The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre are delighted to be welcoming in their Summer Season with a fantastic and varied programme of activity taking place between May and August 2022!
The first Summer Season since 2019, The Riverfront team have made sure to pack the next few months with shows and events for all ages from a range of genres including comedy, dance, drama, music and family entertainment.
May
Launching the season on Sunday 1 May will be leading animal presenters the Animal Guyz and their funny, entertaining and educational family show Animal Antics. Their show will be packed full of animal effects, music and laughter as stunning puppetry and special effects bring incredible life-like and life-size animals and dinosaurs to the stage.
For music lovers there are a range of live music shows scheduled across May which present evenings of musical entertainment from a variety of genres. For fans of ‘80s music there is 80s Mania, Fastlove: A Tribute to George Michael, You Win Again: Celebrating the Music of the Bee Gees and Showaddywaddy. Guitar enthusiasts won’t want to miss The Story of Guitar Heroes or The Sound of Springsteen, and there are also great evenings of music from The Simon & Garfunkel Story and Hello Again: A Tribute to Neil Diamond.
Two comedians taking to the stage this May will be Sean McLoughlin and Scott Bennett. The world may be a strange and scary place but there's no need for it to get you down. Come sit in a dark room and listen to some jokes told by "an impassioned and uniquely brilliant talent" (The List) in Sean McLoughlin: So Be It. Scott Bennett has written for many high-profile acts such as Chris Ramsey and Jason Manford, and recently recorded his debut on BBC One’s Live at the Apollo. In massive demand as a comedy writer and with regular appearances on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz and The Now Show, Scott Bennett: Great Scott is not a show to be missed.
For fans of dance, there are two evenings of high-quality work with The Sanctuary, created by Wales based choreographer Marcus Jarrell Willis. This piece will be a one act duet dance work that invites the audience on a journey to reach within and embrace their sanctuary – an intimate place during a time where refuge and tranquillity are starved for mankind. The Sanctuary will include original writing compositions by Welsh born, up and coming writer, Tomos O’Sullivan, and music by various UK and international artists, including original music by American vocalist, Lashondra Lankford.
This May there will also be a talk from TV's most experienced, highest ranking and most decorated SAS leader and sniper in An Audience with Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham.
June
Launching June will be Graeme Hall: The Dogfather. For the first time ever, dog and puppy owners will have the chance to seek advice from ‘Britain’s best dog trainer’ (The Telegraph) for all their canine concerns. This specially crafted show is full of tricks, memories, heart-warming surprises, and an exclusive Q&A, all presented in an intimate and relaxed live setting.
Theatre company Arad Goch will present Welsh language piece Twm Sion Cati. The production will take school audiences on a trip to the dangerous times of the 16th century with songs, sword fighting and laughter. Young people will also enjoy Twisted Tales, a brand-new original comedy by Terry Deary (author of Horrible Histories). The show will be full of unexpected highs and lows, quick costume changes and sharp wit, as audiences enjoy twisted tales of times gone by in one wild whirlwind.
Sparked by the discovery of a series of letters from his father in Nigeria to his mother in Wales is drama The Gods Are All Here, a compelling, lyrical and warm, one-man performance from first-class storyteller, Phil Okwedy. This captivating storytelling piece skilfully weaves myth, song, folktales and legends of the African diaspora with an astonishing personal story that uncovers Phil’s experiences of growing up as a child of dual heritage in 1960 &’70s Wales.
In June Ballet Cymru will return with their brand-new production Dream. Dream is a vibrant, fresh, and innovative new full-length ballet based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Working with award-winning instrumentalist and composer Frank Moon, Ballet Cymru have created a magical, gender bending world of fairies, lovers, and bewitching enchantment. There will be an audio described and a relaxed performance of Dream when it comes to The Riverfront on the 27 – 29 June.
For comedy fans Alfie Moore: Fair Cop Unleashed will tick all the right boxes. Fair Cop Unleashed is based on a dramatic real-life incident from Alfie's police casebook. Relive with him the thrilling ups and downs of the night a mysterious clown came to town and more than one life ended up in the balance. Enjoy Alfie’s unique brand of humour hilariously woven together with his personal insights into his life on the front-line of the police force.
Mid Wales Opera Orchestra will return to the stage for the first time in three years with their Midsummer Celebration concert. The orchestra will perform a midsummer themed programme of timeless favourites from Mendelssohn, Finzi, Owain Llwyd and Vaughan Williams.
There will be a matinee performance of A Day to Remember, celebrating the life and music of Doris Day. Starring award - winning singer Lynda Radford, this special centenary production features her performances with some of Hollywood's greatest leading men, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Perry Como and John Denver
More live music in June comes from Back to Bacharach, Walk Right Back, Fleetwood Bac, The Upbeat Beatles, Ansell’s Les Musicals and Sun Records: The Concert.
July
July begins with an invitation to step back to 1938 to hear Ivor Novello’s legendary mam sing his best-loved songs… and relive the painful events that shaped her life and her intriguing relationship with her son in Novello & Son.
A second drama comes from Pariah Khan’s An Indian Abroad. Stifled by life in middle-class India, Krishnan takes a gap year to Britain to find himself. What does his journey teach him about himself and the world? And what happens when he falls in love with a native?
For families there are two very exciting shows this July. Milkshake! Monkey is back and can’t wait to put on a spectacular new show with some of his favourite Milkshake! Friends including Paddington, Daisy & Ollie, Noddy, Blues Clues & You and of course Milkshake Monkey in Milkshake Live! The story of two typical young rascal boys playing in their messy bedroom is brought to life in Chores which presents a generous serve of comedy and chaotic acrobatics.
There will be a very special evening, celebrating country superstar royalty Dolly Parton and the late great Kenny Rogers in Island in the Stream. Bowie Experience will be a spectacular concert celebrating the sound and vision of David Bowie and Total 90s will cram all that was good and great from the pop charts of the decade into a unique high energy experience.
Sharing funny stories from the front line of teaching, Two Mr P’s in a Podcast will see the two Mr Ps of reminiscing on their own school days and looking at the wonderful and hilarious world of education. Anyone who went to school will enjoy and relate to this brilliant new show.
August
August at The Riverfront will be filled with workshops and cinema screenings as the main auditoriums are reset and essential maintenance work takes place in preparation for a busy Autumn Season that will include the first panto since 2019!
Families can enjoy Stars Live! and the stage will be set for the greatest talent show ever as some of your favourite children’s TV starts take to the stage including Ben and Holly, PJ Masks, My Little Pony, Mr Monopoly and Mr & Mrs Potato Head!
The Riverfront’s monthly regulars will continue this Summer Season. Lunchtime Concerts will showcase young classical musicians from Sinfonia Cymru and Live Music Now on the first Wednesday of the month in one-hour long concerts showcasing musicians which include vocalists, violinist, and harpists. For new parents there is Aftermith on the last Tuesday of the month. This daytime comedy club is aimed specifically at parents of under 18-month-olds, providing them some much needed comedy entertainment during the day without the worry of having to find a babysitter. Our monthly evening comedy club Comedy Shed will continue on the last Friday of the month as comedians including Eleri Ward, Tom Morgan, Raj Poojara and Elliot Steel take to the stage.
In addition to all of these fantastic shows The Riverfront will also have a busy weekly workshop and cinema programme and continue its community outreach programmes this Summer Season. To find out more about everything coming up at The Riverfront and to book your tickets visit newportlive.co.uk/Riverfront.
