About Us
Milford Haven’s Torch Theatre celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007 with an ambitious refurbishment project which has transformed it into one of the most comfortable venues in the British Isles.
The Torch is a celebrated producing theatre company, and the striking new theatre was re-launched in the spring of 2008 with a highly acclaimed version of the award-winning musical The Hired Man. The award winning Torch Theatre Company boasts an impressive repertoire including One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Neville’s Island, Abigail’s Party, The Little Shop of Horrors, Of Mice and Men and Educating Rita. Its Christmas show is always a firm family favourite.
The intimate Main House offers a wonderful space to see professionals perform. With just under 300 comfortable seats, everyone feels close to the action. The multi-million pound makeover has also created a new Studio Theatre, sponsored by Milford Haven Port Authority, which now allows the Torch to offer a choice of films and live performances between the two spaces every night of the week. In addition to the Torch’s own professional productions, there is a regular programme of first rate touring shows ranging from musical theatre, drama and comedy, dance, opera, lectures and the best in live music. The Studio Theatre may also be used as a meeting place and is a valuable community facility.
The Torch Theatre also screens the latest movie blockbusters alongside art house and off-beat films and visitors can also take pleasure in viewing paintings, photographs, ceramics, crafts and installations by local and national artists in the Joanna Field Gallery. The programme changes regularly, and entry is free.
Café Torch is the perfect place to enjoy a light lunch or a coffee in a relaxed and friendly setting. Adjacent to the Gallery, and opening onto a cliff top terrace with panoramic views over Milford’s marina and docks, the café - which is open Tuesday to Saturday - also offers pre-show suppers. There is also a large and comfortable Theatre Bar.
The Torch Theatre is a modern and vibrant centre for the arts which prides itself on extending a warm Pembrokeshire welcome to all visitors.
TORCH THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTIONS 1977 – PRESENT
The Torch Theatre Company has produced 166 productions since its opening in 1977:
November 1977
Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Graham Watkins
January - February 1978
The Bear & In the Shadow of the Glen by Anton Chekhov
Directed by Graham Watkins
December 1977
Nelson & Emma by Robert Furnival
Directed by Graham Watkins
December 1977 – January 1978
Simple Simon
Directed by Graham Watkins
March – April 1978
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton
Directed by Joanna Field
May 1978
The Blue Stones of Preseli - devised by The Torch Theatre Company
Directed by Graham Watkins
July 1978
Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Graham Watkins
July 1978
Dracula by Annie Pearson
Directed by Graham Watkins
September - October 1978
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Graham Watkins
November 1978
Maria Marten - devised by The Torch Theatre Company
Directed by Graham Watkins
December 1978 – January 1979
Oh! Merlin by Joanna Field
Directed by Graham Watkins
April 1979
An Inspector Calls by J.B.Priestley
Directed by Annie Pearson
May – June 1979
Never Laugh at Live Dragons - devised by The Torch Theatre Company
Directed by Graham Watkins
Sponsored by Barclays Bank Plc
July 1979
Bedroom Farce by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Graham Watkins
July 1979
Sweeney Todd by Chris Bond
Directed by Graham Watkins
November 1979
Private Lives by Noel Coward
Directed by Joanna Field
February 1979
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Directed by Graham Watkins
October 1979
Arms & the Man by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Graham Watkins
December 1979 – January 1980
Pinocchio by Annie Pearson
Directed by Graham Watkins
February 1980
The Late Christopher Bean by Emlyn Williams
Directed by Graham Watkins
First Night Sponsored by Hydralift Wales Ltd
February 1980
Gotcha by Barrie Keeffe
Directed by Tony Crean and Peter Doran
March1980
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Graham Watkins
April 1980
The Starving of Sarah by Christine Furnival
Directed by Graham Watkins
May 1980
The Treasure of the White Swallow by Ian Taylor
Directed by Graham Watkins
July 1980
Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas
Directed by Graham Watkins
July 1980
Rope by Patrick Hamilton
Directed by Graham Watkins
November 1980
Godspell
Directed by Graham Watkins
Sponsored by Gulf Oil Refinery
September 1980
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Directed by Graham Watkins
December 1980 – January 1981
Owlglass & the Pigheaded Giant by Ian Taylor
Directed by Graham Watkins
Sponsored by Amoco
February 1981
Candida by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Graham Watkins
First Night Sponsored by O.J. Williams
April 1981
Stage Struck by Simon Gray
Directed by Tim Harris
May 1981
Joking Apart by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Jon Tarlton
August – September 1981
The Gingerbread Man by David Wood
Directed by Andrew Manley
August – September 1981
Treble Chance (one act plays)
September – October 1981
John, Paul, George, Ringo & Bert by Willy Russell
Directed by Andrew Manley
October – November 1981
Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Directed by Andrew Manley
December 1981 – January 1982
The Wizard of Oz by L.Frank Baum
Directed by Andrew Manley
Sponsored by Amoco
April 1982
The Daughter-in-Law by D H Lawrence
Directed by Andrew Manley
May – June 1982
The Fosdyke Saga by Bill Tidy & Alan Plater
