring the families of South Wales. The shows explore important themes including feminism, friendship, determination and imagination, all aimed at its youngest audience members.
For February half term, The Riverfront welcomes a special guest who shows that friendship comes in the most unlikely shapes and sizes in Yana and the Yeti (February 20). Following a young girl far from home and all alone, the puppetry show will be a funny and poignant tale of a small child’s determination to be understood and to fit in.
Operasonic’s Vehicles comes to Newport’s Riverfront on March 2 2020.
In March there will be an operatic space voyage through the history of transport in Operasonic’s Vehicles (March 2). Captain Houston and Lieutenant Schmidt are counting down to take off when something goes wrong and sends them spinning back in time to teach them all about different vehicles and about friendship as they try and make it back to their own time.
Theatr Iolo bring two brand new family pieces to The Riverfront in 2020. The first, Muckers (March 6), was devised in collaboration with an international ensemble and is a quest for self-acceptance that features original songs and Spanish dialogue. The piece is about feminism and takes on the rules young girls are taught as they grow up. The mischievous, funny and poignant show asks what it takes to stand proud and be true to ourselves, and how we empower the next generation to do the same.
Muckers comes to Newport’s Riverfront on March 16 2020.
The second Theatr Iolo show is a Welsh language piece titled ‘Chwarae’ (translation, play) (March 14). Developed collaboratively with families from North Wales, the piece is a sensory feast featuring live music and stunning dance moves. Creator of the piece, artist Elgan Rhys has been exploring the importance play has in the relationships of children and adults, and in Chwarae celebrates the complexities of the how, where, why, what and who of play in an ever-busy world.
A final family show celebrates a literary legend in Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers (April 8). All around the world Roald Dahl’s words are disappearing, not only from books but children’s minds too. Now only an organisation known as the ancient guild of tale tenders can save the stories, but they will need the audience’s help. This show promises to be a theatrical and interactive experience for families which will tell the story through performance, games and creative play.
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Tickets for shows are available by visiting newportlive.co.uk/riverfront or calling 01633 656757.
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UPDATED MARCH 22: SHOWS SCHEDULED AFTER THIS DATE HAVE NOW BEEN POSTPONED OR CANCELLED DUE TO THE UK GOVERNMENT ADVICE REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC – PLEASE CHECK BOX OFFICES FOR DETAILS.