Swansea Grand Theatre

Swansea Grand Theatre is a historic performing-arts venue in the centre of Swansea, Wales. Opened in 1897, it was built on the site of a former drill hall for theatre proprietors H. H. Morell and F. Mouillot. The building was designed by William Hope of Newcastle and constructed by D. Jenkins. Its opening was conducted by Adelina Patti, the internationally renowned opera singer who lived locally and became closely associated with the cultural life of the area. The venue has served Swansea as a stage for drama, variety entertainment, touring theatrical productions, pantomime and other live performances. It also operated as a cinema during part of its history, although its continuing identity is principally that of a theatre and civic cultural venue. The main auditorium has 1,014 seats, supported by smaller studios and rooms that allow the building to accommodate exhibitions, conferences, workshops, smaller-scale drama and music, and community activities. The theatre faced a major threat in the late 1960s. In 1968, closure was proposed, prompting a local campaign led by John Chilvers, then the theatre’s manager and artistic director. The campaign helped secure the venue’s future. Swansea Corporation leased the building in May 1969 and purchased it outright in 1979. The local authority subsequently undertook a substantial refurbishment and modernization programme between 1983 and 1987. A further Arts Wing, costing approximately £1 million according to the cited historical account, opened in 1999. The opening was conducted by Welsh actor Catherine Zeta-Jones. The Arts Wing broadened the building’s role beyond a conventional proscenium theatre. It provides space for exhibitions, conferences, smaller performances and educational or community programming. One example is the lunchtime theatre programme presented by Fluellen Theatre Company. The venue is also associated with a number of arts organizations, including the Sir Harry Secombe Trust Youth Theatre, Fluellen Theatre Company, the Swansea Grand Theatre School of Dance and Mellin Theatre Arts. Since September 1999, the theatre has been the base of Ballet Russe, formerly known as Swansea’s Pavlov Ballet. The company is described as the United Kingdom’s only Russian ballet company and includes young dancers, many of whom trained at the Bolshoi and Kirov academies. Under the artistic leadership of the Messerer family, Ballet Russe has presented full-length classical ballets such as Giselle, The Nutcracker, Coppélia, La Fille Mal Gardée and Swan Lake, as well as gala programmes featuring excerpts from works including La Bayadère, Carnival of Venice, Don Quixote and Le Corsaire. The City and County of Swansea continues to own, manage and fund the building. Its combination of a large auditorium, flexible auxiliary spaces, visiting productions, resident and associated arts organizations, and public cultural programming makes it both a performance venue and an important civic arts facility for Swansea and the surrounding region.

Swansea Grand Theatre opened in 1897 in central Swansea, Wales. It was erected on the site of an earlier drill hall for proprietors H. H. Morell and F. Mouillot. The building was designed by William Hope of Newcastle and built by D. Jenkins. Its inaugural opening was conducted by Adelina Patti, a prominent opera singer who lived in the Swansea area and became an important local cultural figure. During its long history, the venue presented live theatrical entertainment and also functioned as a cinema. Its principal role, however, remained that of a performance venue serving Swansea and the surrounding area. Its programme has included plays, pantomimes and touring theatrical acts, alongside ballet, community theatre and other forms of cultural activity. The theatre’s future became uncertain in 1968 when it was threatened with closure. John Chilvers, who was then manager and artistic director, led a campaign to preserve the building. The campaign was successful enough for Swansea Corporation to lease the theatre in May 1969. The corporation later bought the building outright in 1979, establishing a long-term public-sector basis for its operation. Between 1983 and 1987, the theatre underwent a major refurbishment and modernization programme. The cited account places the cost of this work at £6.5 million. In 1999, a further Arts Wing was added at a reported cost of £1 million. Catherine Zeta-Jones opened the new wing. The extension provided space for exhibitions, conferences, smaller performances and arts-related activity, allowing the complex to operate as more than a single-auditorium theatre. The venue has also developed a strong relationship with arts education and resident or associated organizations. The Sir Harry Secombe Trust Youth Theatre, Fluellen Theatre Company, the Swansea Grand Theatre School of Dance and Mellin Theatre Arts have used the building for classes, workshops and performances. Fluellen Theatre Company also presents a lunchtime theatre programme in the Arts Wing. Ballet Russe became based at Swansea Grand Theatre in September 1999. Previously known as Swansea’s Pavlov Ballet, the company originated in Bristol and is associated with dancers trained in Russian ballet institutions, including the Bolshoi and Kirov academies. Working under the artistic leadership of the Messerer family, the company has presented major classical titles including Giselle, The Nutcracker, Coppélia, La Fille Mal Gardée and Swan Lake, together with gala performances drawn from other established ballet repertory. The theatre remains owned, managed and funded by the City and County of Swansea. Its current role combines touring and local performance, classical ballet, pantomime, community and youth arts, education, exhibitions, conferences and smaller-scale cultural events. The building’s survival after the closure threat of the late 1960s and its later refurbishment and extension have enabled it to continue functioning as one of Swansea’s principal cultural venues.

