History

Cardigan Theatre  began life in the Autumn of 1975.  It was the brain child of a group of like minded people with a vision.  It began by putting on plays in the Guildhall in Cardigan the first one being "No Time for Fig Leaves"  a farce by Duncan Green and Robert King.  This, Cardigan Theatre's first play was directed by John Leeman who also played the part of Wing Commander Nigel Lawler.
 
The group, still using the Guildhall as the venue for their productions went on do such well known plays as "Arms and the Man" by G.B. Shaw and several open air productions such as "Medieval Interludes" described as a bawdy, rollocking evening which they performed in Aberporth and Moylegrove.  Earlier in that same year, 1977, they produced "Night Must Fall" by Emlyn Williams.  In those early years, a lot of the revenue from their performances were donated to the charitiy for handicapped children of Cardigan to name but one, but always local charities benefitted..  In September of 1977 it was decided to present "See how they run" by Phillip King as the first play for 1978 which was greatly praised and lauded by the press mentioning especially the slick delivery and precise timing, in spite of the fact that the stage in the Guildhall was particularly small.

So, when the Mission Hall came on the market in the Autumn of 1980, the group decided that it was a building they could afford.   It was well sited and possibly suitable for conversion. But in order to extend it to house a small heatre, a small piece of land to the side (which was being used as parking) was needed.  They failed in their bid to obtain the land, but one of Cardigan Theatre's members, Anthony Stephens, suggested the old slaughterhouse. Two other members, Christine Rees and Graham Ross, had a meeting with Ceredigion County Council and negotiated an exchange deal - the mission hall for the slaughterhouse at a peppercorn rent.  After much hard work, and dedication in raising money, the old slaughterhouse was transformed into a single auditorium theatre - the basis of what is now Theatr Mwldan!
 
Of course of the original group of members of Cardigan Theatre, very few are still involved.  However Christine Rees and Margaret Pembroke were there at the beginning and are still wowing audiences many years later.  In fact Christine Rees stars in our latest production currently in rehearsal, "A Kiss on the Bottom" by Frank Vickery.  A beautiful bittersweet comedy set in a cancer ward of a large hospital.  All profits from the first night's performance on 28th August 2008 are to be donated to Cancer Research UK. and tickets are already on sale at Theatr Mwldan.

A KISS ON THE BOTTOM

picks up two awards!

Cardigan Theatre picked up two awards for A Kiss on the Bottom in the 2008 PDA Full Length Festival.

Christine Rees won Best Actress as Marlene and Gina Bromley won Best Newcomer for her performance as Bev.