Newport’s Riverfront Theatre has announced the cast members for their 2023-24 pantomime, Beauty and the Beast.
Returning for another year of festivities is Newport favourite, Richard Elis. Playing Mickey, the son of Dame Muggins and the best friend of Rose, Richard is a Welsh actor who has worked all over the world in both Welsh and English language. His wealth of experience in film, TV, theatre, adverts, and radio include appearances in Coronation Street and EastEnders. More recently Richard has co-hosted hosted the podcast ‘Cuppa Tea Is It?’ which has featured guest speakers as diverse as Football Association of Wales Chief Executive Noel Mooney and Welsh bass-baritone opera singer, Bryn Terfel.
Richard’s Cuppa Tea Is It? co-host Aled Pugh will make his second Riverfront panto appearance. Raised near Ammanford, Aled studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Among his Theatre and TV credits are ‘Bobby’ in Ruth Jones’ series ‘Stella’ and Gerwyn in Pobl y Cwm. Aled will be returning to The Riverfront stage as evil Mayor Murgatroid in this year’s pantomime.
Newport- born Gareth Tempest will make an encore performance as the Dame! Gareth has been performing at The Riverfront for many years, from appearing in the young company as a child to Prince Charming as a young adult.
Wrexham-born Phoebe Holmes, who wowed audiences as Little Joan in last year’s pantomime, Robin Hood will portray the evil witch, Hecate in Beauty and The Beast. This will be Phoebe’s debut as a ‘panto-baddie’.
Alex Parry who featured recently in the Riverfront’s co-production Bitcoin Boi returns to the venue playing the role of Rose’s father and gamekeeper of the Castle grounds, Hedwin. Alex is a Welsh actor who trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Londiwe Mthembu makes her panto debut as Fairygoodheart. Londiwe trained at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduating in 2023 with an MA in Acting for Stage, Screen and Radio. Her credits include Galwad (NTW/Sky Arts) and most recently Truth or Dare (Theatr Clywd).
Finally, making a homecoming performance in Newport for the first time since she trained, Elian West will be playing the role of Rose. Elian trained in Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts as an Actor Musician, graduating in 2017. Her theatre credits include ‘Eweniss’ in Robin Hood (Queens Theatre Hornchurch), ‘Celia’ in Worlds Apart in War (Theatr Clwyd), ‘Alice’ in Alice In Wonderland (Sherman Theatre).
- Beauty and the Beast opens at the Riverfront Theatre on 29 November 2023 and runs until 6 January 2024. Tickets for the Riverfront Pantomime are now on sale via The Riverfront’s website or you can contact their Box Office team on 01633 656757.