Theatr Clwyd

Theatr Clwyd is a regional arts centre, producing theatre, cinema, and community venue located near Mold in Flintshire, North East Wales. The complex forms part of the County Civic Centre and stands beside the administrative offices associated with the former county of Clwyd. It was established through the initiative of the former Flintshire County Council and opened in 1976 under the artistic direction of George Roman. Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the centre. The venue has developed a distinctive role within Welsh and United Kingdom theatre. Rather than operating solely as a receiving house, it has maintained a substantial producing function, developing plays, musicals, revivals, and work for younger audiences. Its programme has combined classic drama, modern plays, touring productions, cinema, studio work, and community activity. The centre is also significant as a cultural resource for North East Wales, serving audiences beyond the major metropolitan theatre centres. The organisation was known as Clwyd Theatr Cymru from 1998 until 2015. The change followed local-government reorganisation and reflected the disappearance of Clwyd as a county, although the area’s cultural identity remained closely associated with the name. In 2015, the organisation returned to Theatr Clwyd, its original name. A succession of artistic directors shaped the theatre’s identity. Toby Robertson led the organisation from 1985 to 1992 and brought prominent performers, including Vanessa Redgrave, Michael Hordern, and Timothy Dalton, into its work. Terry Hands served as artistic director from 1997 to 2015 and significantly raised the theatre’s profile through acclaimed productions, particularly of Shakespeare and other classical dramatists. His period also included extensive work for young people and collaborations with associate and visiting directors. Tamara Harvey became artistic director in 2015. Her period included productions such as Uncle Vanya, Pavilion, and Home, I’m Darling. The latter was co-produced with the National Theatre and later transferred to the National Theatre, the West End, and a United Kingdom tour. In 2023 Harvey moved to the Royal Shakespeare Company as joint artistic director with Daniel Evans, while Kate Wasserberg became Theatr Clwyd’s sixth artistic director. Theatr Clwyd has also expanded its civic and regional role. In 2022 it took over operation of Wrexham’s William Aston Hall, helping preserve the venue as a continuing community and performance resource. During major redevelopment of its Mold site in 2023–2024, Theatr Clwyd established a temporary adjacent facility containing a foyer, an actor accommodation and support area known as the Actor’s Village, and a temporary theatre called The Mix. This arrangement allowed the organisation to continue presenting and producing work while the main building was being redeveloped. The main complex includes the 570-seat Anthony Hopkins Theatre, the flexible Emlyn Williams Theatre with capacity of up to 250, Studio 2 with capacity of up to 120, the Clwyd Room with capacity of up to 300, and a 120-seat cinema. Its positioning combines professional producing theatre with regional access, education, community participation, touring, and presentation of visiting work.

Theatr Clwyd opened in 1976 as a regional arts centre and producing theatre near Mold in Flintshire, North East Wales. It was developed at the instigation of the former Flintshire County Council and forms part of the County Civic Centre, adjacent to the offices associated with the former county administration. Queen Elizabeth II opened the centre, which began under artistic director George Roman. The organisation’s first decades were defined by a succession of artistic leaders and an ambition to produce work of national significance while maintaining a strong regional base. George Roman led from 1976 to 1985, followed by Toby Robertson from 1985 to 1992. Robertson’s tenure was associated with prominent performers and helped establish the theatre as a place where major actors could work outside London and the principal national companies. Helena Kaut-Howson followed as artistic director from 1992 to 1995. The venue became known as Clwyd Theatr Cymru in 1998. This name change reflected local-government reorganisation, which abolished Clwyd as a county and restored Flintshire in a different administrative form. The change was later reversed, and the organisation returned to Theatr Clwyd in 2015. Terry Hands was artistic director from 1997 to 2015. He raised the theatre’s profile through critically regarded productions, especially Shakespeare and other classical dramatists. His work was supported by associate director Tim Baker, who led much of the theatre’s activity for young people and directed drama and musicals, as well as by visiting and trainee directors including Phillip Breen and Kate Wasserberg. Hands’ 2014 revival of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood marked the centenary of the poet’s birth. The production toured Wales and England and reached an audience reported as 44,000. Tamara Harvey succeeded Hands in 2015. Her programme included Uncle Vanya, Pavilion, and Home, I’m Darling, the last a co-production with the National Theatre. Home, I’m Darling achieved an Olivier Award and subsequently transferred to the National Theatre, the West End, and a United Kingdom tour, extending the reach of a production originating in the regional theatre. Harvey was joined by Executive Director Liam Evans-Ford, and together they were associated with the organisation’s major capital redevelopment programme. The redevelopment required the main building to operate differently during 2023 and 2024. Theatr Clwyd created a temporary neighbouring facility with a foyer, an Actor’s Village, and a temporary theatre named The Mix. This allowed the organisation to continue producing and presenting work rather than suspend its programme during construction. Theatr Clwyd also broadened its regional operating role in 2022 by taking over the running of William Aston Hall in Wrexham. The move was intended to help retain the hall as a viable community resource and performance venue. In 2023 Kate Wasserberg became the organisation’s sixth artistic director. Tamara Harvey moved to the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she became joint artistic director with Daniel Evans. Theatr Clwyd continues to operate as a producing and presenting arts organisation, with theatre, cinema, flexible studios, community activity, and a range of performance spaces. Its principal auditoria include the 570-seat Anthony Hopkins Theatre, the adaptable Emlyn Williams Theatre, Studio 2, the Clwyd Room, and a cinema.

