Early days

The history of this little theatre in ColwynBayis as colourful and diverse as might be expected of a theatrical venue. It stands today as the oldest operating cinema in Britain, having shown its first moving picture in January 1909, but the theatre’s history is older than its career as a cinema, its auditorium having been host to balls, political rallies, concerts, plays, illustrated lectures and minstrel shows during its time.

Work began on the venue in 1885 when ColwynBaywas booming and rich industrial merchants from the North Westowned properties in the town, and visitors flocked to the seaside resort from across Britain. It was only fitting that such a town should have a place of entertainment such as a theatre.

Unusually, one of the venue’s first uses was as a place of worship; the first group recorded as using the hall was the congregation of St Paul’s Church after their church had burnt down. It appears that worship took place at the Public Hall until 1888.

The Public Hall also became the ‘public face’ of the town’s world famous Congo Institute, with Reverend William Hughes, its founder, Minister of the Welsh Baptist Chapel, which still stands a few doors away from the venue.

The 'Rep'

The Hall’s reputation grew and from 1901 shows direct from Broadway and the West Endwere brought to the venue to be enjoyed by the people of ColwynBay.  Shortly afterwards, the hall was taken over by Harry Reynolds and his ‘Serenaders’ minstrel troupe. Reynolds was a well known face on the West End stage and in Colwyn Bay and by January 1909 he had converted the hall into the town’s first animated picture house. This makes the cinema at ColwynBaythe oldest operating cinema in Britain, as the latest blockbusters are still shown there today.

Reynolds and his minstrels stayed at the venue until 1922 when the business was sold to Coastal Cinemas and the name was changed to The Rialto. The success of this venture was rather short-lived however, and the venue closed at the end of 1930. Then disaster struck. A fire tore through the roof of the Rialto, causing it to fall into the auditorium.  The venue remained closed until 1936 when a new stage and roof were put in and it reopened as The New Rialto Repertory Theatre, under the leadership of actor/manager Stanley Ravenscroft. Ravenscroft initially leased the building for 9 weeks but stayed for 22 years!

Stanley Ravenscroft to the present day

Ravenscroft was an enigmatic figure and little is known about him to this day. He lived above the theatre with a black cat and created a theatrical company of extremely high repute.  Many of his actors went on to great things and during his time at the Rialto, business boomed. The war years saw a great surge in audiences due to the thousands of Ministry of Food employees who moved to the town and demand for seats was high.

Ravenscroft left the theatre business in 1958 and the following year the building was bought by the local council and renamed The Prince of Wales with a new repertory company led by the Londontheatre manager, Geoffrey Hastings. This was another huge success, with an incredible 33,000 people coming to see productions in just a few months.

In 1991, the name of the venue was changed to Theatr Colwyn as part of a modernisation programme and it is now run by Conwy County Borough Council. Events at the theatre today include gigs, pantomimes, ballet, drama, variety, school and amateur productions as well as mainstream and independent cinema screening.  

With thanks to Roy Schofield & Joann Rae