The summer season at Llandudno’s theatre offers plenty the whole family can watch and enjoy. From murder mystery plays, live performances from CBeebies stars and a visit from three of Strictly Come Dancing’s much loved professional dancers.

To help you choose from the show-stopping line up on offer during the Summer months we’ve created this ‘top picks’ blog.

So keep reading to find a show that takes your fancy!

one night of queen

When: 22nd June

Do you or someone you know LOVE Queen? If so this show is the one for you!

This spectacular show will showcase all of the best Queen classics from one of the best rock bands of all time and it promises to ROCK you!

Tickets are £24.50

club tropicana

When: 24th – 29th June

Joe McElderry is leading the cast of Club Tropicana, a musical packed full of 80’s bangers! So grab your flip-flops and head to Venue Cymru for the ultimate feel-good holiday musical.

Get ready for a set of 80’s pop anthems, performed live on stage, including Just Can’t get Enough, Take on Me and the Look of Love and many more!

Tickets from £19.50

here come the boys

When: 19th July

That’s right three of Strictly Come Dancing’s most loved professional dancers, Aljaž Škorjanec, Giovanni Pernice and Gorka Marquez are taking to the Llandudno stage for ONE night only!

They’re going to be having a dance off battle with each other showcasing Latin, Ballroom and contemporary dance. With live music from Elizabeth Troy (formerly with Clean
Bandit) covering the likes of J.Lo, Bruno Mars, Gloria Estefan and much more!

Limited Availability! Tickets from £26.50

the mousetrap

When: 12th – 17th August

Agatha Christies’ The Mousetrap has been adapted for the stage and will be heading out on a UK tour in 2019. It is well known for keeping its audiences guessing and is becoming the longest running show of any kind in the history of theatre.

Be prepared to be held in suspense as you try to guess which mysterious character is responsible in this twisting mystery drama.

So get your detective hats at the ready and enjoy a night of thrilling live dramatic theatre.

Tickets from £20

in the night garden

When: 31st – 1st September

That’s right! The BAFTA award-winning CBeebies children’s TV show, ‘In the Night Garden’, is returning to the Llandudno stage in September.

Get ready for a spectacular production, perfect for your littles ones first trip to the theatre! There will be live music and stars Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka will return with friends for a musical theatre experience perfect for the whole family.

Tickets from £14

To book your tickets to see any of amazing shows on offer this Summer at the Llandudno theatre, then just give the Venue Cymru Box Office a call on 01492 872000 or visit the Venue Cymru website.

Get ready for an intense evening of drama if you head to see The Lady Vanishes in Llandudno…

I was unsure what to expect when heading to Venue Cymru to see The Lady Vanishes. I’d not seen the famous 1983 Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, but this new production from Bill Kenwright and the Classic Thriller Theatre Company instantly had me intrigued… and I love a good mystery.

For those also unfamiliar with the premise of the storyline, it follows socialite Iris (played in this production by Lorna Fitzgerald) who is travelling home to get wed. Her travelling companion Mrs Froy (Juliet Mills) unexpectedly disappears during the train journey and Iris finds it odd that none of her fellow passengers wish to admit to also seeing her. With the help of musician Max (Matt Barber), Iris turns detective and together the pair are determined to find out where Mrs Froy has gone.

As soon as the curtain rises for the first act, audiences are taken back to the era where steam trains were the norm, the classic RP British accent was still in full force and the Nazi’s were beginning to take over the majority of Europe. The dramatic opening for the first scene sets the tone for the rest of the performance, the curtain lifts and all you can see are dark figures, a stage clouded over in smoke and the sounds of a traditional train station.

The acting in this production is incredible, the cast is filled with household names. Just to name a few, Fitzgerald is best known for her role as Abi Branning in EastEnders, Matt Barber for roles in Downton Abbey and supporting role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s on stage whilst and husband and wife Juliet Mills and Maxwell Caulfield (who plays the suspicious Dr Hartz) lead the cast. The couple who continue to quarrel throughout their train journey, played by Elizabeth Payne and Mark Carlisle added a fabulous distraction to the mystery of missing Froy.

