A GRAND old Powys theatre that is used to staging spectacular performances and playing host to famous faces welcomed a few more celebrities recently.

Llandrindod Wells’ Albert Hall had a visit from Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden and renowned Welsh TV and radio presenter and singer Aled Jones. The pair came to the spa town to film for S4C TV show ‘Iaith ar Daith’ and took a tour of what is Mid Wales' oldest theatre and learned more about its history.

Mai Ellis, a local Welsh speaker, welcomed the duo to the popular theatre, which was converted from a church into a performance venue in the 1920s, and spoke to them in Welsh about how the Albert Hall got its name, as well as providing them with details about the important role it has played in Llandrindod life for more than a century.

The Iaith ar Daith programme was shown on Sunday, May 15, at 8pm on S4C, and is available to catch up on via the BBC iPlayer.

“The Albert Hall would like to thank everyone involved in the production of the episode and sends a special thanks to Mai Ellis for her help and speaking to Aled and Amy fluently in Welsh,” said a theatre spokesperson.

Iaith ar Daith takes one celeb and one Welsh-speaking mentor, who is also a well-known face, to different areas of Wales in order to learn a little bit more of the language – and there's always several challenges along the way.

The Albert Hall will celebrate its centenary as a theatre next year; it opened as an entertainment venue in 1923 after plans were originally discussed in 1922 – having originally served as a church hall since the late 19th century.

County Times: Amy Dowden and Aled Jones with Mai Ellis on the Albert Hall stage. Pic Ben Williams Amy Dowden and Aled Jones with Mai Ellis on the Albert Hall stage. Pic Ben Williams

Originally built as a church hall in 1896, it officially opened as a theatre in 1923 following the end of World War I when the congregation’s numbers began to dwindle.

It was in the 1890s when Llandrindod was at the height of its popularity, with 80,000 to 90,000 visitors coming each year for spa treatment and rest. Many were Welsh speakers so the Presbyterian Church decided it needed somewhere to hold Welsh language services and social events. Owen Morris Roberts drew up the plans and church members started fundraising, with the hall completed in 1896 at a total cost of £2,000.

It comprised a large open space, moveable seating for 750 people, a small stage for choirs to assemble and a small balcony at the back of the hall with wooden seats.

The exterior remains much the same as it is today, except for the main doors, canopy and steps.

But after the Royal Army Medical Corps billeted 4,000 men in Llandrindod for training for the war (they used the Hall for events and entertainment) church membership began to decline after it ended in 1918 and the hall became surplus to requirements.

The committee decided that a theatre and cinema would be of value to the town, so in 1922, the Albert Hall was converted into a theatre and cinema, re-opening on July 23, 1923.

It was briefly used for entertaining troops again during World War II but after being bought by a group of local stakeholders in 1962 for £2,000, a management committee was formed, composed of representatives from local organisations who continue to run the theatre.

It was Grade II listed in 1985 and has experienced its struggles over the years, particularly with funding, but continues to serve as a vital hub of the community.

Today it is a community space that anyone can hire for their own performance or show. It is mainly used for theatre productions but can also accommodate concerts, eisteddfods, film shows, ceremonies, conferences (theatre-style) and meetings.

To find out more about the Albert Hall, take a look at the website, https://thealberthall.co.uk.