Its official – panto season has arrived in Newport! Aladdin and his friends, Wishee Washee, Widow Twankey and big bad uncle Abanazar have taken the magic carpet from Peking to Newport Riverfront and are entertaining audiences between now and January 3rd.

Aladdin (played by Only Men Aloud’s Aled Powys Williams) is a lovely boy with a secret; he leads a double life as a Masked Avenger. However he has a formidable enemy, evil Abanazar (Richard Elis) who wants control of a magic lamp and to reign over Peking with the beautiful Princess Baldroubadour (Erin Richards).

Abanazar finds his plans constantly thwarted by Aladdin, Widow Twankey (Lee Mengo) and Wishee Washee (Mark James). So sets about hatching a plan to dispose of all three by imprisoning them in a cave, needless to say hilarious results ensue!

There’s much to be enjoyed by everyone of all ages in this excellent production from funny visual effects to memorable musical numbers.. Mark James and Lee Mengo’s slapstick humour never fails to entertain while Sarah Cortez is undoubtedly the most glamorous genie to descend from Aladdin’s lamp!

Aled Powys Williams makes many female hearts flutter with his solo singing spots while Princess Erin Richards adds some glitter to the proceedings along with her cohort the multi talented Emma Goodwin.

Stealing the show however is the villain of the piece, Abanazar – former EastEnders actor Richard Elis. Elis strikes a unique balance of wild wicked and Welsh in his portrayal of the bad guy to a point the children love hating him. His performance is a joy to watch!

Mention must also go to the acrobatic talents of James Roberts and Gustav Lundstrom who mesmerized many in their Poles Apart sequence.

With songs spanning many era’s from rock n roll to musicals, mixed with spectacular dance routines featuring talented children from many local groups and theatres Aladdin is not a production to be missed. Indeed, when you venture out into the cold December evenings to see it – it will truly warm your heart this Christmas!