Investing In Our Theatres

The Council’s two iconic theatres – the Park & Dare in Treorchy and the Coliseum in Aberdare – are to be the latest facilities to benefit from the three-year, £200m, RCTinvest programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Works are beginning this week in the Coliseum Theatre, which will see carpet replacements and redecoration of corridors, staircases and the Green Room, along with improved lighting, both internally and in the patron’s car park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Ann Crimmings, said: “Investing in our assets is a key strategy for the Cabinet as we look to maximise their potential. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This approach is working with leisure a good example with the significant improvements made to a number of leisure centres resulting in huge increases in the number of Leisure for Life members. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are proud of our two iconic theatres which host productions from the West End whilst also supporting local theatre and performance groups, and I am sure this investment will be welcomed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“At the Coliseum, improvements are being made to the foyer, corridors, car park and Green Room and are set to give the theatre a fresher look. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Park & Dare is also set to benefit from an improved foyer area with new carpets and redecorated walls and ceilings with new signage also to be installed throughout the theatre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our varied programme of productions, which includes this year’s pantomime – Dick Whittington – continues to attract people from all over RCT and beyond and the improvements being made will no doubt improve the experience for our theatre goers and hopefully help to attract and retain new visitors whilst also demonstrating our commitment to supporting cultural activities in Rhondda Cynon Taf.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Built in 1937, the Coliseum Theatre has been the home of live entertainment, both professional and amateur, for almost 80 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Situated in close proximity to Aberdare Park and a short walk or drive from Aberdare town centre, the Coliseum boasts a distinctive auditorium with superb acoustic nodules. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It was at the Coliseum Theatre that chart-topping group Stereophonics, from Cwmaman, had their big break. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In March 1996, the band performed at the Coliseum Theatre, sharing the bill with Catatonia – two months later they were the first artistes to be signed by Richard Branson’s new record label V2. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Coliseum Theatre continues to produce a varied and packed programme of shows – drama, ballet, opera, comedy, light entertainment, music, childrens’ events, educational events and productions by local schools, community groups and amateur dramatic societies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Coliseum Theatre also shows the latest blockbuster movies as part of its Digital 3D Cinema screenings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Improvements are also set to take place at the Park & Dare Theatre, in the shape of carpet replacements, redecoration of walls, ceilings and corridors and new signage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Situated in the town of Treorchy, the Park & Dare Theatre is a commanding building which has been the home of entertainment in the South Wales Valleys for over 100 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Built in 1913, the construction of the Park & Dare was funded by local miners. Its varied programme of entertainment included music, drama, dance, musicals, community events and screenings at its Digital 3D Cinema. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With a long and illustrious history, the first ‘talkie’ movie, The Broadway Melody, was screened at the Park & Dare Theatre in 1930. It still continues to screen all the latest movies to this day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Among those who have graced the Park & Dare stage over the years include Max Boyce, Ken Dodd, Frank Vickery, Racing Cars, and many more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local girl, West End and TV star Sophie Evans, also made her stage debut at the Park & Dare Theatre as a young child in the title role of the musical Annie. She has returned to the Park & Dare stage many times since, most recently to perform at the Council’s 2015 Freedom of the County Borough ceremony for Tunisia attack survivor Mathew James. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both the Coliseum Theatre and Park & Dare Theatre also stage pantomimes each year. The 2016 production Dick Whittington stars Di Botcher (Aunty Brenda in TV’s Stella), Frank Vickery, Max James and Lee Gilbert. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Improvement works begin at the Coliseum this week and are expected to last approximately one week, with works beginning in the Park and Dare shortly after. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will be no disruption to theatre-goers whilst improvement works are being undertaken and updates will be provided via each Theatre’s social media accounts and via the Council’s Twitter and Facebook feeds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​