Cardiff’s Christmas Festival is back and it feels bigger, brighter and more magical than ever. With a fresh production taking centre stage, the festive season has officially arrived in the city.
This year’s programme leans into glitz and glam, with a line up designed to suit all ages. Last weekend marked the start of Jack Frost, A Magical Christmas Musical, which has begun its four week run inside the iconic Spiegeltent at Sophia Gardens. We were invited along and here is what we thought.
From the moment you step inside, Jack Frost delivers exactly what you want from a Christmas show. It is warm, welcoming and packed with festive energy. The story is brought to life with catchy songs, strong dance routines and plenty of comedy that genuinely lands with both children and adults.
The setting plays a huge part in the experience. If you have never visited the Spiegel Theatre before, it feels like a hidden gem. It appears almost out of nowhere, and just as quickly it will disappear again once the season ends.
The theatre is fully heated and opens 30 minutes before each performance, giving everyone time to get settled. The spiegeltent itself offers a fully immersive experience, with the stage positioned right in the centre. Seating wraps all the way around, surrounded by red velvet brocade and mirrored panels that reflect the lights and movement of the show. There are also booth upgrades available around the edges for a more VIP style experience, ideal for groups of up to six.
This layout works especially well for young children. You are never far from the action, so little ones can clearly see the performers’ faces and expressions. Characters enter and exit from all directions, which keeps the audience engaged throughout.
The story of Jack Frost may be familiar, but this version adds its own twist. Logan Burrows plays Jack Frost with warmth and confidence, making him an easy hero to root for. Jack isn’t the villain. In fact, he’s the creator of the Northern Lights that help Santa’s reindeer fly the sleigh on Christmas Eve.
When Jack’s usual magic doesn’t work, he sets off on a quest with his cousin Gwen from Cardiff to find out what’s gone wrong.
To get to the bottom of it, they must find Bryn the polar bear.
James Rockey’s Kringle the Toy Tycoon brings a playful edge to the story, acting as a clear but light hearted villain for younger viewers. As Jack and his friends try to save Christmas, Kringle does everything he can to stop them, determined to take over Christmas and squeeze as much money from it as possible.
One of the standout performances comes from David Horgan Harding as Bryn the Polar Bear, brilliantly supported by the voice work of Matthew Preece. Bryn’s musical numbers and comedy moments were a hit with the audience.
Mia Jae also shines as Gwen Frost, bringing heart and energy to the role and quickly becoming one of our favourite characters.
Kate Powell as Mrs Klaus is the clear scene stealer. She is fully immersed in the role, effortlessly funny and completely in control of the room whenever she appears. Mrs Clause sings about her past and shows she does far more than bake cookies, as she leads Operation Save Santa.
Molly Mae Fisher’s Sparkle the Elf adds another layer of charm, rounding out a cast that works incredibly well together.
The return of the plucky gangster penguins, fresh from last year’s Snow Queen, adds even more fun and familiarity for returning audiences. It all comes together to create a show that feels joyful, confident and well paced from start to finish.
There is clearly a large team behind the scenes pulling everything together, and it shows. Jack Frost is a polished, family friendly Christmas production that delivers festive magic in a setting that feels just as special as the show itself.
Practical details are well thought out too. There is plenty of space to park prams inside the venue, which is a big plus for families. Food, drink and merchandise are all available on site, making it easy to turn the visit into a full festive outing.
How to find it
The Spiegeltent is located in Sophia Gardens, right next to the council car park and the National Express coach drop off zone. The postcode is CF11 9FH.
Parking
Pay and display parking is available directly opposite the spiegeltent in Sophia Gardens. The What Three Words reference for the car park is former.invest.hatch. We would recommend arriving early if you can, as Christmas shopping makes parking busier than usual. We ended up parking further down Cathedral Road.
Tip: Download the MiPermit app to pay for Cardiff Council parking to save queuing at the machines!
What else is on
- WNO Chorus, The Sound Of Christmas or Corws WNO Seiniau’r Nadolig on 18 December
- Festive Fantasy, A Christmas Variety Spectacular on 19 and 20 December
- Go Your Own Way, The Fleetwood Mac Legacy on 21 December
- Tour of The Eras, The Taylor Swift Christmas Celebration on 27 December
Cardiff Christmas Festival runs until 28 December 2025. More details and tickets are available at cardiffchristmasfestival.co.uk.
