| Aberdare Little Theatre Company | |
The Society was founded by Mr. William Jenkins as a Welsh Drama Society in 1909. The original members of the Society met at the Park View Inn, Trecynon and were known as the Trecynon Amateur Dramatic Society. In these early days most of the work was performed for charities of various kinds. |
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After the First World War, the Society entered the Competitive arena, with such success that by 1930 the balance in the bank had amounted to £400. With this amount available the Executive Committee felt that it was time to secure a home of their own. This was made possible in 1930 when Sir D.R. Llewellyn made a gift of an old engine house and the plot of ground on which it stands to the society. Its possible use as a theatre had been brought to his attention by the chairman of the committee Mr. Tom Phillips. Following this magnificent gesture, work on the conversion into a Little Theatre, with a seating capacity of 318, proceeded later in 1930. The Theatre was formally opened by Miss Elizabeth Llewellyn, with the first performance of 'A Woman of Compassion' by Florence Howell, on the 19th February, 1931. It was at this time that the Society became known as the Aberdare Little Theatre Company and they became the first Amateur Dramatic Society in Great Britain to privately own a Little Theatre. |
| In the years immediately after it's opening the Company performed eight plays a season and its membership rose from 313 in 1931 to 1,250 by the fifth season. It also continued to be highly successful in the competitive area, reaching the London final of the British drama League's One Act Play Competition a historic three times. First success was in 1928, then in 1948, winning the Lord Howard de Walton trophy and finally in 1951.
Right: The formal opening by Miss Elizabeth Llewellyn |
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Other notable achievements by the Company include being the first amateur dramatic society to appear on television (1948) and the first in Wales to appear at the Edinburgh Festival (1950). In 1942 the Company temporarily lost its home when the Little Theatre was requisitioned as a food depot by the Ministry of Food, during which time many of their productions took place at the Coliseum, Trecynon. The Company was not to fully return to the Little Theatre until 1958. They quickly settled back in and following the refurbishment of the theatre continued to produce quality shows.
Left: The Little Theatre Circa 1959 |
| The years since their return have seen some difficult times possibly caused by the popularity of the cinema and television. Despite this, support for the Little Theatre was shown in 1978 following a fire which caused extensive damage to the building. An appeal was launched which proved successful, raising sufficient funds to allow the Theatre to reopen in 1979. Since then ongoing upgrades and maintenance has enhanced the building and the Aberdare Little Theatre Company has maintained its high standards, continuing to produce highly successful shows which are well supported by the local community.
Right: The start of renovation work |
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