Les Misérables at Birmingham hippodrome is not to be missed!

We’ve been partners of Birmingham Hippodrome since last year, proudly supporting a number of their projects, so when we were invited to enjoy the Leading Ladies event and see Les Misérables, we jumped at the chance!

Located in the centre of beautiful Birmingham, the small presence street-side belies the scale and beauty of what’s inside. A perfect fusion of modern and traditional, it’s a welcoming and magnificent building. Before the show, we were welcomed to a reception of other corporate partners where we heard from the Hippodrome team and enjoyed a fascinating and insightful Q and A with Les Mis’s Resident Director – Lauren Storer.

On to the show…

Before I start, I have to admit that I already love Les Misérables and, having adored it since my grandparents first took me at 12 years old, this latest production was going to be measured by my yardstick : the 10 year Anniversary ‘Dream Cast’ Soundtrack, which was basically the soundtrack to my teens (Well that and NuMetal, but that’s another blog!).

As I said, on to the show

Wow! Boy did it live up to the hype! A few of my friends have recently watched the same production in Manchester and I have heard only rave reviews…I’m delighted to say that they weren’t wrong! The costumes, lighting and staging were all exceptional (even minus the previously signature revolving stage) it was a feast for the eyes! But that aside, the company produced the most captivating telling of Les Misérables. Killian Donnelly’s Valjean was fabulous and the power of Nic Greenshileds’ voice made me adore Javert despite him being the ‘baddie’! Fantine’s small but integral role was portrayed by Katie Hall and do you know what…she nailed it! What a performance!

My standout performances

Whist the main characters were fabulous of course, I have to say that there were moments in the show where I believed Harry Apps was even better than Michael Ball as Marius. (Controversial perhaps, but I stand by it) I felt his voice touch my soul. Special mention to Will Richardson who played Friends of the ABC leader Enjolras – – he might just have been my favourite! An exceptional voice and performance; I hope to see him in a leading role soon.

A standing ovation well deserved. If my ‘Dream Cast’ is a 10 and the Hollywood version (which I did enjoy) is a 3, Birmingham Hippodrome’s Les Mis is a solid 9.5. Go and see it.

Final call for boarding as audiences are flown to sunny Benidorm for a laugh-a-minute production. The famous Solana hotel and the Alicante sunshine were brought to the North Wales coast when the hit TV show Benidorm took to the Venue Cymru stage for its opening night.

Stars of the ITV television series including Jake Canuso (Mateo), Janine Duvitski (Jacqueline), Adam Gillen (Liam), Sherrie Hewson (Joyce Temple-Savage), Shelley Longworth (Sam) and Tony Maudsley (Kenneth) brought their much-loved characters to life for the audience and let me reassure you it’s just as crazy and bonkers in real life as it is on the tele!

As a fan of the TV show, which has been on screens for 10 years, I immediately knew Benidorm Live was something I had to see. I couldn’t wait to see how writer Derren Litten would mould these characters and the storylines for the stage and I was definitely not disappointed.

Litten has put together a perfect show for Benidorm fans. The production is packed with hilarious humour, innuendos, loveable characters and a set which will have you amazed! Audiences will be guaranteed to feel part of the show from the moment they enter the theatre when they see the Solana, Neptune Bar and hear the likes of Cher and George Michael playing in the background!

This live ‘on-stage’ episode has plenty of links to past episodes of Benidorm and many references to characters previously seen on the show. Of course, as each character appeared on stage they received a warm welcome from the audience. Jacqueline played by the fabulous Janine Duvitski was one of those characters, she’s loved for her double entendres, rude remarks and innuendos – if you go to watch the show keep an ear out for her cocktail choices… need I say anymore? You can probably guess for yourselves!

Hands down my favourite scenes of the night were all those which included Blow ’n’ Go’s Tony Maudsley (Kenneth) and Adam Gillen (Liam). The natural comic timing between them is incredible and I was in stitches every time they joined the stage. There were plenty of unexpected added comedy moments from Gillen which had the audience including the rest of the cast in fits of laughter. The scene where he sings ‘Unforgettable’ might have been one of the funniest scenes I’ve seen play out live on stage.

