Grand Theatre, Swansea

The Swansea Grand Theatre stands in the heart of Swansea, a Victorian playhouse built in 1897 on the site of a former drill hall. Its ornate auditorium seats over a thousand, with smaller studios and rehearsal rooms nearby. The Arts Wing, added in 1999, hosts exhibitions and lunchtime performances on the last Saturday of each month. The theatre has long been a cultural anchor in Swansea. In 1968 it faced closure until a campaign led by manager John Chilvers saved it. The City Council later leased and then bought the building, refurbishing it between 1983 and 1987. Catherine Zeta-Jones opened the Arts Wing, and the theatre remains owned and funded by the local authority today. Inside, the main stage presents plays, pantomimes and touring acts throughout the year. The Ballet Russe, based here since 1999, performs full-length classics like Giselle and Swan Lake. Local groups such as the Fluellen Theatre Company and the Sir Harry Secombe Youth Theatre also rehearse and perform on these stages.