New Theatre

The New Theatre stands in Cardiff city centre on Park Place, close to Cathays Park. Built in 1906 from brick and Bath Stone, it was designed by Ernest Runtz and Ford. The stage was once one of the largest in the country, measuring 76 feet wide and 54 feet deep. Its first public performance was Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, conducted by Herbert Beerbohm Tree’s company. Early shows included plays by Charles Dickens and Klein, and in 1917 it screened The Birth of a Nation with a full orchestra. The theatre has hosted stars such as Sarah Bernhardt, Anna Pavlova, Laurel and Hardy, and Shirley Bassey. Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming had its world première here in 1965. Welsh National Opera once made the New Theatre its home before moving to the Wales Millennium Centre. After a period of decline and threat of demolition, the Cardiff City Corporation leased and later bought the building. Major refurbishments in 1976, 1988–89 and 2012 kept the theatre modern while preserving its character. A bronze bust of writer Gwyn Thomas was unveiled in the foyer by Sir Anthony Hopkins in 1993. Visitors find a grade II listed auditorium with 1,144 seats. The theatre presents touring musicals, plays, children’s shows and an annual Christmas pantomime. After reopening post-pandemic, it staged Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Aladdin with Gareth Gates. Recent seasons have included The Rocky Horror Show and Hairspray to near-capacity audiences. The foyer displays the bust of Gwyn Thomas, and the building retains its original Bath Stone façade.