The Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare - 01685 881188

The Coliseum Theatre
Mount Plesant Street
Trecynon
Aberdare
CF44 8NG
Box Office - 08000 147 111
Website - www.rct-arts.co.uk

Thursday 8 March 7.30pm.
UNFORGETTABLE
The Hits of the 1950's and 1960's.

Featuring a world class cast of talented vocalists and musicians, singing music from some of the most loved musical icons of the 1950's and 60's, legends such as Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Frankie Valli, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, The Carpenters, The Beatles, Patsy Cline and performing smash hits like 'Downtown', 'Fever' 'My Guy,' Dream Dream', 'Bye Bye Love', 'Say A Little Prayer', 'Under the Moon of Love' and many more.

unforgettableshow.com
£15.50.

Friday 16 March 8.00pm
GRETCHEN PETERS
Plus special guests
Hailed by many as one of Nashville's best contemporary songwriters, Gretchen Peters' intelligent and introspective songs have been covered by pop, country, blues and folk artists all over the world.

She possesses a rare ability to drive a strong point, yet capture it eloquently in song. That ability has won Peters two Grammy nominations and sold her millions of records worldwide.

gretchenpeters.com

£19.50.

Saturday 17 March 2.30pm.
The CHUCKLE BROTHERS
in Return of the Pirates of the River Rother 2 'in Stranger Tights'

Ahoy there landlubbers! A vast behind and prepare to splice the main brace as the boys go on a full blown swash-buckling adventure at sea!

Paul and Barry are visiting a Theme park for the day and decide to brave going on one of the daring Water rides. Once inside, they are leaning on a wall when they accidentally fall through and find themselves magically transported back in time in to a world of Pirates and Sunken Treasures. Don't miss this spectacular pirate adventure! Magic, mystery and mayhem are guaranteed. Fun and laughter for all the family and grandmother as well!
£13.50.

Friday 23 March 8.00pm.
COLIN FRY: THE PEOPLE'S MEDIUM.
Higher Senses Tour 2012

Being one of the World's most recognised Spiritualist Mediums and Healers, Colin's TV series "6ixth Sense" has now been broadcast worldwide for 10 years making his public performances an International demand.

This year's tour will once again see Colin Fry bring his own unique form of comfort and fulfilment to ordinary people living ordinary lives, proving once again he is very much the People's Medium.

Evenings of mediumship are not scientifically proven and are presented for entertainment purposes only.

colinfry.co.uk
£18.50.

Thursday 29 & Friday 30 March 7.00pm.
CONTENDER
A Musical Based on the Life of Tommy Farr
Written by Mal Pope
Presented by Take pART Senior Academy

From the boxing booths of the Rhondda to a World Title fight against Joe Louis at Yankee Stadium, this is the rags to riches story of one of the bravest men to enter the ring, Tommy Farr.

After making his fortune in America, the war and a series of personal tragedies left him penniless. With a young family and mounting debts there is only one way out. It's the only thing he knows. At the age of 37 he only has one option, to get back into the ring.

£7.00

Saturday 31 March 8.00pm.
LEE NELSON - LIVE

Star of Live at the Apollo (BBC ONE) and two series of the smash-hit comedy Lee Nelson's Well Good Show (BBC THREE). "The hottest creation since Ali G and Vicky Pollard" (Daily Mirror) is adding extra dates to his live tour because of overwhelming popular demand.

Warning Adult Material - Over 18's Only.

leenelson.com
£22.50.

Tuesday 22 - Saturday 26 May 7.30pm & matinee on Thursday at 1.00pm.
GRANNY ANNIE
Written by and Starring Frank Vickery

Wales' favourite playwright Frank Vickery is back with his smash hit comedy Granny Annie

Come follow the adventures of possibly the worst amateur dramatic company ever as they prepare for the opening of their latest musical production - which promises to be the biggest theatrical disaster of all time!

The laughs come thick and fast as we follow their antics in the dressing-room each night as they stumble their way through a disastrous but hysterical week, culminating in a finale to remember!

This is arguably the funniest Vickery comedy of his career! Be prepared to laugh till you burst!

Contains Mild Language.

frankvickery.co.uk

£12.00 Concessions £9.00. 2 stalls tickets for £14.00 on Tuesday evening and Thursday matinee.

Thursday 7 June 7.30pm.
London Classic Theatre present
EQUUS
by Peter Shaffer

In a Hampshire stable, a youth blinds six horses with a metal spike.

Convicted of this appalling crime, seventeen-year-old Alan Strang is sent to a secure psychiatric hospital. Martin Dysart, the child psychiatrist assigned to him, begins to probe Alan's past in an attempt to understand his motives. Initially the boy is silent and uncooperative, but as Dysart digs deeper, he begins to win Alan's trust and the truth gradually emerges. Finally, as Alan struggles to be free of his demons, he must relive the events of that terrible night.