I’ve never left a theatre aching from laughing, or come to that, heard the auditorium filled with so much laughter. Benidorm really lifted the spirits in Venue Cymru and the standing ovation was rightly deserved. Benidorm isn’t Benidorm without these fantastic characters and actors – they all play a wonderful part to make the show what it is.

If you are a fan of the series or just love good comedy – this is one is for you!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your sun cream, order in the Sangria and get yourself to Venue Cymru to see this hilarious production of Benidorm Live!

Benidorm Live will be at Venue Cymru until April 13th so grab your shorts and swimsuits and head down to Venue Cymru – this is one laugh-out-loud show you’ll definitely not want to miss.

To book your tickets for the sunshine show of the season just call the Box Office on 01492 872000 or visit the Venue Cymru website.

We’re giving you the chance to be part of the audience when Blood Brothers comes to Venue Cymru this Spring! That’s right… you and a friend could be attending the opening night of the 2019 Spring Tour of the popular musical, Blood Brothers, written by Willy Russell.

Just keep on reading to find out how you can enter…

The Blood Brothers plot tells the captivating story of twins, Mickey and Edward, who were separated at birth and grow up in two completely different homes with two totally different backgrounds but end up forming a friendship.

However the musical takes a turn when the pair grow more distant when both of their lives take different paths one into education another into a world of crime. The heart-wrenching musical comes to a climax when Mickey takes drastic action against his twin when, whilst in prison, he learns that Edward has opened his arms for Mickey’s childhood sweetheart, Linda, which may have a fatal end.

The Spring 2019 tour will feature new members to the Blood Brothers UK tour cast but will still include songs such as Bright New Day, Marylin Monroe, and Tell Me It’s Not True.

This musical is packed with emotion, drama and intensity and is definitely not to be missed! Find out how you can enter our competition to win two tickets to see the opening night at Venue Cymru below:

To enter our Facebook competition for the chance to win two tickets to see the Blood Brothers UK tour cast perform this heart wrenching musical live on stage just visit our Aberconwy Resort & Spa Facebook page.

The UK tour of Blood Brothers will be in Llandudno’s Venue Cymru theatre from Monday 15th April to Saturday 20th April.

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 Friday 5th April and a winner will be selected at random
– The winner will be chosen at 4pm and announced by 5pm on Friday 5th April
– 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 Aberconwy Resort & Spa or Darwin Escapes
– The prize is 2 tickets to see Blood Brothers at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Monday 15th April
– Prize must be claimed via direct message by midnight on Friday 5th April
– 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
– Tickets can be collected from the Box Office from one hour before curtain up only
– Prize is non-transferable
– The manager’s decision is final

GOOD LUCK! Oh and don’t forget to give our Aberconwy Resort & Spa 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.

The Tilford Bach Society is organising the annual festive Carols by Candlelight event, which is sponsored by Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat. The Tilford Bach Society was founded in 1952 by Denys Darlow, who is now a well-known and popular conductor, as well as an interpreter of 17th and 18th Century music…

The TBS runs a number of festivals and concerts in both Tilford and Farnham throughout the year, including monthly high quality chamber music concerts in Farnham Castle, along with running an international baroque concert, which showcases predominantly Bach’s music. There are monthly chamber music concerts in a number of churches around Farnham, as well as a series of Conservatoire Concerts in Godalming, which have been created as the perfect place to give students and young professionals performance opportunities.

The Candles by Candlelight event is taking place on 8th December at the historic All Saints Church, starting at 6pm. There will be a number of choir performances, a few readings and a charming school chamber choir. There will also be a charity collection for the All Saints Church, which is now over 150 years old and as such, requires a lot of maintenance, and has an historic connection to the Tilford Bach Society, being the church were Denys Darlow founded the society nearly 70 years ago.

Head to the church on December 8th for festive event, which is proudly sponsored by our own Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat.

Have you booked your Christmas holiday at Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat? Enjoy a winter break away in the beautiful English countryside of Farnham, Surrey. Indulge in complete relaxation with our unique log-style cabins with four poster beds, sumptuous sofas and some lodges even boast hot tubs and private saunas, the ultimate winter get away is waiting for you.

