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Report - - The Elysium theatre - Swansea - Oct '16 | Theatres and Cinemas | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - The Elysium theatre - Swansea - Oct '16

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dirge

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Ever since I started urban exploring, this place has been at the top of my list. I remember going here a lot when I was younger during the late 80's and early 90's, having to wait around for my sister while she had dance classes. It was always a strange building and even back then, parts of it looked derelict and certain areas sealed off. My curiosity of the building must have started even back then! This explore has given me many failed attempts but perseverance paid off on I think the 7th or 8th attempt! I'd like to thank @Six @dweeb and in the early days of planning also @Lenston for their tips. I didn't get in the same ways as they did in the end, but their help is greatly appreciated!

The Elysium cinema opened it's doors 11th April 1914 in a building that was part owned by the Dock Workers Hall. Designed by the architectural firm Ward & Ward of the Strand, London. It was capable of seating 900 in stalls and its circle gallery. The cinema was equipped by Kalee, one of the leading manufacturers of projection equipment at the time but they also supplied the cinemas cast iron seats. Although the Cinema was designed from the outset as a moving picture house, the auditorium also featured a medium sized stage and a full fly tower capable of handling backdrops and scenery. Below the auditorium the Dock Workers Hall and Institute included a large ball room, ladies reading room and social bar. Both cinema and workingman's club were entered through a high fronted building on High street which still boasts an impressive Edwardian facade. Also sharing the buildings ground floor along High street was a small shop which was home to a branch of W.H Smith's the stationers for a long time. The cinema closed during the 1960's and became a bingo hall until 1994 and the Dock Workers Hall closed it's doors around 1998. The place has been sealed ever since. - History taken from a few sources including Cinema Treasures and a facebook page dedicated to the building.

Here is a photo of it, not long after it opened, it's the one just past the Boots store...

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There was fruit machines everywhere...
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Even in the toilets!
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The old dance class studio...
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AndyLen

28DL Member
28DL Member
Cracking report there. Worth the effort of making the path clear to get to it. Was a great day out.
 

WhoDaresWins

Let's do this
Regular User
Nice one, I know you've been wanting this for a long time. Perseverance usually pays off! Some nice details in there, shame it was converted into a bloody bingo hall though.
 

dirge

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice one, I know you've been wanting this for a long time. Perseverance usually pays off! Some nice details in there, shame it was converted into a bloody bingo hall though.

Yea mate, was just as good if not better than I had thought it would be! If you are down this way sometime I'll show you the place, as you did say previously you wouldn't mind checking the place out.
 

Iloveakite

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Oh sweet Jesus and memory's a pukka Space Invaders machine, the money I wasted in my youth. Remember the 22-11 rule?
 

Iloveakite

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Well if I remember right (it was a longtime ago). You shot 22 times at the little *uckers which opened their legs and shat on you and on the 23 shot you hit the big mother ship space at the top of the screen and scored a large bonus. Then repeated, this time 11 shots then the 12 the mother ship again. Though as I say it was a longtime, 35 odd years ago. Lord knows why I remember that. And retro games you cheeky sod.
 

dirge

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Well if I remember right (it was a longtime ago). You shot 22 times at the little *uckers which opened their legs and shat on you and on the 23 shot you hit the big mother ship space at the top of the screen and scored a large bonus. Then repeated, this time 11 shots then the 12 the mother ship again. Though as I say it was a longtime, 35 odd years ago. Lord knows why I remember that. And retro games you cheeky sod.

Haha I'm retro myself! Never knew that, always preferred Galaga myself, very similar in ways though.
 

Dave563

Some things are best left untouched!
28DL Full Member
Good report mate, some good pics there!.. just a shame there wasn't any natural light.
 

scruffyherrbert

28DL Member
28DL Member
Nice to see some fresh photos of the place - looking quite mouldy in places now.
Would love to rescue at least some of those machines, before it's too late - some good old games in there!
 

mike a

28DL Member
28DL Member
the old photo is wrong in relation to the ELYSIUM,,,High street station is on the right, and you are looking up high street towards Dyfatty lights..the Elysium is actually behind where the photo was taken, on the same side as the station...Boots chemist in the old photo is now the ESPRESSO BAR
 

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