WHAT on earth is happening to our Memorial Hall?

Last Friday we went to see Billboard’s Legally Blonde which was an extremely exhilarating, energetic and entertaining show. It was an absolute joy to see a local amateur company performing with so much talent and expertise.

Sadly they are the last remaining local theatre company left able to perform in the Memorial Hall due to the exorbitant fees imposed by the current management. So many people remember the Memorial Hall buzzing with local theatre groups and dance companies, but unfortunately this is no longer the case.

Another disappointment was that the management close the bar after the interval so the audience feel they have to leave at the end of the show and are unable to stay to congratulate and chat to the cast when they come off stage, especially when the cast are local. This is the only theatre in South Wales to close the bar which prohibits a social atmosphere and pleasant end to the evening.

Since the audience now have to enter the Memorial Hall at the rear of the building, people do not walk through the Hall of Remembrance and many do not know it even exists. Also they are unaware that there are toilets in the front of the building with the disabled toilet, so there was an extremely long queue in the interval for the three toilets at the rear entrance, with no sign telling customers of the others.

I was told that on the Saturday night of Legally Blonde, a wedding party with a disco was taking place in the Glamorgan Suite, so the audience especially those in the circle could not hear the show because of the noise from the disco. This is by no means the fault of the wedding party but because of the management booking a show and disco at the same time.

However, huge congratulations to Billboard for a great evening despite the problems with the venue. Hopefully very soon our Memorial Hall will return to how it once was for our local community.

Deryn Grigg

Bron Awelon

Barry