Talacre Beach Resort are the proud sponsors of the Kinmel Bay FC Under 12’s team. Kinmel Bay Football Club was the first football club in Wales that was awarded the Gold Accreditation, which is the highest accolade to be awarded in grassroots football. A popular football team to local residents, with a rich history of football and awards, Talacre Beach are proud to sponsor the Under 12’s team, helping to provide them with a fabulous kit!

Talacre Beach is always looking for ways to give back to the local community and sponsoring the popular Kinmel Bay FC Under 12’s is a wonderful way of supporting activity and community football in North Wales.

more about talacre beach

Talacre Beach Resort offers 5 star facilities, including an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi pool to relax in. We also boast a beautiful on-park Bistro Restaurant, with a fully stocked bar, and a cabaret lounge which has a full programme of events, cabaret acts and nightly entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. The entertainment programme from our cheeky Charlie Bear and his team of Rangers is fun for everyone, along with a great Go Active schedule, which includes water walkers and archery and is free of charge to our community of owners.

Becoming an owner at Talacre Beach is much easier than you think, book a park tour with our friendly staff and they will be able to show you all that our seaside location has to offer. Including our 5 star facilities and a wide range of static caravans for sale in North Wales, our team will take you step by step through the purchasing process and variety of purchasing options available to you.

To find out a bit more about ownership at Talacre Beach, call our dedicated team on 01745 858010 or talk to an advisor via our Live Chat service, or you opt to request a brochure.

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.

We’re giving you the chance to see the Cinderella panto for just £15… Oh yes we are!

There was plenty of excitement amongst the cast members as the launch for Venue Cymru’s 2018 pantomime got underway.We were lucky enough to be granted a sneak peek at this year’s Cinderella cast and were able to find out what’s in store for audiences who visit the spectacular production which takes to the Llandudno stage in Venue Cymru on December 8th.

The classic fairy-tale story line has some interesting and quirky characters and audiences will get to meet Cinderella’s VERY Ugly Sisters, her humorous and kind best friend Buttons and her magical Fairy Godmother who will help to transform Cinderella for one night only, as she’s treated to an evening at the ball. Will she find her Prince Charming before the clock strikes 12? You’ll have to wait and see…

This year’s cast will be led by The Wanted boy-band member turned theatre actor, Tom Parker who will take on the role of Prince Charming. This will be his first dip into the panto world following his recent UK tour in the musical Grease, where he played leading man Danny Zuko. His Cinderella will be played by Carly Burns, who is bound to win over the audiences as they root for her to find her Prince Charming in time before her spell wears off!

Taking on the role of Fairy Godmother is West End and musical theatre sensation Natalie Winsor, who is now in her fourth year of productions with Qdos Entertainment and has previously starred in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Theatre Royal Bath and productions of Dirty Dancing & Fame.

The hilarious Herbie Adams will also be joining the cast to play Buttons. The hugely talented actor and funny man has been a regular on stage for over 20 years and in that time performed globally in over 30 countries! So you’re sure to be in for a lot of laughs.

Like last years Peter Pan Panto this 2018 production will be packed full of magical moments that the whole family can enjoy.

Expect to see stunning sparkling costumes, real life Shetland ponies and experience lots of laughter as this full company of actors, dancers, musicians and children from the Pearl Shaw School of Performing Arts put on a show-stopping once a year performance!

You’ll come away feeling magical and in the festive mood as pantomime producer, Qdos Entertainment bring another fabulous production to the North Wales coastline.

So make sure to grab your fanciest frock or bow tie and head to the ball for this years’ Llandudno Cinderella pantomime!

Cinderella will bring the sparkle to Llandudno’s Venue Cymru from December 8th to 30th. Tickets range from £24.50 – £19.50 (concessions available).

If you’re staying at any of our North Wales holiday parks this December then you’ll not want to miss all of the family-fun and traditional festive celebrations this annual theatre performance
brings!

Grab your Cinderella tickets at the Venue Cymru Box Office on 01492 872000 or visit their website.