We've got an exciting year ahead with more shows than you can shake a stick at. Here's a taster to whet your appetite.
1. Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
16 – 26 January 2019
Jersey Boys is a West End phenomenon, having bagged 55 major awards worldwide. Follow the rise and fall of Frankie Valli and the boys from the wrong side of the track, who mingled with the Mob and created some incredible music.
2. The Full Monty
11 – 16 March 2019
Winner of the prestigious UK Theatre Award this hilarious and heart-felt musical about six out-of-work steelworkers from Sheffield has had standing ovations every night with an all-star cast and sensational soundtrack featuring songs from Donna Summer and Tom Jones.
3. Motown The Musical
26 March – 6 April 2019
Discover the story behind Motown; the personal relationships, the professional struggles, and the music that got the whole world moving to the same beat.
With over over 50 Motown classics including: My Girl, What’s Going On, Dancing in the Street, and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, this musical will definitely get your inner groove on.
4. The Bodyguard
16 – 27 April 2019
This extraordinary production, based on the high-grossing film has been dazzling audiences with three-time Brit nominee and X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke in the role of Rachel Marron. Expect all of the hits in this romantic thriller.
5. Calendar Girls the Musical
30 April – 11 May 2019
This award-winning production by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth tells the story of a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something extra-ordinary. Straight from London’s West End this marvellous, musical comedy is not to be missed.
6. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
14 – 18 May 2019
This family show retells the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and his coat of many colours with classic songs by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, including Go, Go, Go Joseph, Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door to Me and more.
7. WNO Freedom
7 June–23 June 2019
Join the Welsh National Opera as they address justice, freedom and human rights for a moving and impactful Summer Season in 2019.
The four semi-staged, and one full opera include: Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Menotti’s The Consul, Dallapiccola and Beethoven’s The Pisoner and Fidelio Act II Respectively, and Krása’s Brundibár.
8. Kinky Boots
22 July – 3 August 2019
This fresh, fabulous, feel-good musical is coming to Cardiff on its first ever UK tour.
From a failing Northampton factory to Milan’s glamorous catwalks, the unlikely duo of Charlie Price and drag queen Lola put their new stamp on the family business, triumphing over tradition as they go.
9. Annie
19 – 31 August 2019
This glorious revival transports us back to 1930s New York, where plucky young Annie is trying to keep her chin up at Miss Hannigan’s miserable orphanage.
Everything changes when she’s singled out to spend a fairy tale Christmas with famous billionaire Oliver Warbucks but can Annie discover her true family before her luck runs out?
10. Grease
15 – 19 October 2019
Featuring songs such as Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted to You and You’re the One That I Want, get the whole family together to enjoy the new UK & Ireland tour of the smash-hit musical, Grease.
Grittier and more glamorous than ever before, this brand-new production follows young lovers, Sandy and Danny as they face the trials and tribulations of teenage life in their senior year at Rydell High.
11. Eddie Izzard
5 – 6 November 2019
Eddie is back to his roots with an all-new show which expands on his own very unique, totally surreal view of life, love, history and his ‘theory of the universe’.
His new show covers everything from humans over the last 100,000 years to talking dogs and animal superheroes. Wunderbar is a delicious insight into the surreal and fantastical world of Eddie Izzard.
12. Les Misérables
26 November 2019 – 4 January 2020
For the first time in 10 years, the world's greatest musical will be storming the barricades here in Cardiff, just in time for Christmas.
Inspired by the classic novel by Victor Hugo this heart-wrenching musical includes the songs 'I Dreamed A Dream', 'On My Own', 'Bring Him Home' and many more. Not to be missed.