Dolman Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Dolman Theatre is located in the city of Newport
, Wales
, United Kingdom. The theatre was formally an integral part of Kingsway Shopping Centre
until major restructuring of the shopping centre forced what was the main entrance of the theatre (from inside the shopping centre itself) to be closed; the theatre was refurbished in 2005, with what was the main entrance from inside the shopping centre becoming a single-door emergency exit into Kingsway Shopping Centre; along with this change the side of the theatre facing onto Emlyn Square Road was drastically rebuilt with a new glass frontage and redesigned box office and foyer-bar area to match the rest of the renovations also (and still) in progress throughout the city.
The theatre is solely owned by Newport Playgoers Society which is one of the leading amateur theatrical
companies in Wales and has been so since 1924. The Dolman, however, was purpose-built in 1967 to include a 400-capacity auditorium, three large rehearsal rooms and a 60-seat studio, and replaced an older theatre housed in a converted church. The main stage in the auditorium is of Proscenium
design with also an orchestra pit
which can be mechanically raised to technically change the staging design to that of a thrust stage
. The 60-seat studio space (which often doubles as a rehearsal room) is a flexible acting space, capable of almost any stage setup.
The theatre is often hired by outside amateur theatre groups who pay to use the theatre and its facilities; there are only two internal groups within the theatre that use the main stage, these are The Newport Playgoers and the Dolman Youth Theatre (the junior branch of Newport Playgoers, for ages 11–18).
In a move in late 2008 the theatre was hired to become a part of Crosskeys College
as a home for National Diploma Musical Theatre students, however this does not affect the normal routine of the amateur theatre and the college works around the usual schedule of the theatre without conflicting with any other societies or performances.
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, United Kingdom. The theatre was formally an integral part of Kingsway Shopping Centre
Kingsway Shopping Centre
The Kingsway Shopping Centre is the principal under-cover shopping centre in the city of Newport, Wales. It has several levels and includes a range of high street shops and privately-owned boutiques. It is also home to the city's museum, art gallery and Newport Central library...
until major restructuring of the shopping centre forced what was the main entrance of the theatre (from inside the shopping centre itself) to be closed; the theatre was refurbished in 2005, with what was the main entrance from inside the shopping centre becoming a single-door emergency exit into Kingsway Shopping Centre; along with this change the side of the theatre facing onto Emlyn Square Road was drastically rebuilt with a new glass frontage and redesigned box office and foyer-bar area to match the rest of the renovations also (and still) in progress throughout the city.
The theatre is solely owned by Newport Playgoers Society which is one of the leading amateur theatrical
Amateur theatre
Amateur theatre is theatre performed by amateur actors. These actors are not typically members of Actors' Equity groups or Actors' Unions as these organizations exist to protect the professional industry and therefore discourage their members from appearing with companies which are not a signatory...
companies in Wales and has been so since 1924. The Dolman, however, was purpose-built in 1967 to include a 400-capacity auditorium, three large rehearsal rooms and a 60-seat studio, and replaced an older theatre housed in a converted church. The main stage in the auditorium is of Proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
design with also an orchestra pit
Orchestra pit
An orchestra pit is the area in a theater in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music or in cases when incidental music is required...
which can be mechanically raised to technically change the staging design to that of a thrust stage
Thrust stage
In theatre, a thrust stage is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its up stage end. A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between performers and the audience than a proscenium, while retaining the utility of a backstage area...
. The 60-seat studio space (which often doubles as a rehearsal room) is a flexible acting space, capable of almost any stage setup.
The theatre is often hired by outside amateur theatre groups who pay to use the theatre and its facilities; there are only two internal groups within the theatre that use the main stage, these are The Newport Playgoers and the Dolman Youth Theatre (the junior branch of Newport Playgoers, for ages 11–18).
In a move in late 2008 the theatre was hired to become a part of Crosskeys College
Crosskeys College
Crosskeys College is the largest part of Coleg Gwent and the campus is located next to Risca Road in Crosskeys, near Newport in Wales. The college was previously a technical college and a coal mining college...
as a home for National Diploma Musical Theatre students, however this does not affect the normal routine of the amateur theatre and the college works around the usual schedule of the theatre without conflicting with any other societies or performances.