Work well underway on Theatre Colwyn revamp

Dec 16 2010 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

Theatr Colwyn

WORK is progressing well on Theatr Colwyn’s £738,000 redevelopment.

The theatre closed in October for the project, which will see the creation of a new café/bar and box office, lift to all floors, disabled access, new toilets, a community room, kitchen, and a link door which will connect the front of house to the backstage area.

The Victorian venue, which is 125 years old, is the oldest cinema in the UK still operating and the oldest theatre in Wales still operating.

Phil Batty, theatre manager, said: “The work is progressing at a pace and already there is a very noticeable difference in the basement, foyer and bar areas.

“Walls are coming down and new ones going up and staircases are being taken out to create space for the new facilities.

“It’s nice to be able to see the plans being realised in this way.

“All of the staff and management are very excited about the prospect of us returning to Theatr Colwyn next spring.”

However, Old Colwyn councillor Brian Cossey is unhappy that the theatre doesn’t have a big banner outside saying the work is being done as part of Colwyn Bay’s regeneration programme.

The refurbishment is being funded by the North Wales Regeneration Area Programme (part of the Bay Life+ Programme) and Conwy County Council, who own and operate the venue, and Cllr Cossey believes this should be advertised by a banner.

“As councillors we get a lot of backlash from people who believe there is no regeneration going on in Colwyn Bay when in fact there is,” he explained.

“I can’t understand why there aren’t banners advertising the fact that quite a lot of regeneration is going on.

“A lot of local people have no idea why the theatre is closed, and if you were from outside the area you wouldn’t have a clue.

“I’ve raised this matter at Conwy County Council’s meetings, but nothing so far has been done.

“If we had banners around the town highlighting the work which is going on, then it would generate a feel good factor.

“Locals would feel a lot more positive about the town in these dire economic times.”

Phil Batty commented: “We are going to be putting up banners very soon, we are just waiting for them to come back from the printers.”

Photographs taken during the redevelopment are now going up on the theatre’s website at www.theatrcolwyn.co.uk and will be updated as work proceeds.

mari.jones