The staging only added to the brilliance of this performance. It was cleverly designed with carriage doors that opened and closed, easily helping to turn the stage from having focus on the carriages to then being part of the train restaurant or the aisle of the train.

No two minutes were the same in this production. It’s intense, comical, thrilling and scary in parts, so be prepared to be sitting on the edge of your seat throughout and get ready for plenty of surprises. There is an abundance of mystery to be found in this stellar production.

The Lady Vanishes cast will be performing at Venue Cymru until Saturday 15th June and you definitely do not want to miss this superbly acted and thrilling play!

Tickets start from just £21.50 for this thrilling night of drama. To book your tickets just call the Box Office on 01492 872000 or visit the Venue Cymru website.

Take a sneak peek inside Bath Mill Lodge Retreat’s luxury lodge accommodation, which is the ideal alternative to a city hotel. Located only a 30 minute walk from the bustling city centre of Bath, our beautiful Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is the perfect escape to the city, while staying away from the hustle and bustle. A peaceful oasis with a wide range of accommodation to choose from, including a one bedroom, studio-style lodge and a 4 bedroom lodge. Take a sneak peek inside our luxurious lodge style accommodation below.

Bath Mill Lodge Retreat – a city escape like no other

Along with a wide range of self-catered lodge accommodation, Bath Mill offers a wonderful place to holiday away in a historic city. All our accommodation comes with open plan living spaces, fitted kitchens, sumptuous bedding and beautiful bathrooms, including our Norland Lodges which offer the ideal city escape self-catering accommodation.

If you fancy eating out one night, you won’t have to look far as The Brook Bar & Bistro is right on your doorstep and is one of the most popular restaurants in the city. Located inside the 350 years old renovated mill house, adding to the atmosphere, but also boasts a beautiful terrace where you can relax and listen to the soothing sounds of the babbling Newton Brook flowing through the retreat. Indulge in a 3 course meal of mouth-watering meals, and relax with a drink from our fully stocked bar. Bath Mill also boasts a gym lodge, which is fully equipped for all your workout needs, including cardio machines and free weights.

Enjoy a peaceful stroll into the historic city for afternoon tea at The Pump Room, just like Jane Austen used to. Or visit the famous Roman Baths and learn about the history of the city and see how they used to live during the Roman times. Visit the famous Victoria Park which has acres of greenery to explore, as well as a variety of activities including hot air balloon rides. There really is an endless stream of activities to do and places to see in Bath, you’ll never be bored.

Why not start planning how you’ll explore this beautiful and historic city today and book your Bath Mill holiday?

‘You’re never fully dressed without a smile’ and trust me you’ll be smiling after seeing Annie the Musical. That’s right, fresh from London’s West End, Annie is one of the most well-known musicals, so when I heard it was coming to the seaside town of Llandudno featuring the fab-u-lous Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan, I just knew this is one show I would not want to miss.

Those familiar with the 1982 film (or the comic strip, Little Orphan Annie) will know the story of orphan Annie but for those who haven’t witnessed the brilliance of its writing or songs, the production follows the same storyline set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, orphan Annie lives a life full of misery and chores in an orphanage run by the dreadful Miss Hannigan. Until one day, when she is chosen to stay at billionaire Oliver Warbuck’s residence over Christmas and her life changes forever but Miss Hannigan is determined to cause trouble.

Audiences filled the auditorium on the evening of Tuesday (May 14th) for the opening night of the show’s stint of performances at Venue Cymru. As they made their way in a broadcast played overhead and the children slowly filled the empty beds which were already set out on the stage.

The six children taking the roles of the orphans were beyond fantastic including the wonderful Taziva-Faye Katsande who took on the famous role of Annie. Their performance of It’s the Hard Knock Life was one of the best I’ve EVER seen in a musical with so much passion and enthusiasm.