Inspired by a true story, Peter Shaffer's unique psychological thriller explores the complex relationships between worship, myth and sexuality.

Equus was originally staged in 1973 at the Royal National Theatre, London. In 1977, a film adaptation of the play was released starring Richard Burton and Peter Firth. In 2007, the play was revived in the West End for the first time since its première, in a critically-acclaimed production starring Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths.

Peter Shaffer was born in 1926. His award-winning plays include The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1964), Black Comedy (1965) and Amadeus (1979). Equus won the Tony Award and New York Critics Circle Award for Best New Play in 1977.

'taut, flawless and compelling' The Stage

'astonishing theatricality...beautifully lit and staged' Hexham Courant

'quite simply, this is the kind of show for which awards are given' WhatsOnStage

Contains strong language, adult themes and nudity. Age Guidance 14+

londonclassictheatre.co.uk
£12.50, Concessions £9.50, Students £7.50.

The Muni Arts Centre
01443 485934
At The Muni Arts Centre
Gelliwastad Road
Pontypridd
CF37 2DP
Box Office - 08000 147 111
Website - www.rct-arts.co.uk

Friday 3 February 8.00pm.
THE OUTSIDE TRACK
Cabaret Style Seating
A stunning synthesis of virtuosity and energy, The Outside Track's marriage of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music and song has been rapturously received around the world. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation. Using fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, flute, step-dance and vocals these five virtuosos blend boundless energy with unmistakable joie de vivre.

'Simply a consummate blend of skill, talent, flair and intensity. Best of the best! The perfect blend' Folkwords

theoutsidetrack.com

£12.50 Students £5.50.

Thursday 9 February 8.00pm.
THE WEBB SISTERS
Plus special guests Zervas & Pepper
Cabaret Style Seating
Dynamic performers with expressive voices and dazzling harmonies, The Webb Sisters are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters of originality and intelligence who create enthralling live performances.

Their singing and playing (harp, guitar, mandolin, piano, drums) draw from the folk and pop traditions of Britain and the United States, they have recorded three albums, building a following on their travels, achieving album, single and record of the week on iTunes and BBC Radio 2 and they have performed with artists such as Jamie Cullum, James Morrison and Jason Mraz,

They were also part of Leonard Cohen's band on his triumphant return to live performances.

thewebbsisters.com
£12.50.

Saturday 3 March 7.30pm.
TAFFYFEST IV

Featuring Wales' very own Mike Doyle plus special guests with the participation of the Take pART Performance Crew
Directed by Richard Tunley

Mike loves Wales and is proud to be Welsh, join him as he takes you on a rollercoaster journey through his life - through the music that inspired him, his passion for theatre and the people who influenced him, all interwoven with tales from his past told with Mike's irrepressible wit and humour.

With a brilliant live band, music from some of his most memorable roles, including the smash hit Welsh musical The Contender and laughs aplenty - this is one glittering tribute to Wales that is not to be missed.

£12.50, Concessions £9.50.

Friday 9 March 7.30pm.
THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE
The Bon Jovi Experience is an outstanding tribute to one of the greatest rock bands of all time - they are also the only Bon Jovi tribute band in the world to have played live with Jon Bon Jovi himself!

Recreating Bon Jovi Live in Concert, The Bon Jovi Experience perform all the great hits: Livin' On a Prayer, Keep the Faith, Bad Medicine, You Give Love a Bad Name and many more.

jonbyjovi.com

£16.50.

Thursday 15 March 8.00pm.
SPIRO
Plus support.
Cabaret Style Seating.
They might bear the tools of the folk musician and be partial to the odd traditional tune, but Spiro have closer affinities to the worlds of contemporary classical and dance music than they do to the folk scene.

This four-piece contemporary ensemble take a meticulous approach to composition and performance, creating a sound much greater than their parts (accordion, mandolin, acoustic guitar and violin) would suggest. Their recent album 'Lightbox', on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records - is sweeping, majestic and cinematic.

'Breathtakingly moving' BBC Music

'This is soulful music, passionate music, and I love it' Peter Gabriel

spiromusic.com

£12.50.

Friday 30 March 8.00pm.
JON RICHARDSON: Funny Magnet
Cabaret Style Seating
The new host of Channel 4's Stand Up For The Week, team captain on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and best-selling author discusses the everyday items that have a profound effect on his outlook. Funny Magnet sees Jon working his pessimism with some hilarious consequences, and as always with his loveable vivacious delivery.

