Renewed efforts are being made to reopen a Gwynedd theatre seven years after it shut. A condition survey is to be carried out at Harlech’s Theatr Ardudwy to assess the work needed to bring the facility up to modern standards. Design proposals will also be drawn up by the South Wales Building Preservation Trust, which has been awarded £8,000. After years of false dawns, there are fresh hopes the building can be back into community use. Theatre owner Coleg Harlech Ltd said the planned survey was a “welcome first step”. Theatr Ardudwy is an example of Brutalist architecture, one of the few remaining buildings in Wales built to this style. Completed in 1973 by local architect Ralph Colwyn Foulkes, the building was grade II*-listed by Cadw in 2016. A host of productions were staged during its heyday but both the theatre and college following concerns about the structural safety of the buildings. After re-opening for a short period, they were forced to close again in 2018 because of financial problems. Under new ownership and with a new production company, plans were announced in June 2021 to undertake £500,000 worth of renovation work. Top musicals and professional productions were promised but the plans never materialised. Despite the building being empty for so long, Coleg Harlech Ltd is keen to bring it back into use. A spokesperson said: “The grant is a welcome first step in mapping out the road to bringing this neglected theatre back into community use. The theatre lives in the hearts and minds of the local community, and it would make an exciting addition to the offering at Harlech, with its golf course and castle. “The fact that the theatre is only one of 10 across the UK to receive a grant, and the only one in Wales, shows how important the theatre is at the national level, and it is deserving of preservation and re-use.” Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community The theatre is based on a classical Greek amphitheatre design with a raked 250-seat auditorium. Located in the shadow of Harlech Castle, and backing onto dunes, it offered visitors stunning views of Eryri and Cardigan Bay. The concrete building was described by the Twentieth Century Society as being “wholly intact and resplendent with high quality interior detailing” – this included glass, marble, plaster and handmade Italian tiles. It was renowned for its “excellent sight-lines and unique acoustics”, added the preservation group. It is hoped the survey work will lead to refurbishment plan that will include the “sensitive restoration of its 1970s elements”. There will also be a focus on its roof, windows, exterior concrete, heating system, and the health and safety requirements needed to bring the theatre up to modern standards. The grant was awarded by the Theatres Trust whose Theatres at Risk Register 2025, published in January, included Theatr Ardudwy. The register highlights theatres across the country that are at risk of closure or demolition, and which have architectural and community merit. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday CEO Joshua McTaggart said: “All the theatres on our Theatres at Risk Register are special buildings that have real potential to bring joy and opportunities to their communities. Theatres Trust is delighted to support Theatr Ardudwy with this project that will help it move a step closer to its ultimate goal.” The other theatres to receive funding in this round are Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet; Derby Hippodrome, Doncaster Grand; Margate Theatre Royal; Mechanic’s Institute in Swindon; Morecambe Winter Gardens; Oswaldtwistle Civic Centre and Theatre; Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock; and Salford Victoria Theatre. See what's on in your area