Theatr Colwyn

Theatr Colwyn stands in the middle of Bae Colwyn, a town on the north Wales coast. Built in 1885 as a public hall, it once hosted plays, debates, dances and fund-raising events. In January 1909 it received a cinema licence and began showing early films such as Hunting Crocodiles on the Nile and The Naughty Little Princess. Today the theatre has 379 seats and one large screen. The manager, Phil Batty, points out that a family of four can watch a 7.30 pm film for £12, a price hard to beat elsewhere. Cerys Matthews, former lead singer of Catatonia, gave a successful concert here in 2009. Terry Jones, the Monty Python comedian born in Bae Colwyn, is the theatre’s most prominent patron. Visitors find a traditional setting where films and live concerts share the same stage. Low ticket prices draw local people night after night. The building keeps its late-19th-century character while offering modern cinema comforts.