'Sublimely brilliant, stunning....He is a comic right on the verge of greatness. If you haven't seen him yet get your finger out and sort it.' Time Out

'Destined for showbiz big-time' Evening Standard

jonrichardsoncomedy.com

Warning Adult Material - Over 18's Only.

£13.00

Thursday 5 April 8.00pm
CARA DILLON
Plus support
Cabaret Style Seating
Cara Dillon's rare talent, gentle charm and natural personality combined with a mesmerising gift to relate a great story through song, have helped establish her as one of the worlds leading exponents of traditional Irish music.

Her success defies borders, cultures and even languages and has led to numerous awards and some truly remarkable achievements along the way, including most recently winning Best Album at the 2010 BBC Folk Awards and singing the title song to the latest Disney Tinker Bell movie.

caradillon.co.uk

£17.50

Saturday 7 April 8.00pm.
FEAST OF FIDDLES
This 12 piece compendium of British folk stars featuring six of the finest fiddle players in the land,: Ian Cutler (Bully Wee Band), Tom Leary ( Tanna), Chris Leslie (Fairport Convention), Phil Beer (Show Of Hands) Peter Knight (Steeleye Span), Brian McNeill (ex Battlefield Band) and Garry Blakeley, backed by folk-rock drumming legend Dave Mattacks, is the ultimate super-group .

Expect a rousing performance of stirring music and some jaw-droppingly good musicianship. Every musical genre is covered and the dynamic range is huge.

feastoffiddles.com

£19.50

Tuesday 1 - Saturday 5 May 7.30pm & matinee on Wednesday at 1.00pm.
GRANNY ANNIE
Written by and Starring Frank Vickery

Grassroots Production in association with RCT Theatres.

Wales' favourite playwright Frank Vickery is back with his smash hit comedy Granny Annie

Come follow the adventures of possibly the worst amateur dramatic company ever as they prepare for the opening of their latest musical production - which promises to be the biggest theatrical disaster of all time!

The laughs come thick and fast as we follow their antics in the dressing-room each night as they stumble their way through a disastrous but hysterical week, culminating in a finale to remember!

This is arguably the funniest Vickery comedy of his career! Be prepared to laugh till you burst!

Contains Mild Language.

frankvickery.co.uk

£12.00 Concessions £9.00. 2 stalls tickets for £14.00 on Tuesday evening and Wednesday matinee.

Tuesday 29 May 7.30pm.
THE GAMES
Presented by Spike Theatre in association with Unity Theatre & The Met.

This frenetic innuendo-filled slapstick comedy follows the story of three Greek nobodies caught up in a celestial bet between Zeus, Hera and Hercules. The unwitting heros: Stanzas a terrible poet, Darius the runt of the litter and Hermaphrodite who was born a girl, travel to compete in the ancient Olympics and take on the champions of the sporting world with epic results for mankind and realistic willies.

The Games incorporates clowning, original music, song and shadow puppetry and is co-directed by Mark Smith (Spike) with Toby Park (Spymonkey). Original music composed by Toby Park.

'Wickedly funny' The Stage

"Very, very funny" British Theatre Guide

'hilarious from beginning to end' What's On Stage.

Over 16's only - Contains strong language plus scenes of fake and real nudity.

£12.50

The Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy - 01443 773112

At The Park & Dare Theatre
Station Road
Treorchy
CF42 6NL
Box Office - 08000 147 111
Website - www.rct-arts.co.uk

Wednesday 29 February 1.00pm & 7.00pm.
NOYE'S FLUDDE
By Benjamin Britten
Presented by Mid Wales Opera

In a ground-breaking project Mid Wales Opera joins forces with hundreds of young actors, singers and dancers from across Wales to present this dynamic new production.

Mrs Noye has lost her way. She has got mixed up with 'the wrong sort' and has abandoned her husband and her children. Mr Noye has become increasingly obsessed with the effect of deforestation on the climate and is looking to save the planet and his marriage…

A lively and witty take on a familiar story involving hundreds of young people working alongside professionals.

Supported by Size of Wales - a unique scheme to sustain an area of tropical rain forest the size of Wales as part of the national response to climate.

midwalesopera.co.uk

£8.50, Concessions £7.50, Students £5.00

Friday 2 March 8.00pm.
CHRIS SMITHER
In The Lounge Bar
Chris Smither is America's great blues poet with a weary, well-travelled voice and a serenely intricate finger-picking style that turns the blues into songs that accept hard-won lessons and try to make peace with fate.

If you've ever caught one of Chris Smither's live performances, you know it's hard not to come away knocked out by the amount of music that comes out of one man.

smither.com
£14.00

Saturday 3 March 2.30pm.
ONE STEP, TWO STEP
Presented by Arad Goch.
In The Lounge Bar.

