HQ Theatres (HQ) – part of premium international live entertainment business, Trafalgar Entertainment – has officially become the new operator of Cardiff’s New Theatre following the successful conclusion of a competitive bidding process run by Cardiff Council.
HQ will sign over the lease for the building on Monday 16 August and is targeting a full reopening on Sunday 19 September.
The 115-year-old, 1,144 capacity Edwardian theatre becomes the 12th venue to be run by HQ Theatres, the UK’s largest specialist regional theatre operator. Lease arrangements under which HQ will operate the capital city theatre will run for 25 years and existing New Theatre staff will transfer to HQ’s employment.
The company’s plans will deliver continued programme development at the New Theatre and a significant investment designed to improve front-of-house areas and to protect, preserve and enhance the fabric of the theatre. The company also has plans to establish a dedicated Community and Education function to further embed the venue within the communities it serves – and has ambition to work with cultural, arts and entertainment organisations in the city in the development of a city-wide approach to programming.
The New Theatre will also be used as a launchpad for new shows, delivered through HQ’s relationships with the UK’s leading producers.
The agreement between HQ Theatres and Cardiff Council demonstrates a strong show of investor confidence in the cultural sector as it recovers from the sweeping economic effects of the pandemic which closed most venues for over a year. HQ won the bid for the New Theatre in 2019, but mobilisation plans have been put on hold during the course of the pandemic.
The New Theatre will reopen its doors on 19 September with a performance by Simon Amstell, followed in spectacular style with a glitzy red-carpet event and a performance of the international hit musical sensation, Priscilla Queen of the Desert from 20 September.
Other highlights over the coming months include compelling drama such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Dial M for Murder and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, hilarious comedy from Russell Brand and Joel Dommett, an evening in conversation with David Suchet – Poirot & More: A Retrospective, smash hit musicals such as The Rocky Horror Show and Hairspray and of course the star-studded pantomime, Aladdin, starring Gareth Gates, Gareth Thomas, Paul Chuckle and Mike Doyle.
In March 2021, HQ Theatres was acquired by Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire’s Trafalgar Entertainment group – a leading force behind major theatre investment in the UK and internationally.
Dame Rosemary Squire, Co-Founder and Joint CEO of Trafalgar Entertainment said: “We’re delighted to welcome Cardiff’s New Theatre to HQ Theatres’ portfolio of venues and to the wider Trafalgar Entertainment family of brands. The team at HQ have an excellent reputation across the UK as theatre specialists and operators and I congratulate Julian and his management team on completion of the deal.
“HQ Theatres will now deliver a thriving programme of world class productions and events with significant and sustained capital investment, greater community engagement and real expertise in operations and marketing. It’s a wonderful new era for this iconic Welsh venue.
“As the parent company, Trafalgar Entertainment is determined to help the return of live entertainment across the UK and we’ve all seen in recent weeks just how passionately audiences wanted to return to the unique magic that is live theatre, with sold out performances and five-star reviews across our other venues and shows. Our production arm, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, has fantastic experience, talent, capability, and reach producing new shows and classic musicals around the UK and internationally including smash hit productions of Anything Goes, The King and I and Jersey Boys and so we’re thrilled that Welsh audiences will now have the opportunity to experience some of our major productions including The Rocky Horror Show and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time when we reopen the doors of the New Theatre next month.”
