Theatr Elli

Cadw's description

Location

On the west side of Station Road, at it's junction with Queen Victoria Road.

History

Built as an Odeon cinema in 1938, by Harry Weedon, architect. Adapted as a 3-screen cinema c1974, and with further minor alterations and additions in the 1990s.

Exterior

Brick and tile-clad structure, in art deco style. The entrance front projects from wider main block with curved angles housing stairs. Lower rear block stepping down beyond, with some modern additions. Frontage is largely faience tiled, the cream tiles arranged chequer-board-fashion, with striated brick-work above in the projecting entrance block, and plain brick side panels in return elevation (left-hand return altered with modern extension). Rear entirely brick-faced. Entrance comprises 3 doors divided by tiled fins and flanked by slightly projecting brick panels, banded with black tiles, and with green and black tiled plinth. Above the doors (which are surmounted by a modern canopy), a black-tiled panel contains 5 tall metal-framed windows, their verticality emphasised by green-tiled panels above each window. Narrower triple lights in curved angles to each side, with black-tiled bands between them. Small windows aligned at ground floor.

Interior

Despite alteration, some of the original 1930s layout has survived, together with original detail. Thus arrangement of entrance foyer, and that on first floor (which is curved in plan) seems original and retains some original detail including moulded architraves to doorways, along with the stairs (including baluster rails and skirting); within the cinemas, elements of the original decorative scheme can still be discerned, including ribbed proscenium, the ceiling plaster-work -a series of roundels, together with some wall decoration.

Reason for designation

Listed as a fine example of a 1930s Odeon Cinema by Harry Weedon, which notwithstanding alteration, retains extensive original character and is now a rare surviving example of its type in Wales.