From the moment Craig Revel Horwood walked stumbled through the double doors and on to the stage as the wonderful Miss Hannigan the audience was hooked. You can tell this is a role he revels in playing, his showmanship is one of the best I’ve seen and his love for singing, musicals and dance just oozes out of his performance.

Easy Street performed with Hannigan’s brother Rooster played by Richard Meek and his girlfriend Lily played by Jenny Gayner was just fantastic, so polished and professional and as a big fan of Miss Hannigan and that particular performance and song in the 1982 music, I was so pleased to see that they’d kept the true essence of the characters during this scene.

A special mention also has to go to the rest of the Annie the Musical cast who poured their hearts into this production, there were plenty of fabulous costume changes, top of the range vocals and the dancing was like something out of a Disney movie!

I can’t finish this review without mentioning the fantastic four-legged pooch Sandy played by Labradoodle Amber! What a wonderful dog she was and watching her run back and forth on the stage in-between scenes always had audience members going “awwwwww”.

Annie is packed full of laughter and fun and is suitable for the whole family to enjoy and sing along to!

Annie the Musical will be at Venue Cymru until Saturday 18th May, so head down to Venue Cymru to see some fantastic young talent and join in the fun!

So don’t wait until tomorrow – grab your tickets to see this musical extravaganza before it’s too late! Tickets start from just £19…

To book your tickets to see the one and only Craig Revel Horwood take on the role of Miss Hannigan then just call the Box Office on 01492 872000 or visit the Venue Cymru website.

We’re giving you a chance to see the FAB-U-LOUS musical Annie in Llandudno

The hit musical Annie produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian is set to stop at the seaside town on its whistle stop 2019 UK and Ireland tour.

So if you and a friend would like the chance to watch Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan when the show-stopping musical comes to Venue Cymru this May then enter now!

Keep reading to find out how you can enter…

Get ready to get whisked to 1930’s New York during The Great Depression and fall in love with brave young orphan Annie, desperate to search for her parents after she was placed in Miss Hannigan’s orphanage and is now forced to clean and tidy.

Her luck takes a change for the better as she is chosen to be reside in famous New York billionaire, Oliver Warbucks mansion for Christmas (a tradition the billionaire has undertaken every year) but the story does not end there as Miss Hannigan has devious plans set in place to spoil Annie’s happiness…

Alongside the fabulous cast and crew will be Craig Revel Horwood best known for being a judge on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing series who returns play the sinister Miss Hannigan after playing the role in both the West End and on the 2015/16 UK tour.

This stunning production wouldn’t be without the unforgettable songs everyone loves about Annie. Get ready to sing along to ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’ as this production takes you on an emotional rollercoaster!

You can catch the show at Venue Cymru from Monday 13th May to Saturday 18th May 2019. Tickets start from £19.

Book your tickets over on the Venue Cymru website or by phoning the Box Office on 01492 872000.

terms and conditions

– To enter the competition, one must tag a friend in the comments and like our competition post.
– Only one entry per person please
– Competition closes at 4pm on Tuesday 7th May and a winner will be selected at random
– The winner will be chosen at 4pm and announced by 5pm on Tuesday 7th May
– Winner is the tagger, not the tagee (but let’s hope they share the prize!)
– We’ll notify the winner on Facebook and ask them to contact us with their details via private message. They will then be sent details of how to obtain their tickets
– Not open to employees or affiliates Seaview Holiday Home Park or Darwin Escapes
– The prize is 2 tickets to see Annie at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Tuesday 14th May 2019 at 7.30pm
– Prize must be claimed via direct message by midnight on Friday 10th May
– Cash alternatives are not available
– Travel and accommodation is not included
– This prize cannot be transferred to any other date or performance
– Tickets cannot be applied retrospectively
– Prize is non-transferable
– The manager’s decision is final

GOOD LUCK! Oh and don’t forget to give our Seaview Holiday Home Park a like on Facebook too!

Rhyl was a sea of colours as audience members enjoyed one of the most popular musicals of all time…

When I heard that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was heading on a UK tour and stopping in the seaside town of Rhyl, I just couldn’t not go and see it.

