The Little Theatre Rhyl is the oldest Children's Theatre in the UK providing building blocks and career opportunities in the Arts. For 76 years the Little Theatre has educated young people in the appreciation of theatre and the arts.

However, like so many theatres, it has suffered due to the pandemic, including having to shut its doors for the longest period since WW2. When the restrictions ease it will need your support to re-open and carry on its positive mission of inspiring the children of North Wales.

A Brief History

The history of the Little Theatre began long before it was built in 1963. During the dark days of the Second World War, The Manchester Repertory Theatre Company were evacuated from Manchester to the Pavilion Theatre on Rhyl’s Promenade.

Within the Theatre Company, there was a young Actor by the name of Joseph Holroyd, who asked the Rep Company Director a Mr W. Armitage Owen, if he would be able to run Theatre classes for the young people of Rhyl. The first classes took place in the upstairs lounge bar of the Theatre, on a Saturday morning in 1944. Within twelve months’ the, membership of the Children’s Theatre Club (As it became known) had exceeded 200 children. The war ended, and Joe stayed in Rhyl and continued to develop the Children’s Theatre. Actress Angela Day also remained, and between them they made the club a big success. Pantomimes and plays where produced and performed at the Pavilion Theatre, The Queen’s Theatre, and The Town hall. The Club moved into what was the First Little Theatre during the 1950’s. This being the upstairs of a ware house in Abbey Street. The Stage was tiny, and it only had fifty seats. However, it was home.

Then in 1961 the Minister of Education for Wales was brought in and grandly announced a new theatre be built. That decision led to the building of the first purpose built theatre for children in the UK, known as the Little Theatre on Vale road. The Theatre opened its doors in May 1963, and has been running ever since.