A Building Made of Stories

To commemorate the beginning of the renovations and celebrate the communities memories of the last 45 years, Theatr Clwyd produced an interactive audio and visual exhibition touring some of the lesser seen spaces in the building.

I had the privilege of joining the team who created it and helped put the finishing touches in place before the public experienced it. The tour follows a route of stars around the building that are numbered.

The tour begins in the foyer with a Prologue from the theatre’s Young Company:

Prologue

Croeso - to our theatre on the hill, 

Where stories are told and stories are made

In a place of magic and make-believe.

Over four decades this building has stood. 

Gweld ffasiwn, miwsig and government change;

From the royal beginning to modern plague.

Oh the tales this place could tell

If it only had the chance,

Of spotlit spirit and open-eyed dreams,

Of strength, of light, a dance.

These bricks would speak of miles of emotions, 

Acres of stitches, decades of words, 

A mountain of friendships, even some weddings, 

And popcorn, encores and alternative worlds.

Those red velvet seats would fondly recall, 

Joy, outrage and sorrow,

Cheers, tears, silence they've seen it all, 

And will again tomorrow.

Ond aroswch, a gwrandwch...

Their voices still linger, 

And their star still shine bright,

And just for a moment, 

You'll be able to hear their magic tales which made this building thrive.

Felly, dewch gyda ni 

In words, in stars, in glory,

As, now, dear friends, you're part of the cast 

Of the Theatr Clwyd story.

Following the map, you go up the stairs lined with old production posters.

The second of the audio clips is at the top of the stairs: The Theatre On the Hill. It describes two people’s memories of the view and the Queen opening the theatre.

The next stop on the tour is in the library area of the bar. Pat Nelder, former employee at the theatre
describes their experience with famous actors such as Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Redgrave.

Across the room, adorned to a pillar is the next stop on the tour. The audio describes several weddings that have taken place at the theatre.

Star number 5 is in the corner and describes a few people’s memories of the sci-fi film evenings held at the theatre and the first ever live action Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Paper airplanes are hanging from the ceiling in reference to one of the quotes on the audio. Due to COVID the windows are being left open to create ventilation, this draught makes the airplanes move with the wind.

Moving through the doors to the entrance of the gallery is the next star, surrounding the bust of Emlyn Williams. He was a Welsh writer, dramatist and actor. The audio clip describes someone's experience of one of his readings.

Walking into the gallery and just outside the Hayden Rees Room is the next stop on the tour. Three people describe growing up with the theatre and how it has shaped their lives. Two are actors and one started in the community acting group but soon turned their hand to stage production etc and still works at the theatre to this day.

In the Hayden Rees Room, the community groups led by the Creative engagement team have written letters to the theatre; some thanking the theatre for the memories, some describing their memories of the building and more. I am hoping to use some of these letters and shared experiences within my research. I can explore the collective memory of the building as it goes through it’s transformation.

The next star is back in the gallery, A Home for All Ages: Our Community. This audio clip has soundbites from loads of the different workshops held at the theatre and now down in Mold. It is great to listen to the different age groups describing their experience of Theatr Clwyd. One child thought she was going to a palace when she first visited, as it was the biggest building she had ever gone in at the time. 

Strolling further down the gallery and into the furthest room on the right, brings us into the wardrobe department. The room is still filled with outfits, materials, sewing machines etc. The audio is one of the wardrobe cutters describing memories of past productions, including losing sideburns for a character and having to improvise one. They later found the originals on the shoe of one of the night porters.

Down the corridor is a dressing room. Phylip Harries, the Dame from the last 16 pantomimes at the theatre shares his memories and life as a Dame to a backdrop of his former costumes.

Continuing with the tour, you enter a corridor backstage. Here there is a table showing some previous props. The audio clip is called Backstage Whispers and explores memories from actors of the rehearsal space and stories of gathering props.

At this point in the exhibition, you have the chance to explore the paint deck. A room designated to the painting of sets, props etc. It has a large mechanical painting deck which is more or less the size of the room. The room currently has scenery from a Christmas production decorating the space. Visitors are welcomed to stay for a while, enjoy a hot drink and watch some videos produced by the theatre. Hanging from the prop trees are mock washing lines holding some more letters to the theatre. Visitors are encouraged to write their own and hang them up with the others.

Back on the tour, you travel down a corridor between the Emlyn Williams Theatre and the old HTV Studio. Here is the next audio clip The Theatre Falls Silent, Tamara Harvey, Artistic Director for the theatre, describes her experience of coming to the theatre during lockdown. The theatre needed to be checked so staff took it in turns, the pavement was covered in weeds and looked like it had been abandoned. However, there was a ray of hope when she entered and heard music. A dance student had asked to use the stage to keep up his practice before attending dance school in the Autumn. 

The last star is the Epilogue by the theatre’s Young Company. There is also a model of what the renovations will look like once completed:

Epilogue

So what happens now? Is it time to go?

Leave stage right

No more to show? 

Ond peidiwch a phoeni

Do not fret

There's lots more to come of this young theatre yet 

45 years we've been doing our thing 

45 more years we hope to bring

More moments to laugh, 

More moments to cry 

And although it seems like a big goodbye 

It's not all over; dyma ddechrau act 2.

Dyma eich lle chi, to leave your troubles behind 

In the well-being suite you can start to unwind.

Dinner and theatre for your Friday night treat

Or perhaps just a coffee neu gacen to eat 

Gaze at the art - it'll be everywhere!

Much more of it, all sorts, original and rare.

A fab new youth hub and children's play area too 

are just some of the treats that will be waiting for you. 

What's more our new building will be sustainable and 

To save the planet, of course we're keen. 

Pwy bynnag ydych chi, 

You'll always be welcome 

So's great Uncle Nick 

Noisy Young Carrie 

Wild Cousin Rick 

And Great Grandma Frannie

When we open our doors in 2024 

Come step into Theatr Clwyd; shiny and new 

For the journey continues into fabulous Act 2.

The exhibition is a perfect reflection of the past and the theatre changing through the renovations. The exhibits included writings on the walls and furniture as these would all soon be ripped out. The audio clips provided by staff, actors and the community all described the unique experiences we have all had with the building. It is an exciting time for the building and the community in which it sits. It has been such a successful theatre over the last 46 years, it can only go on from strength to strength especially with a renewed building.