Borough (Abergavenny)

• Theatre ID
  911
• Built / Converted
  1872
• Dates of use
  • 1870: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  Town Hall, Cross Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5HD, Wales

Details

The theatre is situated on the top (3rd) floor of the Town Hall, a prominent landmark in simple Victorian gothic style which also incorporates an indoor market hall. This part of the building has been devoted to public entertainment from the very beginning, but no part of the external architecture suggests the presence of a theatre within. There was originally a flat-floored auditorium with a single balcony but the alterations dating from 1990 have introduced raked seating, the back row of seats reaching a point just below the sinuous front of the balcony which still carries its original decorative plasterwork. The stage was extended and a proscenium arch incorporated using a tubular steel and perforated sheet steel construction. A new bar area was created under the balcony in 1996. Internal alterations continue. The stage has been accomodated within the original pitched roof of the hall. Consequently there is no significant flying height and all cloths must be rolled. An orchestra pit is now available at the original floor level by removing the first two rows of seats, but it is only 40mm below the level of the first row. The stage now extends 1.5m (5ft) before the line of the house curtain. Backstage conditions are rudimentary, although there are plans to improve them. The whole interior apart from the auditorium, which is now delightful and intimate in its blend of old and modern, has a run down ‘civic’ feel to it. This is not helped by having shared circulation with Council offices. The theatre also suffers from poor external signage and a get-in up two flights of stairs through the market building.

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• Other names
  Market Hall & Assembly Room, Theatr y Fwrdeistref Y Fenni
• Events
  • 1870 Use: continuing
  • 1872 Design/Construction:
    • Wilson & Wilcox (Bath) - Architect
  • 1990 Alteration: stalls and balcony raked; new proscenium frame created
    • Colen Lumley - Architect
  • 1996 Alteration: extended bar area refurbished at rear of stalls under balcony
    • - Architect
  • 1990 Design/Construction:
  • 1996 Design/Construction:
  • 1994 Owner/Management: Monmouth District Council
• Capacities
  • Original: 600 (as assembly hall)
  • Later: pre 1990: 430
  • Current: 338
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • proscenium
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: d: 8.12m w: 13.50m
  • Proscenium width: 13.72m
  • Height to grid: 6m
  • Orchestra pit: Flexible; accommodates 15