Savoy Theatre, Monmouth facts for kids
Entrance to the Savoy Theatre
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| Address | Church Street Monmouth Wales |
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| Coordinates | 51°48′46″N 2°42′52″W / 51.81284°N 2.71450°W |
| Owner | MacTaggart family |
| Capacity | 360 |
| Opened | 5 March 1928 |
| Website | |
| www.monmouth-savoy.co.uk | |
The Savoy Theatre in Monmouth, Wales, is a very old and special place. It's both a theatre and a cinema! People say it's the oldest working theatre site in all of Wales. About 360 people can watch a show or movie here. A group of volunteers, called a charitable trust, helps run it. The Savoy Theatre is also a "Grade II* listed building," which means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected. It is one of 24 special buildings on the Monmouth Heritage Trail.
Contents
A Look Back: The Savoy Theatre's Story
The building where the Savoy Theatre stands today has a long history. It was built on the old foundations of a place called the Bell Inn. This was in the historic town centre of Monmouth.
Early Days: From Assembly Rooms to Cinema
The theatre was first known as the Assembly Rooms. It got its first license to hold shows in 1832. Later, in 1850, it was updated and called the Theatre Royal. After that, it became a Corn Exchange, a place where farmers traded grain.
At the end of the 1800s, it was even a roller skating rink for a short time! It belonged to the White Swan Hotel then. In 1910, it reopened as Monmouth's very first cinema. It was called the "Living Picture Palace and Rinkeries." In 1912, its name changed to the Palace. Later, it was known as the Scala and then the Regent.
Becoming The New Picture House
In 1927, a theatre company called Albany Ward bought the building. They completely changed the inside. On March 5, 1928, it reopened with a new name: "The New Picture House."
In 1930, this cinema showed the first "talking pictures" in Monmouth. Imagine hearing voices and music from the screen for the first time! The cinema closed in the 1960s. It later became a bingo hall and closed again in 1983. For a while, it showed old magic lantern slides. Since the 1990s, it has been a cinema again, showing movies all the time.
In 1989, a group called Cadw said the theatre was a "Grade II* listed building." This means it's a very important old building. They said it was a rare example of a small cinema from between the two World Wars in Wales.
Who Runs the Savoy Theatre Today?
The Savoy Theatre is the oldest working theatre site in Wales. It is owned by the MacTaggart family. This family's ancestors used to own many cinemas in Wales and England.
The Monmouth Savoy Trust
The theatre is rented to a special group called the Monmouth Savoy Trust. This is a charitable trust, which means it's run by volunteers. They work hard to keep the theatre open for everyone in the local community. These volunteers helped stop the theatre from closing in 2010. The theatre does not get money from the government. It costs about £50,000 each year to run.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
In 2004, money from the Heritage Lottery Fund helped fix up the inside of the theatre. It now has beautiful red velvet curtains, fancy gold decorations, and shiny glass chandeliers. People say the theatre sounds amazing when music or plays are performed there.
Today, the Savoy shows movies every night. It also has concerts, plays, and comedy shows. The Trust also helps with community projects and fun competitions. In 2012, they won money from NatWest Bank. This money helped them start an after-school film club for kids. It also helped them expand their drama workshops for young people. The Savoy still shows new movies, but it also hosts many live shows.
Gallery
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Ironwork on the ticket booth
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The projection room
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View from central balcony
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Chandelier on balcony
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Balcony box 3 door, detail
See also
In Spanish: Teatro Savoy (Gales) para niños