The show, over the years, has been seen by an estimated 26 million people but I’ve got a confession to make… I’ve never seen it!!!

For years I’ve managed to avoid watching any clips or listening to songs from the production as I didn’t want to create any preconceptions before seeing the show live and wow did it live up to the wait!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat cleverly retells the biblical story of Joseph and his 11 brothers, including that fabulous coat of many colours, all through the medium of song. Trina Hall brought the story to life through her narration.

Jaymi Hensely, best known for being part of pop band Union J, who rose to fame on the X Factor in 2012, took on the role of Joseph in this production. I couldn’t believe Joseph is his musical debut, he took to the stage with complete ease and fantastic strong and powerful vocals. Here’s hoping he’s in many more musicals!

The lavish sets take you on an adventure to Egypt with clever lighting to match the mood with the scene. From the off, the scene is set, you know what you’re going to get from this musical and I really loved that, despite the fact there were a couple of misbehaving sheep but they were soon put back in check by the cast!

The whole ensemble worked so hard throughout the night, with costumes changes galore it was hard to keep up with who was actually on and off stage as the changing was seamless. You couldn’t take your eyes of the routines and the crazy costumes! One of my favourite scenes has to be with Pharoah played by Andrew Geater it was packed with fun and a big hit with the audience!

The young stage group from Mostyn also put on a great performance, singing from the sides of the staging throughout the whole show, with smiles a plenty.

Fantastic sets, first class acting and catchy songs – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is timeless with everything you could want from a musical, making it the perfect show for the whole family!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is live in Rhyl until Saturday 30th March. Book your tickets on the Rhyl Pavilion website or phone their Box Office on 01745 330 000.

Get ready for the feel-good show of the year to hit Llandudno this February! Goodbye winter blues! Once Kinky Boots comes to Llandudno, you’ll be wanting to paint the town red!

Winner of every best major musical award, this British hit production, which is inspired by true events, is finally out on a UK tour. It will be visiting some of the Britain’s most loved theatres throughout 2019 including North Wales’ Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

Get ready for a rollercoaster journey, starting in a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton and ending on the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Kinky Boots follows the heart-warming story behind Charlie Price and how he is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and keep the family business up and running. With the future of the factory uncertain a fabulous performer, Lola arrives in need of some sturdy new stilettos and so starts a whole new venture for the business!

Joining the fabulous Kinky Boots cast for this UK tour is Paula Lane best known for her role as Kylie Platt in the much-loved soap Coronation Street. She will be performing alongside Kayi Ushe (Simon/Lola) who has several theatre credits to his name including Motown the Musical and The Crucible and Joel Harper-Jackson known for roles in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Jesus Christ Superstar will play Charlie.

Featuring songs by Grammy and Tony winning pop icon, Cyndi Lauper, audience’s will be in for a treat for both the eyes and ears!

Thanks to the fantastic ensemble cast and musical direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award-winner, Jerry Mitchell (best known for work on Legally Blonde & Hairspray), Kinky Boots has not only won three WhatsOnStage Awards but was also named the London Evening Standard BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for the Best Musical.

So get ready for the feel-good musical of 2019 to sweep you off your feet and make you feel like anything really is possible, if only you put your mind to it!

get your kinky boots tickets using the promo code below:

The lovely team over at Venue Cymru have offered us an exclusive discount for Darwin Escapes guests and visitors only!

So if you want to treat that special someone in your life to the show of a lifetime or fancy an evening out with your friends, Kinky Boots on Valentine’s Day is the perfect answer! Just use the discount code below to get tickets for £25 each…

*Discount valid for Thursday 14th February – Matinee 2.30pm and Evening Show at 7.30pm*

*This discount code is no longer valid*

Kinky Boots promises a jam-packed run of uplifting and feel-good performances at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru from 11th February – 16th February!

Tickets are ON SALE now! Don’t miss out – reserve your seats for the hottest show in town at the Venue Cymru Box Office on 01492 872000 or visit their website for further details.

