Briton Ferry Musical Theatre Company

The Next Production "Summer Holiday" is on

at The Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot

October 12th - 16th 2010

Tickets available from the box office from April

Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot

Box Office 01639 - 763214

Princess Royal Website

Briton Ferry Musical Theatre Company Past Productions

Katherine Jenkins, circled from "Oliver" in 1990

The Company was established in 1948 as The Briton Ferry Amateur Operatic and Choral Society. They had been reformed from the old Society which had disbanded in 1938 just prior to the outbreak of World War 2. The original company having been formed in the early nineteen Twenties . Rehearsals and meetings were held at the Social Services Hall, Cwm-y-Dwr situated just off Neath Road and almost opposite where the company headquarters is today. The new Company's first production, "The Pirates Of Penzance" was staged at the Public Hall in Briton Ferry in January of 1949, with production costs about £700, which was a considerable amount of money at the time. It was an unmitigated success and returned a healthy £450 profit giving the society a fantastic start. In 1952 they were forced to seek alternative arrangements for rehearsal facilities as  the Cwm-y-Dwr Hall became unavailable to them. It was decided that a permanent home was required and a plot of land was aquired at Villiers Gardens, together with the Whitford Hall, which stood on a site now occupied by Briton Ferry Roundabout at the end of the old river bridge. Throughout the summer of 1953 and under the supervision of contractors, members painstakingly dismantled the hall and re-erected it on the new site. At last the society had a home. Sadly in 1962 "Balalaika" was the last show staged at the Public Hall in Briton Ferry as it was about to be demolished. The following year saw them stage "A Country Girl" at The Gwyn Hall in Neath where they would stay until "Oklahoma" in 2006. The 70's and 80's were a period of sustained growth and numbers. By 1994 it became obvious that the rehearsal hall was on its last legs, despite constant repairs. It was also proving to be too small for the needs of the flourishing society. A new larger home was sought to enable them to build their own sets and props, and make its own costumes as well, in the aim to achieve a more self sufficient operating structure. The dream was realised in 1995 when together with a grant from the Foundation of Sport and the Arts, the society purchased the Flag Centre at Neath Road, Briton Ferry which was previously the Welfare Hall of the old steel works and even further back the original Wesleyan Church built in 1856. The next few years saw considerable work done to improve the interior and exterior of the new home with the help of Grant assistance from the Arts Council Of Wales lottery fund and other smaller organisations. Above all that however was the hard work provided by the members of the Society. 2003 saw the need to change the public perception of the society's identity and they boldly changed its name to Briton Ferry Musical Theatre Company. in 2008 change has arisen again as with the devastating loss of the Gwyn Hall, they have a new home at The Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot.    

You could be the next new member appearing in next years show 

for more information contact

Mr. David Sylvester (General Secretary)

301 Old Road

Briton Ferry

Neath

SA11 2HA

Tel:          01639 820334  

to visit their website click the link below

Briton Ferry Musical Theatre Company