About Us
The multi award-winning Swansea Little Theatre Company is a thriving community theatre in the heart of the Maritime Cultural Quarter and SA1 Development area of Swansea. We are a registered charity with a membership of over 150 actors and technicians, all working on a voluntary basis to provide a vibrant and varied theatre programme, and run the Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea's only waterside theatre venue, which is regularly hired to visiting theatre companies and community groups. We have members of all ages and experience and welcome anyone with an interest in production, performance or theatre management. Our building recently underwent a major redevelopment to improve our facilities and access, following the award of a substantial Arts Council of Wales grant.
Awards and Accolades
Over the years, our productions have traveled as far and wide as Edinburgh and the Albert Hall, and we've also won numerous awards from the West Glamorgan Drama League, and national One-Act Play Festival.
We believe that we're one of the most exciting and innovative theatre companies around.....but don't just take our word for it!
- 'Absorbing and powerful.....a superb interpretation' South Wales Evening Post on 'The Diary of Anne Frank', Feb 2005
- 'There is nothing elitist about this theatre, it welcomes all who visit it with open arms.....An attribute most theatres would die for!' Geinor Styles, Theatr na n'Og
- 'Terrific fun' South Wales Evening Post on 'Dad's Army', May 2005
- 'A bit of a treasure trove' Dylan Thomas' daughter Aeronwy Thomas Ellis, speaking about the theatre's 'Dylan the Actor' exhibition.
- 'Unashamedly different........strongly-focused and distinctive' South Wales Evening Post on 'Under Milk Wood', Nov 2006
A little about our History...
Swansea Little Theatre (SLT) was established in 1924 in Southend, Mumbles and was the first Little Theatre in Wales. The Company presented plays in many venues and established itself as the foremost non-professional English language theatre company in Wales.
Dylan Thomas was a member in the early 1930’s and according to local newspaper critiques, was an accomplished and polished actor. We maintained our link through his daughter the late Aeronwy Thomas Ellis, who was a very active and supportive President of our Theatre, we now welcome Huw Dylan Ellis as our new President. We reached outside Wales, having numerous plaudits for our "Under Milk Wood" at the Edinburgh Festival and even performing before Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Many members have gone on to achieve success in professional theatre.
Over the years, we have made our home in various locations around Swansea, from church halls to the city's Palace Theatre. Then, in 1979 Swansea City Council, in recognition of our contribution to the cultural life of Swansea, offered us the derelict former Oscar Chess showroom in South Dock area of the city - an area which had been ear-marked for major development. The co-ordination of the work and funding to convert the building was undertaken entirely by SLT members. Sir Harry Secombe officially opened the Theatre on 29th September 1983, naming it after our famous former member. The quayside area outside the theatre was subsequently re-named Dylan Thomas Square and features the citys popular statue of the writer.
Did you know...
Besides our own annual programme, the theatre has been increasingly used by other local dance/theatre companies, community groups and national touring theatre groups. These include Sgript Cymru, a leading production company for new Welsh writing; Circus Eruption, the award-winning integrated circus project for young people of mixed abilities; and Theatr na n'Og, to whom the Theatre plays host for three months of the year, allowing over 8000 school children to experience interactive theatre drawn from local historical events.
We are delighted that our recent refurbishment and continued development is allowing us to accommodate the needs of even more community groups and visitors, and to broaden our historic contribution to the arts in Swansea.