Theatr Colwyn

A Genuinely Remarkable History

The building on Abergele Road dates to 1885, built as a public hall — its first recorded use was as a temporary church for the congregation of St Paul's, whose own building had burned down. It hosted military balls, political rallies and, from 1901, touring plays direct from London's West End. In January 1909, the entertainer and impresario Harry Reynolds converted it into Colwyn Bay's first purpose-built “picture house,” screening early silent shorts under the name Harry Reynolds' Unrivalled Animated Pictures — tickets cost 1 shilling, sixpence or threepence. That gives the site a continuous film history stretching back over a century, one of the strongest such claims of any working cinema building in the UK.

The building has had several lives since: sold in 1922 and renamed The Rialto, it closed in 1930 and suffered a serious fire before reopening in 1936 as the New Rialto Repertory Theatre under the actor-manager Stanley Ravenscroft, an enigmatic figure who ran it for 22 years and reportedly lived above the auditorium with his cat. The rep company he built drew visits from the Old Vic and Dame Sybil Thorndike, and launched notable careers — the future Coronation Street actor Jack Howarth worked backstage here as stage manager during the Second World War, and a young Charles Dance appeared in a later repertory season. Conwy’s council bought the building in 1959, reopening it as the Prince of Wales Theatre; it was renamed Theatr Colwyn in 1991 and has been council-run since 1996. Today it seats a few hundred and includes its own recording studio and band rehearsal room alongside the auditorium.

What’s On

The programme at Theatr Colwyn typically covers:

Film: Current UK release films across multiple screens, including new releases from major studios alongside selected independent and foreign language titles. There are regular special screenings — classic cinema nights, event cinema (opera, ballet and theatre broadcast live from major venues), and children’s film clubs during school holidays.

Live Comedy: Theatr Colwyn has a consistent stand-up comedy programme, bringing touring acts from the UK circuit to a seated venue with reasonable ticket prices. These evenings regularly sell out — booking in advance is recommended for anything featuring well-known names.

Theatre & Performance: Touring theatre companies, amateur dramatic productions from local groups, pantomime at Christmas, and occasional music performances fill the live programme. The venue has good acoustics for spoken-word and music performance at this scale.

Community & Events: The theatre also hosts lectures, community screenings, and events from local organisations, making it a genuine community asset beyond its commercial programme.

Booking & Practical Information

Tickets for film screenings and live events at Theatr Colwyn can be booked online via the theatre’s website. Cinema tickets are competitively priced — typically lower than larger multiplex chains, which reflects the theatre’s community-focused operation. Live event pricing varies by show.

The theatre has a cafe and bar area open around screening and event times. The venue is licensed, making it a reasonable pre-dinner or evening option on its own. For restaurants nearby before an evening show, see the Colwyn Bay restaurant guide — several of the town’s best dining options are within walking distance of the theatre on or near Abergele Road.

Check the Theatr Colwyn website for the current programme — the listing changes weekly for film and monthly for live events. The theatre’s social media channels give the most up-to-date information on special screenings and last-minute additions to the programme.

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