You can also catch Kinky Boots the Musical at the Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday 11th March to Saturday 23rd March!

Get set for another high-flying panto as Aladdin opens in the Rhyl Pavilion for a festive season of fun! The cast of this year’s Aladdin panto really do put on the ultimate festive extravaganza for audiences. It offers everything you could ever want from a magical seasonal production, with adventure, humour and crazy costumes!

Follow the story as Aladdin (played by David Perkins) tries to convince Princess Jasmine (played by Gemma Naylor from Nick Jnr’s Go! Go! Go!) to fall in love and marry him whilst also going in search of the magic lamp, home to the all-powerful Genie, before the wicked evil villain Abanazar steals the lamp in an attempt to take over the world!

I was lucky enough to watch the show on Saturday afternoon (December 15th) and audiences (including me!) were completely wowed by this fairytale classic which features plenty of modern tunes to get you singing along. Loula Geater, who played the Slave of the Ring, blasted out an amazing rendition of ‘I Need a Hero’ and to add to the magical atmosphere there is even a flying carpet!!

Emmerdale’s Jonathan Wrather was leading this year’s cast as Abanazar, and played one of THE best baddies I’ve seen in panto. He really got the crowd going and in every scene the crowd could loudly be heard booing and hissing the character as he went about his wicked mission to steal the lamp from Aladdin’s grasp and take over the world. There were plenty of great references to his time in the famous soap’s village which will be an added treat for any Emmerdale fan – as a big fan of the show I loved all the added extra nods to the soap!

get ready to fully immerse yourself in this interactive production with plenty of chance to shout and sing…

Tom Whalley as PC Pong provided plenty of slapstick and the scene featuring PC Pong, Wishee Washee and a big new washing machine was one of my favourite scenes of the show. It left the audience in hysterics, long after the curtains had closed on the scene.

Local acting legend, Sean Jones, returned for his seventh annual pantomime in the role of Wishee Washee, again providing plenty of local references and humour. The audiences just love him and his comic timing is second to none. He even managed to sneak in several renditions of the smash hit ‘Baby Shark’ which had all the young ones in the audience out of their seats and singing along! A true comedy legend who I hope will be in the Rhyl pantomimes for many years to come.

Of course, a panto isn’t a panto without a hilarious dame, her adventurous and wacky costumes and the cheesy lines that will still make you chuckle days later! This year’s Rhyl Pavilion dame didn’t disappoint, Simon Jessop plays the wonderful Widow Tawnkey, providing plenty of jaw-dropping, laugh-out-loud moments. The costumes are a sight to behold!!

The supporting cast comprising of two local talented dance schools, The Gay Harris Dancers and The North Wales School of Dance were also superb and a great addition to the production. Adding plenty of sparkle to the show!

Rhyl Pavilion’s 2018 Aladdin pantomime really did provide a perfect selection of entertainment, audience participation and family friendly humour. This is one you’ll certainly not want to miss!

Aladdin will be in the Rhyl Pavilion until Saturday 5th January 2019. Tickets for this magical production are priced from just £10! Book your tickets by calling the box office on 01745 33 00 00 or visit the Rhyl Pavilion website to book online.

Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride as Calendar Girls the Musical opens in Llandudno. The award-winning musical written by Take That frontman, Gary Barlow and writing guru, Tim Frith, restores your faith in humanity, with timeless songs and fantastic comic timing all based on an inspiring and heartwarming true story.

For those unaware of the ‘Calendar Girls’, it all came about when a Yorkshire Women’s Institute group decided to raise money for a new sofa in a relative’s room of a hospital in memory of one of their members’ husbands, by doing a cheeky nude calendar!

They sold hundreds of copies and to date, the real-life ‘Calendar Girls’ have raised a fantastic £5 million for BloodWise, the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity.

Heading into Venue Cymru last night, I could feel that this show was going to have an impact on its audience. Walking through the doors, the atmosphere was electric and sunflowers (the key theme to the story) were dotted around the theatre setting the scene perfectly.

