Beauty and the Beast

Cardiff panto 2026: Beauty and the Beast at New Theatre

Gethin Jones, Steve Speirs and Mike Doyle star in Beauty and the Beast, the Christmas 2026 pantomime at New Theatre Cardiff, running from Saturday 5 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. It is produced by Imagine Theatre, with Stagecoach Performing Arts as official production sponsor, and the company mixes a well-known presenter, a screen actor and Cardiff's favourite dame with performers from Cardiff and South Wales.

The story and what to expect

When an arrogant prince is cursed to live as a fearsome Beast, he has to find love before the last petal falls from a magic rose. Could village girl Beauty be the person he has been waiting for? This classic tale gets an unmistakable panto twist, packed with laugh-out-loud comedy, dazzling costumes, show-stopping songs and jaw-dropping magic, plus audience participation galore. Shouting out is very much encouraged.

Cast

Gethin Jones, the television presenter, plays Filipe De Boeuf.

Steve Speirs, an actor across television, film and stage, plays Monsieur Marzipan.

Mike Doyle, billed as Cardiff's favourite dame, plays Betty Bonbon, catchphrase and all ("Alriiight!"). Jack Ryan plays Betty's son, Almonde.

Jo Osmond, a TikTok sensation and Cardiff's own, plays the villain, Madame Spite.

Jade Davies, a West End performer, plays Belle, and South Wales's Harri Lloyd-Morgan plays the Beast.

Dates and times

The opening performance is on Saturday 5 December 2026 at 2.30pm and the run ends on Sunday 3 January 2027. Schools performances are at 1.30pm on Tuesday 8, Thursday 10, Friday 11, Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 December. Accessible performances are scheduled at 1pm, 2.30pm and 6pm, and other times vary by day.

Who is it for (age guidance and running time)

Imagine Theatre recommends Beauty and the Beast for ages 3 and up, and it is designed for the whole family, whether you are a lifelong panto fan or experiencing the magic for the first time. The show runs for about 125 minutes, including a 20 minute interval. Photos are not allowed during the performance, but there is a moment after the song sheet when photos and video are welcome. Family tickets for four, which need at least two under 16s, are valid on Standard performances.

Accessible and relaxed performances

The relaxed performance is on Tuesday 15 December 2026 at 6pm. The theatre's box office can advise on availability and assistance for it, and a select number of relaxed seats are also available online. A signed performance is on Saturday 12 December at 2.30pm and a captioned performance on Saturday 2 January at 2.30pm. The audio described performance is on Sunday 3 January at 1pm.

Getting to New Theatre Cardiff

New Theatre is on Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3LN, in the heart of the city with lots of restaurants nearby. Cardiff Queen Street is the nearest station, roughly a 5 minute walk away, and Cardiff Central is around 15 minutes on foot. Greyfriars Road, a short walk away, is served by many Cardiff Bus routes. There is on-street and Blue Badge parking around City Hall, and the Capitol Shopping Centre car park is nearby. Drinks, snacks and interval ice creams are on sale inside.