A Stage for Success

View of new building from North Road

World-Class Facilities

"We are justifiably proud of the successes of our graduates. These new facilities will allow us to offer our future students the highest quality training environment and to bring their work to many more people. Offering world class facilities in such a stunning location will allow us to continue to attract leading international arts practitioners to work here, and to increase national and international recognition for Cardiff as a home of world-class artistic training."
Hilary Boulding, Principal

The Royal Welsh College is currently undergoing an ambitious and exciting development to build a suite of world-class training and performance facilities for musicians, actors, theatre designers and stage managers.

The landmark £22.5 million development will:

  • Enable the College to significantly raise the quality and profile of its provision for Wales and the UK
  • Attract the best international students to study in Cardiff
  • Enhance opportunities for Cardiff residents and the many professional and community groups that contribute to Cardiff’s vibrant cultural life
  • Use the BREEAM Environmental Assessment Method to attempt to achieve a building rated ‘excellent’ in environmental standards

This new gateway to Cardiff City will also complement the College’s existing high quality, small-scale performance and rehearsal facilities with:

  • A 450 capacity acoustically excellent world-class Concert Hall for rehearsals, public recitals and master-classes

    Cross-section of Concert Hall
  • A 160 seat state-of-the-art Theatre with a dress circle and teaching gallery
  • Four purpose-built Acting and Movement Studios (with same footprint as Theatre)
  • A Café Bar and Terrace opening out to spectacular views over historic Bute Park
  • A handsome new arcade to exhibit the College’s award-winning theatre and costume designs
  • A renovated and upgraded Bute Theatre (capacity 150-200) doubling as a television studio
  • A new ‘Front Door’ to the College opening onto a central Foyer and performance spaces
  • A single unifying roof linking the three separate buildings, the existing Bute Theatre, the new drama wing and the Concert Hall, via the public open spaces

"Our aim is to create world class performance and rehearsal spaces for the College. These are designed from the inside out for acoustic excellence and theatrical intimacy."
Jason Flanagan, Design Director at award-winning architects Hamiltons (www.hamiltons-london.com)

Jason Flanagan was Project Director for the iconic Sage Gateshead. He was also part of the design team for the winning submissions for the Dallas Opera House, and the conversion of the Avery Fisher Concert Hall at the Lincoln Centre in New York.