THE CURTAIN was raised on renovation work at a prominent and historic North Wales theatre.
The Pioneer was given an exclusive tour of the ongoing work at Theatr Colwyn, which will see portions of the theatre renovated and upgraded in time for a re-opening later in the new year.
Theatr manager Phil Batty said that the building had gone through “a lot of alterations” over the years, and that the ongoing work would provide the theatre with a completely new look.
He said “The front will be all glass only, and even the old stairs will be gone. We wouldn't be able to recognise it from the outside.”
The box office will move to the immediate right of the entrance, and a bar will be constructed on the ground floor. Aside from providing refreshments for audience members, the new bar area will also be large enough for small gigs and events such as poetry evenings.
The left and right entrances to the stage will be moved forward, and rear access to the stage will be provided through the basement area, where the mens and ladies bathrooms will be relocated. The new design for the building will also provide access via a lift to all floors
During its heyday in the 1880’s, the theatre was originally a public hall, comprising one large room, and during the 1930s, what is now the first floor was a private home owned by Stanley Ravenscroft, who turned his home into a successful reparatory theatre.
This was the bar section under the theatre’s previous layout, and will be re-opened as a community meeting room once work is completed.
Staff have also described evidence of “spooky goings on” at Theatr Colwyn, with builders working on the site supposedly coming into contact with spectral visitors during the ongoing construction work.
Mr Batty said “The whole place is haunted. One of our stewards got very embarrassed once when they saw someone come through the wall and asked her to sit down, before she disappeared!”
The additional work is set to improve amenities throughout the Theatr apart from the main body of work which will aid productions and performances, including providing extra facilities for residents who could then make use of them as community utilities.
“It'll be much better for the community. It's a few extra boxes we can tick, as after the full renovation we'll have some added-on sections. The whole general experience will be that much better because of the amenities we can provide.”
He added “At the same time, we want to keep it looking like an older theatre, with character. People are very worried that we won’t keep the atmosphere.”
Building work on the theatre is expected to be finished by March, and Mr Batty hopes that they will be able to provide open days for the public before the work is finalised. A grand opening day will also be held once the work is completed.