A WEST End star will be appearing at a special event to celebrate the South Wales Argus’ 125th anniversary.

The ‘Evening with Gerard Carey’ will take place at the Coldra Court Hotel by Celtic Manor, Newport on May 14.

And we are inviting you to buy tickets to help us mark the occasion.

The event is a must for all theatre and musical fans and will feature music from shows performed by West End actor Gerard Carey.

He most recently played Lord Farquaad in the award-winning Shrek musical.

South Wales Argus:

His character was the ruthless ruler of Duloc who attempts to rid his Kingdom of Fairy Tale creatures.

The night will raise funds for our 125 appeal launched earlier this year as part of our 125th anniversary celebrations, to raise money for St David’s Hospice Care.

Mr Carey’s own mother died of cancer in 2008 and she received end of life care from a hospice, and so the Argus’ 125 Appeal is a cause that is close to his heart.

He said: “I just whole heartedly support the work that is needed in this field.

"It is great to support the work of a hospice like St David’s Hospice Care.”

Mr Carey’s partner Emma Beecham is research associate at the Louis Dundas Centre for Children’s Palliative Care at the University College London and they say that the work hospices do is central to their lives.

The evening will be a celebration as Mr Carey explains: “It’s a celebration of songs past and present.

"There will be some old tunes people will recognise, but it is integrated with humour and audience participation.

“I love performing in front of a Welsh audience.

"I don’t get back to Wales much because most of my work is in London, but it’s where my roots are and it’s where I stared honing my craft in front of audiences.

“I know what makes a Welsh audience tick and how to entertain them.

“The Welsh have an openness and a willingness to laugh and be entertained.

"Music is in the Welsh genetic makeup, so people love to hear good music and they like a good laugh.”

The evening is organised in conjunction with Applause Productions, a company that creates entertainment specifically for individual events.

Tickets, for the Argus’ 125 celebration, which includes a meal and the entertainment are on sale now for £35 from us here at the South Wales Argus.

To come and celebrate our special anniversary with us you can purchase your tickets by contacting Heather Symonds on 01633 777046.