A brand new, jaw-dropping entertainment show is coming to Cardiff this December, featuring world-class performers who will amaze and amuse as they deliver the ultimate Christmas Night Out.
Acts include a gravity-defying aerial act, a fire-eating cabaret sensation, a juggler serving drinks, a spinning muscle man, and a hand-to-hand balancing duo, to name just a few.
Castellana, one of three shows that form part of the Cardiff Castle Christmas Festival, is a sensational blend of circus, burlesque and cabaret acts sprinkled with comedy and naughtiness, set to live music.
The story is set in the magical mystical Welsh world of Annwn, which is filled with intrigue and suspense. The fair maiden of Castell Annwn – Ana – is played by Vikki Bebb (Tiger Bay the Musical, Wales Millennium Centre) with her comedic lover played by Alex Phelps (CBeebies). West End performer Ian Stroughair (Chicago, Cats, Rent) plays the Master of the Castle.
The international cabaret acts performing in Cardiff, many for the very first time, are:
Fancy Chance – The Hair Hanger; Brett Rosengreen – the Naked Cowboy; Angie Sylvia – The Fire Fox; Didi Derriere – the Burlesque Goddess; Florian Brooks – the Gentleman Juggler; Klodi & Yann – the Hand Balancers and Joe Keeley – The Flying Man. Their artistry and daredevil skills are set to leave audiences spellbound.
The creative team for Castellana includes former Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre in York and former York Theatre Royal Artistic Director Damian Cruden; Swansea-born theatre, radio and outdoor arts playwright Richard Hurford; and Welsh musical Director and conductor Nathan Jones.
The Cardiff Castle Christmas Festival is a spectacular new entertainment attraction being staged inside a beautiful 570-sear Fortuna Spiegeltent in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. It’s produced by Cardiff-based live events company Live Under the Stars and Jamboree Entertainment. Cardiff Castle Christmas Festival presents three incredible shows offering something for everyone.
The shows include Nutcracker – the Christmas ballet with a Welsh twist; Santa’s Wish – a brand new magical musical adventure for the whole family; and Castellana.
Adding to the festive experience, outside the Spiegeltent on the Castle lawn will be a village area with seasonal artisan street food and drink stalls, serving warming drinks such as gluhwein, spiced cider and hot chocolate, while a sizzling sausage stall will tickle the taste buds with its bratwurst, pizzas and burgers.
The Cardiff Castle Christmas Festival is a wonderful addition to Cardiff’s existing Christmas programme, which includes Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland, Christmas at Bute Park and Cardiff’s Christmas Market. It is created and produced by Richard Perry and John Manders, joint directors of Live under The Stars, whose most recent credits include the recent Cardiff Castle Jubilee Celebration Concert, and the Live Under the Stars Concert series.
Vikki Bebb said: “I’m totally thrilled to be performing as Ana in Castellana at Cardiff Castle – just a stone’s throw from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where I studied. I can’t wait to get started on this incredible show, performing alongside some of the finest cabaret acts from around the world”.
Producer Richard Perry of Live Under the Stars added” “We are beyond excited to be bring such a world-class show to Cardiff for its premiere. The combination of these astounding acts and the magical intimate setting of the exquisite Spiegeltent will make it a night audiences will never forget. Castellana is a wonderfully wicked show which will titillate, amuse, and astonish you!”
Images of the Castellana performers can be downloaded here
For tickets and further information to www.thecastle.wales
Tickets range from £24.50 to £44.50 for VIP Ringside, with Booth tickets (min 6 people) priced at £34.50. Booking Fees Apply.
The venue is accessible for wheelchairs. Please message the team with any specific requirements.
CARDIFF CASTLE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL – THE SHOWS
The Nutcracker
Cardiff Castle Christmas Festival presents the full-length contemporary ballet of The Nutcracker – Wales’ first reimagining of its kind, featuring a rich cast of recognisably Welsh characters, including Uncle Idris, Bop Sheila & Bopa Linda and The Mari Lwyd!
The production also features the showpiece Snowflakes as seen at Cardiff’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and featuring choreographer Jamiel Laurence’s unique take on dancing, tumbling, avalanching and flying snowballs. Audiences are invited along for a magical ride through the William’s Family Christmas. As we are taken into the dream world of our lead protagonist, Carys, her Uncle Idris will conjure up a battle, a snowstorm and his very own variety show, The Uncle Idris Show!
Opens 25 November 2022 for 5 performances only
Castellana
Castellana is a brand new, jaw-dropping entertainment spectacular coming to Cardiff Castle this Christmas.
Step inside the magical Spiegeltent and experience a sensational blend of world-class cabaret, burlesque and circus acts, sprinkled with live music, laughs and naughtiness.
Prepare to be mesmerised by the cheeky magicians, high-flyers, fiery angels and dazzling demons of Castellana, whose artistry and daredevil skills will leave you spellbound.
Entwined with a Welsh love story and plenty of comedy, this wicked show promises the ultimate night out this Christmas.
Enter the risqué otherworld of Castellana in the intimate setting of the Fortuna Spiegeltent.
Castellana has its World Premiere on 2 December 2022 and runs until 1 January 2023. The show is suitable for those aged 16+
Santa’s Wish: A Magical New Musical.
“On a cold winters night that crept into dawn, some fresh snow fell softly… a Snowflake was born…”
Snowflake the magical elf is in a really tricky spot. Santa’s sleigh has crashed, and he is lost!
Will you be able to help find Santa?
Can Snowflake the Elf conjure up a plan to get Santa home in time and save Christmas?
Do the Magical Wish Jars hold the answer? Do you truly Believe?
This heart-warming family musical adventure, enriched with original songs, immersive storytelling and a sprinkling of circus magic is guaranteed to leave the whole family bursting with festive joy and happiness.
Santa’s Wish has its The World Premiere on 2 December, and the show will run for a strictly limited season until 31 December. The show is suitable for ages 3 plus
Live Under the Stars is a Cardiff based events business specialising in presenting Live entertainment in unique and breath-taking settings.
They were the first company to present Live outdoor music in Cardiff follow the Covid lockdown and most recently produced the Queens Jubilee Concert at Cardiff Castle which was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Christmas 2022 sees them breaking new ground by producing shows for all the family in a magical Spiegeltent in Cardiff Castle.
Jamboree Entertainment is a York-based, family-owned company, with 30 years of experience in producing live entertainment and events worldwide.
Closer to home Jamboree Entertainment produces the award-winning Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland ice rink and funfair at York Designer Outlet; The Winter Hütte pop-up bar and restaurant in York’s Christmas Market; York Spring Fair & Food Festival and Yorktoberfest at York Racecourse; the Great Ryedale Maze at Sherburn; the YO1 Beach Club and Roller Rink in York, as well as the summer and winter Minster Village in the centre of York outside the Minster.
Recent concert productions include A Country Night in Nashville at the Royal Albert Hall, the Sounds in the Grounds series of concerts at stately homes, and a season of Abba Mania at the Shaftsbury Theatre in the West End. This year Jamboree Entertainment is working with former York Theatre Royal artistic director Damian Cruden to create a brand-new cabaret show Castellana as part of Cardiff Castle Christmas Festival.