• 2023

  Kate Wasserberg becomes artistic director

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  Wasserberg succeeds Harvey as the organisation’s sixth artistic director.

• 2023

  Temporary facilities open during redevelopment

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  The Mix and associated temporary facilities enable continued programming while the main site undergoes redevelopment.

• 2022

  William Aston Hall operation transferred to Theatr Clwyd

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  The organisation takes over operation of the Wrexham venue to help maintain it as a community resource.

• 2015

  Original name restored

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  The organisation changes from Clwyd Theatr Cymru back to Theatr Clwyd, and Tamara Harvey becomes artistic director.

• 2014

  Under Milk Wood revival tours

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  Terry Hands directs a revival commemorating Dylan Thomas’s centenary; the production tours Wales and England.

• 1998

  Name changes to Clwyd Theatr Cymru

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  The complex adopts a new name following local-government reorganisation and the abolition of Clwyd as a county.

• 1997

  Terry Hands begins artistic directorship

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  Hands starts a long tenure that places particular emphasis on Shakespeare and other classical dramatists.

• 1985

  Toby Robertson becomes artistic director

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  Robertson begins a period of leadership associated with prominent performers and an expanding national profile.

• 1976

  Theatr Clwyd opens

  [1]Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org

  The regional arts centre and producing theatre opens near Mold under artistic director George Roman.

A civic-minded regional producing theatre that combines ambitious professional productions with community participation, youth work, touring, cinema, and flexible performance spaces.

• Professional theatre · 1976

  Produced theatre

  Theatr Clwyd produces drama, classical theatre, modern plays, musicals, revivals, and other live performance for its own stages and, in some cases, for transfer or touring. Its producing model has supported work ranging from Shakespeare and other canonical writers to contemporary plays and co-productions with larger national institutions.

• Participation and education

  Youth and community theatre

  Youth and community activity forms an important part of the organisation’s regional remit. Programmes have included work for younger audiences, participation projects, and theatre-making linked to the centre’s producing and presenting activity.

• Cinema and screen presentation · 1976

  Cinema

  The complex includes a 120-seat cinema, extending Theatr Clwyd’s offer beyond stage performance and providing a screen-based cultural programme within the regional arts centre.

• Presenting venue · 1976

  Live performance and venue presentation

  Alongside its own productions, Theatr Clwyd presents visiting theatre, live performance, studio work, and events across several adaptable spaces. The venue’s programme can therefore accommodate large-scale drama as well as smaller and experimental formats.

• 2023

  Operate temporary facilities during capital redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Redevelopment of the main theatre building required the organisation to maintain public and production activity away from its normal facilities.

  Action taken

  Theatr Clwyd established an adjacent temporary site with a foyer, an Actor’s Village, and the temporary theatre The Mix.

  Aftermath

  The organisation continued operating as a producing and presenting venue during the redevelopment period.

  Source

• 2022

  Take over William Aston Hall operationsStrategy

  Background

  Wrexham’s William Aston Hall required an operating model that would preserve its role as a community and performance venue.

  Action taken

  Theatr Clwyd assumed responsibility for running the hall.

  Aftermath

  The venue remained available as a regional community resource under Theatr Clwyd’s operation.

  Source

• 2015

  Restore the Theatr Clwyd nameStrategy

  Background

  After operating for 17 years as Clwyd Theatr Cymru, the organisation reassessed its public identity.

  Action taken

  The complex reverted to its original name, Theatr Clwyd.

  Aftermath

  The restored name has continued as the organisation’s principal public identity.

  Source

• 1998

  Rename the organisation Clwyd Theatr CymruStrategy

  Background

  Local-government reorganisation abolished Clwyd as a county and restored Flintshire in a different administrative form.

  Action taken

  The theatre complex changed its public name from Theatr Clwyd to Clwyd Theatr Cymru.

  Aftermath

  The organisation retained the revised name until 2015, when it returned to Theatr Clwyd.

  Source

1. 1Theatr Clwyden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Theatr Clwyd official websitetheatrclwyd.com