History

The Early Years - 1920s

Theatr Stiwt first opened its doors on 25 September 1926 and true to the vision of its founders it was to dominate the social and cultural life of the local community for decades. It provided not only a theatre in Wrexham but also a concert hall, cinema, games rooms, public library and multi-function rooms all of which provided an escape from the harsh realities of life in the Great Depression.

The theatre was built by the community for the community by the Miners Welfare Organisation who levied 1p a ton on extracted coal in the harsh years of the depression between 1924-26 at a cost of almost £18,000. It was supported and run on a daily basis by subscription of 2 pence per week from the meagre wages of hard working miners who managed to raise another £20,000.

Decline and Re-Birth - 1976 to 1999 

Sadly, Theatr Stwit entered a period of decline during the 1970s which eventually led to its closure in 1976. Falling into disrepair, the grand old building that had once stood proud as testament to the spirit of a close-knit mining community was considered for demolition in 1985 due to its condition, made worse by dry rot and ingress of rainwater through its vandalised roof.

The potential permanent loss of the theatre became the subject of several committees set up to raise funding for restoration from the early 1980’s which resulted in the eventual formation of the Stiwt Arts & Leisure Committee in 1988. It was this committee who took on the onerous task of not only raising sufficient capital funding but also the practicalities of organising a band of dedicated volunteers to chip away at the contaminated plaster and woodwork to rid the structure of rot and worn out fittings all within the constraints applied to a listed building.

The efforts of local volunteers was eventually recognised and rewarded with substantial funding including a £2.1 million Heritage Lottery Grant in 1996. The refurbished facilities came at a total cost of £4.3 million, making the theatre second to none in the area. Theatr Stiwt was re-opened for business in September 1999 under the control of a limited Charitable trust The Stiwt Arts Trust Limited.

Today 

With live theatre and entertainment seeing a huge resurgence in popularity, the Stiwt Theatre Wrexham has been transformed into a state-of-the-art venue for entertainment in the region. Our vision remains to nurture and develop the creative, cultural and recreational aspirations of all people in the immediate vicinity and wider community of Wales.

The Stiwt Theatre continues to offer a first class venue for the performing arts and cultural activities while also providing training and education for young people in the arts and creative activities. We hope to recreate the community spirit which was the original intention of the hardworking mining community in the 1920s by uniting past present and future generations within this grand old building for many years to come.