Princess Royal Theatre

Name: One Darnley Road
Price range: $

Port Talbot, UK

Services

Architecture

Sectors

Sports, Leisure and Hospitality

People

project overview

Thoughtfully breathing new life into an existing theatre

With a focus on enhancing the customer experience, we are transforming the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot, which will form a key part of the town centre’s wider regeneration strategy.

Improvements will be made to the 798-seat theatre, which will feature an extended gateway entrance leading to a reimagined lobby and bar area, providing an inviting space for both locals and visitors.

To better accommodate larger and more intricate productions, we are refurbishing the theatre auditorium with new conference facilities, refreshed artist dressing rooms, a revitalised orchestra pit and enhanced sound and lighting systems, including winch and rigging capabilities.

These improvements will also make the space more versatile and welcoming for community use.

project brief

Welcoming back the community

At the heart of the Princess Royal Theatre’s transformation is a commitment to inclusive design and creating an exceptional visitor experience. The redevelopment seeks to reimagine the venue as a vibrant, accessible and flexible cultural destination - welcoming a broader audience and encouraging community use beyond traditional performances.

design concept

A cultural space designed for everyone

The theatre’s new double height entrance foyer will serve as a welcoming frontage to the vibrant new civic square, creating a bold and open entrance that draws people in. Inside, a reimagined cafe-bar will offer a relaxed place to meet, socialise and enjoy the space throughout the day, while also boosting the theatre’s long-term commercial offer.

Accessibility has been central to the design. With new lifts, wider corridors and step-free access throughout, the building will be easy to navigate for everyone.

New meeting rooms, breakout spaces and flexible layouts will allow the theatre to host a wide range of events, from conferences and workshops to community gatherings.

Behind the scenes, upgrades to dressing rooms, green rooms and stage layout will improve the experience for performers and technical teams, making the theatre more appealing for a broader variety of shows.

Sustainability is also a key focus, with fabric first approach, energy-efficient systems and a green roof helping to meet a BREEAM Very Good target. Reuse of existing materials has been considered, including the existing timber stage flooring, which will be reused in the foyers to create wall and bar panelling.

A perforated aluminium screen on the front facade, inspired by the nearby Aberavon Bridge, will give the building a striking new identity - filtering sunlight into the foyer and creating a memorable sense of arrival.

Team