By Steve Stratford, Deputy Editor
WE'VE got some cracking news and features in this Thursday's Weekly News.
First up, we have an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the old Grand Theatre in Llandudno, now the home to popular nightclub the Broadway Boulevard. Beneath the well-trodden dance floor - and above the decibel-battered ceiling and walls - is a barely touched treasure trove of Edwardian theatre history.
The owners of the Boulevard have never altered or removed many of the original features of the Grand, and with a bit of help from local historians, the Grand Theatre will be taking one final curtain call in September for people interested in seeing the building's history for themselves - but the Weekly News has a sneak peak this week!
We also have an article posing the question of whether Conwy Castle should be restored to its original form, ie white-washing the walls and replacing the wooden roofs on the main hall and turrets. Back when Edward I had the castle built as part of his "iron ring" of defence, the castle shone bright white in the sun, rather like a beacon, and when it rained the occupants didn't get as wet as they would today!
The French restore many of their castles this way, but critics argue such retro-restoration reduces these magnificant monuments to nothing more than a Disneyland castle. We'd love to hear your views after reading our feature this Thursday.
And then we have a report by our very own ghostbuster Richard Evans, who volunteered to spend the night in an allegedly haunted hotel in Conwy at the weekend.
I remember doing a similar feature for the Weekly News some years back, when I spent a bitterly cold night at a reputedly haunted gym very close to the castle walls in Conwy. It's easy to go into these situations and take the attitude of a hard-faced cynical journalist, but whether it's spooks or just the weather conditions, it's not so easy to banish the paranoia or hysteria that inevitably sets in when you're in a situation like that. Like Richard, I'm open-minded, but sometimes things happen you just cannot explain, and I guess that is what the paranormal is all about. See what you think...
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John Bourne wrote...
Hello Steve Stratford,
With the greatest interest I have read on your web site that the old 'Grand Theatre' in Llandudno is to be opened for a day in September for a 'behind the scenes' look at the old theatre.
Could you tell me where I can get more information of the day and how I get to visit please?
I was a member of Mr. John Creese Parsons repertory company in the theatre and began my career there in the early seventies and would dearly love to revisit the place where it all began to say nothing of seeing Llandudno again where I spent three very happy years at the theatre.
I am now a television director working in East Anglia and the Netherlands and so a trip across to Wales will take some organising but if the old 'Grand' is to be open to the public again it will be well worth it.
Any information regarding the opening day will be gratefully received.
Thanking you for your time and attention.
Best Wishes,
John Bourne. (Norwich)
Posted by: John Bourne | April 5, 2007 8:21 AM