SWAPPING OPERA FOR PANTOLAND
As an internationally-acclaimed opera singer, joining the cast of Aladdin at the New Theatre in Cardiff is a bit of a departure for Mark Llewelyn Evans.
The classically trained baritone from Carmarthen – who worked as builder in his pre-fame days – joins Linda Lusardi, Mike Doyle, Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas as the Genie, and Ian ‘H’ Watkins as Aladdin.
But while some hardcore fans of the singer have been left baffled by his move to panto, he says it is something he has been wanting to do for years.
“About three or four years ago I wrote off to the producing houses for pantos, called Kudos. They basically replied with ‘generally we don’t use classical singers for panto, but if something comes up will contact you’, What they did say, however, is that people who tend to do panto do so every year and they are very loyal to them’.
“Nothing came up, and it was only about five months ago that I had a phone call to say there was a part in Cardiff of all places.
“I was told the part was of the Emperor and there would be songs it just ticked all of the boxes and I thought, ‘perfect’.”
Evans, whose debut album Let the Light In reached the Top 10 in the UK, also made his movie debut in Guy Richie’s Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, playing Don Giovanni alongside Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law.
So why would he want to do panto?’
“The thing is about me, while music is my first love, after my daughter, my real desire is to be an entertainer. Lots of people say to me ‘you’re an opera singer why would you want to do panto?’ For me, truly, I’ve always wanted to be an entertainer and panto at Christmas is so iconic.”
The incredibly fast-paced production will see up to 14 shows performed each week.
“I’m a bit scared about that, to be honest. I love the idea of going into theatre, working with a great cast, and performing but the idea of so many performances is a little bit daunting. There’s something like 64 shows in the month. We have Christmas Day off but we are back in for at least two shows on Boxing Day.”
Evans says the cast, which includes fellow Carmarthen performer Mike Doyle, has made him feel truly welcome as the ‘new boy’.
“As the Emperor and Jasmine’s father in the story, I fall in love with Widow Twankie, played by Mike Doyle. It means we have two Carmarthen boys together. We have a lovely duet from the musical Hairspray, You’re Timeless to Me, and it’s wonderful.
“My strength is obviously singing but hopefully I will hone my other performance skills, but hopefully I can add a new dimension. The way I think of it is The Magic Flute [opera] is