Melville Theatre

• Theatre ID
  1793
• Built / Converted
  1962
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre (theatre and young people's theatre)
• Address
  The Drama Centre, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5UD, Wales
• Websites
  • Gwent Theatre website
  • Events at the Melville

Details

A stone-built Victorian gothic grammar school, converted in 1962 by the local authority for theatre use. A single storey building, entrance is up four shallow steps (with separate disabled access). The original school entrance hall forms the foyer. The auditorium is painted black - with windows blacked out from the inside. The original parquet flooring extends from the performance area underneath the installed seating (on shallow stepped timber risers). A suspended ceiling provides extensive grid for for curtain tracks, lighting and sound system. The performance space is level with the auditorium and simple - no wing space or flying. Backstage facilities are also limited, with with dressing rooms at the far end of a corridor that bisects the building, and get-in only available through the main entrance doors and foyer. For many years the resident company has been Gwent Theatre (Theatr Gwent), and the Gwent Young People's Theatre, supported by Arts Council Wales. Currently the future of the theatre is in doubt as funding from ACW is due to cease in March 2011. The resident company and local community are campaigning against the funding cuts.

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Hide further details

• Other names
  Gwent Theatre
• Events
  • 1898 Design/Construction: as King Henry VIII Grammar School
  • 1962 Design/Construction: converted to theatre (architect unknown).
  • 1962 Owner/Management: Monmouth District Council
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed