THIS week the nostalgia section features the Theatre Royal, Broad Street, in Barry.

The venue, built in 1907, was designed by architect W E Knapman as a live theatre and rebuilt, following a fire in November 1909.

It had a red brick and stucco facade in a classical style, with a taller pedimented centre section.

The theatre housed an orchestral organ manufactured by Messrs Nicholson of Worcester and actress Lillie Langtry appeared at the venue in 1918.

1929 saw it converted into a cinema and re-named Royal Super Cinema.

The whole venue could accommodate up to 1,980 people with a café on site.

It closed in May 1940 and reopened after the Second World War with some re-building before 1947.

The circle was closed off in the 1980s and the screen brought forward and in the 1990’s a second screen was created in the former stalls.

Seating was available for up to 533 people.

The Theatre Royal closed on April 10, 2008 and was demolished in August 2012.

The affordable independent living facility, Golau Caredig now stands in its place.

The Barry & District News would like to thank Tom Clemett for providing the photograph.