• 1999

  Arts Wing opens

  [1]Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A new Arts Wing opens, expanding the complex’s capacity for exhibitions, conferences, smaller performances and community arts. Catherine Zeta-Jones opens the facility.

• 1999

  Ballet Russe becomes resident

  [1]Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Ballet Russe, formerly Swansea’s Pavlov Ballet, establishes its base at the theatre in September.

• 1987

  Major refurbishment is completed

  [1]Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The principal refurbishment and updating programme is completed after reported expenditure of £6.5 million.

• 1983

  Refurbishment programme begins

  [1]Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A major refurbishment and modernization programme begins and continues through 1987.

• 1979

  Local authority purchases the building

  [1]Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Swansea Corporation purchases the theatre outright.

• 1969

  Swansea Corporation takes a lease

  [1]Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Swansea Corporation leases the theatre in May, creating a public-sector framework for its continued operation.

• 1968

  Closure threat prompts preservation campaign

  [1]Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre is threatened with closure, leading manager and artistic director John Chilvers to organize a campaign to save the venue.

• 1897

  The theatre opens

  [1]Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Swansea Grand Theatre opens on the site of a former drill hall. The building is designed by William Hope and constructed by D. Jenkins for proprietors H. H. Morell and F. Mouillot. Adelina Patti performs the opening ceremony.

A civic and community-oriented performing-arts venue combining historic theatre architecture, touring entertainment, ballet, education, exhibitions and flexible event space.

• Theatre space · 1897

  Main auditorium

  The principal performance space is a 1,014-seat auditorium used for plays, pantomimes, touring productions, ballet and other large-scale live entertainment. It is the central public-facing facility of the theatre complex.

• Flexible arts and events space · 1999

  Arts Wing

  Opened in 1999, the Arts Wing complements the main auditorium with space for exhibitions, conferences, smaller music and drama performances, workshops and community programming. It also supports lunchtime theatre and other activities that require a more flexible setting.

• Resident ballet company · 1999

  Ballet Russe

  Ballet Russe has been based at Swansea Grand Theatre since September 1999. The company presents classical ballet repertory and gala programmes, drawing on Russian ballet training traditions and operating under the artistic leadership of the Messerer family.

• Arts education

  Youth and arts education programmes

  The venue hosts youth theatre, dance education, theatre arts classes, workshops and performances through associated organizations including the Sir Harry Secombe Trust Youth Theatre, Swansea Grand Theatre School of Dance and Mellin Theatre Arts.

• 1968Campaign to save Swansea Grand Theatre

  Swansea · Wales

  A preservation campaign led by theatre manager and artistic director John Chilvers opposed the proposed closure of the venue.

  Outcome. The campaign helped keep the theatre open and was followed by Swansea Corporation taking a lease in 1969 and purchasing the building in 1979.

  Source

• 1999

  Arts Wing expansionStrategy

  Background

  The theatre sought to broaden its activities beyond productions staged in the principal auditorium.

  Action taken

  An Arts Wing was developed and opened, providing additional space for exhibitions, conferences, smaller performances and community arts.

  Aftermath

  The complex gained more flexible capacity for cultural, educational and event programming.

  Reported Arts Wing expenditure. £1 million (1999)

  Source

• 1983

  Major refurbishment and modernizationOther

  Background

  The historic theatre required substantial updating after many decades of operation.

  Action taken

  A refurbishment programme was carried out from 1983 to 1987.

  Aftermath

  The venue was modernized while retaining its role as a major Swansea performance facility.

  Reported refurbishment expenditure. £6.5 million (1983-1987)

  Source

• 1979

  Local authority ownership establishedStrategy

  Background

  After leasing the venue for a decade, Swansea Corporation moved to secure its long-term future.

  Action taken

  Swansea Corporation purchased the theatre outright.

  Aftermath

  The building remained under local-authority ownership, management and funding.

  Source

• 1969

  Public-sector lease securedStrategy

  Background

  Following the 1968 closure threat and preservation campaign, Swansea Corporation became the theatre’s lessee.

  Action taken

  The corporation leased the building in May 1969 and subsequently assumed a stronger role in its operation.

  Aftermath

  The lease provided a route to continued operation and preceded the corporation’s outright purchase of the theatre in 1979.

  Source

1. 1Swansea Grand Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Swansea Grand Theatre official websiteswanseagrand.co.uk