Theatr Clwyd
Clwyd Theatr Cymru (IPA: [klʊɨd θɛːatr ˈkɨːmˌrɨ̞]), known until 1998 as Theatr Clwyd, is a regional arts centre located 1 mile (2 km) from Mold, Flintshire, in north-east Wales.
The complex contains five auditoria:
- The Anthony Hopkins Theatre (570 seats).
- The Emlyn Williams Theatre (adaptable studio space, up to 250 seats).
- Studio 2 (adaptable studio space, up to 120 seats)
- The Clwyd Room (multifunction area, up to 300 seats).
- Cinema (120 seats).
The complex forms part of the County Civic Centre at Mold (Yr Wyddgrug), being immediately adjacent to the Shire Hall (the administrative offices of the former administrative county of Clwyd, now the offices of the Flintshire County Council). It was built at the instigation of the former Flintshire County Council before it was abolished in the local government reorganisation of 1974 and replaced by Clwyd County Council, and the complex was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976. The name of the complex was changed in 1998 to reflect the reorganisation of local government at that time which abolished Clwyd as a county and brought Flintshire back into existence, although defined by different borders from the original ones.
Apart from hosting visiting theatre companies, Clwyd Theatr Cymru is home to Wales' major drama producing theatre company, under the direction of Terry Hands CBE, which stages several of their own productions throughout the year (including one of the longest-running pantomimes in the country) and also regularly performs on tour around Wales. The then Theatr Clwyd was famous for, among other things, hosting the successful second stage performance of the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.