As soon as the curtains lift, you’re thrown into a beautiful backdrop of Yorkshire, the scenery was superb, so realistic yet practical and clever in not diverting too much attention from the importance of the storyline.

The ‘Calendar Girls’ were everything I hoped they would be. Anna-Jane Casey as ‘Annie’ plays out some heart-breaking scenes whilst her husband battles with cancer, Catherine Digges took on the role of Annie’s best friend ‘Chris’, who although isn’t the biggest fan of the more traditional elements of the WI shows true determination and grit when it comes to her bright idea to ‘bare all’ for the charity calendar.

Sara Crowe as ‘Ruth’ and Karen Dunbar as ‘Cora’ were two of my favourites on the night, their comic timing was impeccable and they both played such quirky characters but with true hearts. I’ve previously seen Ruth Madoc in other musicals but her performance as ‘Jessie’ in this production is right up there with her best, she’s a powerhouse to be reckoned with! Denise Welch plays the role of ‘Celia’ another fabulous comic performance and her rendition of ‘So I’ve Had a Little Work Done’ received some of the biggest cheers of the night!

TV presenter and author, Fern Britton also starred as the bossy new WI chair, Marie, who disapproves with the whole notion of the calendar – it was great to see her take on this feisty role.

The second half was when the show really came to life and the final scenes which saw the girls actually shoot the calendar received so much applause from the audience and constant laughter.

As an audience member being able to see a little bit of yourself in each of the ‘Calendar Girls’ definitely added to the empathy you felt for them all.

The cast did such a superb job of bringing the natural and authentic vibe of the Yorkshire village to life and the way they all bounced off each other and created that true friendship feel really added to the whole show experience. These women were incredibly inspiring, they helped to evolve the WI and in the process create SO much money for charity – they deserve only the best recognition for that and this musical did just that.

Watching a popular film be portrayed on stage can be daunting, as an audience member you’re never quite sure if you’ll fall in love with it as much as you did on the screen, but with Calendar Girls I felt like the essence of the film was still strongly there and the heart-breaking impact cancer has on loved ones and the surrounding village, showing their grief but also the fight in them all to overcome the bad parts of life.

The Girls musical is an honest, laugh-a-minute, heart-breaking production which will have you crying with laughter and then crying with heartache for the women in this fantastically inspiring story.

Calendar Girls the Musical is in Venue Cymru until October 27th. This is one musical you will not want to miss! Grab your tickets from the Venue Cymru box office on 01492 872000 or visit the website.

Get ready for a magical ride this December as Aladdin flies in to the Rhyl Pavilion. This year’s pantomime promises to take you on a dazzling adventure, packed full of the usual slapstick silliness, crazy costumes and singalong songs!

The adventure fairytale will be a perfect treat for the whole family with traditional fun entertainment and plenty of opportunity for theatre-goers to get involved, so remember to get your best boos and hisses at the ready – oh and keep an eye out for the flying magical carpet!

The wicked Abanazar will be played by Jonathan Wrather best known as Emmerdale’s Pierce Harris and he’ll be joined on stage by David Perkins as Aladdin, Gemma Naylor from Nick Jnr’s Go! Go! Go! as Princess Jasmine and taking back to the North Wales stage will be the much loved, Denbigh born actor Sean Jones playing Wishee Washee. Director Simon Jessop will also be appearing in the glamorous roll of every panto’s favourite character, the Dame, Widow Twankey.

Two local dance schools, The Gay Harris Dancers and The North Wales School of Dance will also be supporting the cast for this magical production.

Don’t forget to read our Aladdin Panto 2018 review!

Tickets for the show are priced from just £10! So if you’re staying in one of our North Wales holiday parks during the 2018 festive season then don’t miss out on this magical show.

Aladdin will be in the Rhyl Pavilion from 12th December to 5th January 2019. Book your tickets today via their Box Office on 01745 330000 or visit the Rhyl Pavilion website.