From pupil to proud minister ... why Theatr Clwyd is so impressive

My first visit to Theatr Clwyd was as a primary school pupil experiencing live theatre for the first time. I was blown away that we had such a facility in Flintshire.

- By Jack Sargeant, MS for Alyn and Deeside and Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

When I visited in a hard hat back in January, the main theatre was nearing completion and excitement for the coming months was building.

So it was fantastic to be back again last weekend, standing outside the transformed building watching representatives of the 300 local community groups who meet in the theatre perform and celebrating with them the £50m redevelopment of a North Wales cultural institution.

What I enjoyed most was everyone there had a story about what the theatre means to them. The full reopening of the building is happening gradually.

The curtains have raised and fallen on the first in-house production for the new-look theatre, and the unveiling of the restaurant and bar (in partnership with Welsh chef Bryn Williams) will happen over the next few weeks.

But it’s already impossible not to be impressed by renowned architects’ Haworth Tompkins’ redesign that makes the most of the theatre's hilltop setting.