Cwmaman Institute

Cwmaman Institute, also known as Cwmaman Theatre, is a community institute and performance venue in Cwmaman, near Aberdare in the Cynon Valley, Wales. It was first opened in March 1868 as a reading room in a house provided rent-free by the Cwmaman Coal Company, making it one of the earliest lasting ventures of its kind in the Cynon Valley. The institute moved to 10a Railway Terrace in 1881 and later to premises at 130–131 Glanaman Road, funded in part by a poundage scheme agreed by workmen of Cwmaman Colliery in 1884, whereby a halfpenny in every pound of wages was deducted weekly. A building committee was appointed in 1889, and a new building on the Cwmneol Estate was formally opened by Lord Aberdare on 25 January 1892. It included a public hall seating 700, reading rooms, a billiard room and a caretaker's cottage. The building was destroyed by fire on 19 April 1896 but was restored by about January 1897. Further additions included a lesser hall in 1906 and a single-storey building in 1925. The institute became a cultural centre for the community, hosting eisteddfodau and Colliery Lodge meetings, and was officially linked with the Cwmaman Brass Band in 1912. Its library held 4,273 books by 1911. In the 1960s the hall was saved from closure through community efforts. Today, as Cwmaman Theatre, it continues to host musicals, plays, family entertainment and community events, and offers theatre hire. The venue is run with the help of volunteers and remains a registered trademark and community asset.

Cwmaman Institute, also known as Cwmaman Theatre, is a historic community institute and performance venue in Cwmaman, near Aberdare in the Cynon Valley, Wales. According to the theatre's official history, it was probably the first lasting venture of its kind in the Cynon Valley, opening in March 1868 as a reading room within a house provided rent-free by the Cwmaman Coal Company. In 1881 it moved to 10a Railway Terrace. In 1884 the workmen of Cwmaman Colliery agreed to a poundage scheme, whereby a halfpenny in each pound of their wages would be deducted weekly in support of an expanded institution at the Tea Caddy Shop at numbers 130 and 131, Glanaman Road. This location soon proved insufficient, and a building committee was appointed by a public meeting in 1889. A 99-year lease for land on the Cwmneol Estate was negotiated, and an architect, Thomas Roderick of Clifton Street, Aberdare, and builders Messers Powell and Mansell of Cardiff were engaged. The completed building was formally opened by Lord Aberdare on 25 January 1892 and included a public hall with seating for 700, reading rooms, a billiard room and a caretaker's cottage. Progress was temporarily halted when the building was destroyed by fire on 19 April 1896. Restoration work was soon under way, and the restored institute was completed by about January 1897. Later additions included a lesser hall in 1906 and a single-storey building in 1925. The institute became the cultural centre of the community, hosting eisteddfodau and Colliery Lodge meetings, and became officially linked with the Cwmaman Brass Band in 1912. Its library also prospered, and by 1911 it contained a total of 4,273 books: 3,679 in English and 594 in Welsh. In the 1960s the hall was saved from closure through community efforts, as recounted in a historical account by Frank Thomas. Today, as Cwmaman Theatre, it continues to operate as a community theatre, offering musicals, plays, family entertainment and community events, and is available for hire. It is run with the help of volunteers and remains a registered trademark and community asset.

• 1960

  The hall was saved from closure through community efforts in the 1960s.

• 1925

  A single-storey building was added.

• 1912

  Officially linked with the Cwmaman Brass Band.

• 1911

  The library contained 4,273 books: 3,679 in English and 594 in Welsh.

• 1906

  A lesser hall was added.

• 1897

  The restored institute was completed by about January.

• 1896

  The building was destroyed by fire on 19 April.

• 1892

  The completed building was formally opened by Lord Aberdare on 25 January, including a public hall seating 700, reading rooms, a billiard room and a caretaker's cottage.

• 1889

  A building committee was appointed by a public meeting.

• 1884

  Workmen of Cwmaman Colliery agreed to a poundage scheme to support an expanded institution at 130–131 Glanaman Road.

• 1881

  Moved to 10a Railway Terrace.

• 1868

  Opened in March as a reading room in a house provided rent-free by the Cwmaman Coal Company.

A community-focused historic theatre and institute offering live performances and event space in the Cynon Valley.

• Live theatre performances

• Musicals

• Plays

• Family entertainment

• Community events

• Theatre hire

1. 1Cwmaman Theatre - Home Pagecwmamantheatre.co.uk
2. 2Cwmaman Theatre - The History of Cwmaman Institutecwmamantheatre.co.uk
3. 3Cwmaman Theatre - How the Hall was savedcwmamantheatre.co.uk
4. 4Cwmaman Theatre - Family treecwmamantheatre.co.uk
5. 5Wikidata - Cwmaman Institutewikidata.org