Believe it or not the Stone Collector's favourite pastime is collecting stones! And his Wife thoroughly enjoys making all sorts of things - pictures, cakes, shapes, you name it, out of stones. Through playing and dramatic storytelling the characters stimulate the young audiences' imagination. The Stone Collector and his Wife, who plays a little harp, have fun bringing stories alive and singing. The audience is encouraged to think, reason, question and fact find in a fun, exciting and interactive performance.

Ideal for children 2 - 7 years of age and families.
Children £3.00, Adults £1.00

Thursday 8 March 8.00pm.
THE LAUGHTER LOUNGE GOES LARGE
Top notch comedy with some of the biggest and brightest rising comedians on the circuit.
Laugh? You'll snort like a pig!

Elis James

'Getting the sort of word-of-mouth recommendations that much more experienced comics would kill their mothers for' The Scotsman

'He hypnotises the audience into loving him. There's also a laugh every ten seconds or so which overall makes it a complete joy' Time Out

'Welsh fireball Elis James makes for a delightful idiot' Chortle

Warning Adult Material - Over 18's Only.
£9.00

Friday 23 March 7.30pm.
ANOTHER BITE OF THE APPLE
A BRAND NEW MUSICAL - IN CONCERT VERSION
Written By Frank Vickery
Music by Tim Riley
Directed by Richard Tunley.
In association with RCT Theatres

Here's your chance to get a sneak preview of a brand new musical written by Frank Vickery to commemorate the centenary of The Park & Dare Theatre. Your feedback will help develop the show further before the full production premieres in autumn 2013.

Set in the Rhondda Valley and New Rochelle, a suburb of New York in 1975 this dazzling musical tells the story of a gang of GI's who were stationed in St Athan during World War 2. They have now came back to spend two weeks in Cardiff thirty years after the war to celebrate and look up some old sites: it's here that Kit meets up with an old flame and realises it's not too late to get another bite of the apple.

£8.00

Thursday 5 April 8.00pm.
COMEDY IN THE LAUGHTER LOUNGE
Top notch comedy with some of the biggest and brightest rising comedians on the circuit.
Laugh? You'll snort like a pig!

Rob Deering

'Bruisingly hilarious' Time Out

'Truly wonderful stand-up' The Sunday Times

'The award-winning comic performs his engaging brand of stand-up humour' The Guardian

robdeering.com
Warning Adult Material - Over 18's Only.
£9.00

Thursday 10 May l 8.00pm.
COMEDY IN THE LAUGHTER LOUNGE
Top notch comedy with some of the biggest and brightest rising comedians on the circuit.
Laugh? You'll snort like a pig!
Josh Widdicombe.

'A fine set packed with quirky observations, bundled up in an assured performance' Chortle

'This is one of the most individual, accomplished, hilarious and unforgettable hours I have had this year' The Scotsman

'Excellent' The Guardian

joshwiddicombe.co.uk
Warning Adult Material - Over 18's Only.
£9.00

Friday 8 June 8.00pm.
DAVE GORMAN'S POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

Following a sell-out autumn 2011 tour; the man behind Are You Dave Gorman? and Googlewhack Adventure has announced extra dates for spring 2012 due to popular demand. Always one of comedy's most innovative thinkers this genre stretching performer is back… and for this brand new show he's formed a double act… with a projector screen. And they'd like to show you their powerpoint presentation. Cast your powerpoint prejudice* aside, it's not just for business meetings.

'Gorman has seen his stock rise to such an extent that he's poised, as never before, to make the leap from cult figure to mainstream phenomenon ' Telegraph

*Some bullet points will be used.

Warning - Adult Material Over 18's Only.
£20.00

Tuesday 19 & Wednesday 20 June 7.30pm & matinee on Wednesday at 1.00pm.
GRANNY ANNIE
Written by and Starring Frank Vickery
Grassroots Production in association with RCT Theatres.

Wales' favourite playwright Frank Vickery is back with his smash hit comedy Granny Annie

Come follow the adventures of possibly the worst amateur dramatic company ever as they prepare for the opening of their latest musical production - which promises to be the biggest theatrical disaster of all time!

The laughs come thick and fast as we follow their antics in the dressing-room each night as they stumble their way through a disastrous but hysterical week, culminating in a finale to remember!

This is arguably the funniest Vickery comedy of his career! Be prepared to laugh till you burst!

Contains Mild Language.

frankvickery.co.uk

£12.00 Concessions £9.00. 2 stalls tickets for £14.00 on Tuesday evening and Wednesday matinee.