Picture gallery: Park and Dare Theatre celebrates centenary
- Published
The Park and Dare theatre, which is celebrating its centenary, was built to the designs of architect Jacob Rees and began life as a working men's library and institute (Images: Rhondda Cynon Taf council)
The workers at the Park and the Dare Collieries paid for the building by donating a penny from each pound of their wages
It was a place where the miners could meet and socialise
It became a thriving social centre and went on to attract many big names over the years including everything from the Halle Orchestra to Ken Dodd to The Kinks' Ray Davies. One of the most popular regular performers is the Treorchy Male Choir (pictured).
Historian Alun Morgan said people would travel from far and wide to see events at the Park and Dare - and Treorchy was seen as 'perhaps the most culturally rich town of a culturally rich area'
Treorchy residents remember the town having three cinemas at one time, including a popular one at the Park and Dare
Harpist Catrin Finch is among those to have performed at the Park and Dare
The Park and Dare centenary is being backed by many popular artists who have performed there over the years, including centenary patron Max Boyce. "To think that 100 years have passed since the colliers of this proud valley freely donated their hard-earned pennies to further a cause that they believed would support the cultural aspirations of their community," he said.