ThePrince of Wales Theatre is a former theatre in centralCardiff. Built in 1878, seating 2,800, it later became asex cinema. It is now a JD Wetherspoonpub.[1][2][3]
The building is located nearCardiff Central railway station, near the corner ofSt Mary Street and Wood Street, with entrances and façades on both streets.
The theatre was built in 1878 to aVenetian Gothic design by the architects W. D. Blessley and T. Waring,[4] during a period when Cardiff, then a prosperous coal-exporting port, was rapidly expanding. The building was a prompt replacement of Cardiff's old Theatre Royal inQueen Street (built 1827, which had burnt down in December) doubling the audience capacity to almost 2000, and was opened on 7 October 1878.[5][6][7] The main stage was 56 feet wide and 46 feet deep, framed by aproscenium arch 30 feet high, topped with the royal coat of arms. Interior decoration was in gold and white and the building was illuminated after dark using 800 gas lamps.[6]
The theatre was later rebuilt in theGreek Revival style to a design by Willmott & Smith. An additional entrance on St Mary Street was added with two large flutedDoric columns flanking aneoclassical statue of a young woman holding a cup. The interior of the theatre was remodelled in 1920 in the same Greek style. Theproscenium arch is flanked by massiveIonic columns carrying a large triangular pediment with an elaborate Grecianbas-relief frieze above.[1]
In 1988, the interior was divided into multiple spaces for a variety of uses, including anamusement arcade and apub. This largely obscured the original interior. The interior was again altered in 1999, converting the entire space into a pub and partly restoring the 1920 interior.[1]
The building was designated aGrade II listed building in 1960.[8]
From 1881, the theatre was managed by Edward John Fletcher (1837-1896).[9]
In 1970 theWelsh Theatre Company was planning to move to the theatre, but this was abandoned.[3]
The opening production in 1878 wasPygmalion and Galatea byW. S. Gilbert.
TheWelsh National Opera company's opening performance was at the theatre in 1946, whenCavalleria rusticana was performed. The Welsh tenorRobert Tear, then a schoolboy, started his career in this performance.[13]
Several stars appeared in person at the theatre, including:
Binkie Beaumont (1908–1973) was appointed assistant manager of the theatre at the age of 16. This led to his career as aproducer in London'sWest End.[14]
51°28′39″N3°10′40″W / 51.47750°N 3.17790°W /51.47750; -3.17790