Directed by Andrew Manley
July – Aug 1982
There was an Old Woman by David Wood
Directed by Andrew Manley
July – August 1982
Dracula – Or a Pain in the Neck by Phil Woods
Directed by Andrew Manley
September 1982
Wait until Dark by Frederick Knott
Directed by Andrew Manley
October 1982
Arabian Nights by Phil Woods
Directed by Andrew Manley
November 1992
Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee
Directed by Andrew Manley
December 1982 – January 1983
Jack & the Beanstalk by Andrew Manley
Directed by Andrew Manley
Sponsored by Amoco
February – March 1983
Laurel & Hardy by Tom McGrath
Directed by Andrew Manley
March – April 1983
You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown by Charles McShuby
Directed by Andrew Manley
April – May 1983
A Touch of The Sun by Ken Jago
Directed by Andrew Manley
May – June 1983
Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Andrew Manley
July – August 1983
Old Time Music Hall
Directed by Andrew Manley
July – August 1983
The Nutcracker Suite by David Wood
Directed by Andrew Manley
September 1983
The Glass Menagerie by Tenessee Williams
Directed by Andrew Manley
October 1983
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Directed by Andrew Manley
November 1983
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Directed by Andrew Manley
December 1983 – January 1984
Aladdin by Jennifer Granville & Andrew Manley
Directed by Andrew Manley
Sponsored by Amoco
April 1984
Educating Rita by Willy Russell
Directed by Andrew Manley
May – June 1984
The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
Directed by Andrew Manley
July – September 1984
Time & Time Again by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Andrew Manley
July – August 1984
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Directed by Andrew Manley
June 1984
The Hollow Crown by John Barton
September – October 1984
The Harvester’s Feast by Denise Deegan
Directed by Andrew Manley
October – November 1984
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Directed by Andrew Manley
Sponsored by Barclays Bank Plc
October 1984
Falkland Sound
December – January 1985
Cinderella
Directed by Andrew Manley
Sponsored by Amoco
April – May 1985
Hay Fever by Noel Coward
Directed by Les Miller
May – June 1985
The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomeranic
Directed by Les Miller
July – August 1985
Schools for Clowns by F.K. Wechter & Ken Campbell
Directed by Les Miller
July – August 1985
Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay by Dario Fo
Directed by Les Miller
September – October 1985
The Hiring Fair by Denise Deegan
Directed by Andrew Manley
Sponsored by Marks & Spencers
October – November 1985
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Directed by Les Miller
Sponsored by Amoco
December 1985 – January 1986
Dick Whittington by Les Miller
Directed by Les Miller
April – May 1986
The Dresser by Ronald Harwood
Directed by Les Miller
June 1986
Not Quite Jerusalem by Paul Kamber
Directed by Les Miller
July – August 1986
Trafford Tanzi by John Kamber
Directed by David Milne
September – October 1986
Piaf by Pam Combs
Directed by Les Miller
October – November 1986
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
December 1986 – January 1987
Mother Goose by Les Miller
Directed by Les Miller
April 1987
Little Yankee (Torch commissioned play) by Dick Edwards
Directed by Les Miller
Sponsored by South Wales Electricity
July – Aug 1987
Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
August 1987
Crippen by Richard Crane
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
September – October 1987
Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
October 1987
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Directed by Graham Watkins
November 1987
The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
December 1987 – January 1988
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
January 1988
Sleuth by Anthony Shaffer
Directed by Denise Newton
February1988
Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
August – September 1988
Gigi by Alan J. Lerner
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
Sponsored by Lloyds Bank
September – October 1988
Playboy of the Western World by J.M.Synge
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
Sponsored by Nationwide Anglia
October – November 1988
Affairs in a Tent & A Pageant (Intimate Exchanges) by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Kit Thacker
Sponsored by South Wales Electricity
December 1988 – January 1989
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
January – February 1989
Turn the Old Year Go by Denise Deegan
Directed by Andrew Manley
February – March 1989
Hard Times by Charles Dickens
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
August – September 1989
Something’s Afoot by McDonald & Gerbach
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
August – September 1989
Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
September 1989
Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashmen
Directed by Mark Clements
October 1989
Widower’s Houses by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Mark Clements
November 1989
Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell
Directed by Ian Granville Bell
December 1989 – January 1990
The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner by David Wood
Directed by Mark Clements
January – February 1990
Teechers by John Godber
Directed by Mark Clements
August – September 1990
Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas
Directed by Mike James
August – September 1990
Mr Polly by H.G.Wells
Directed by Mike James
September – October 1990
Cluedo by Robert Duncan
Directed by Kit Thacker
October 1990
Lovers by Brian Friel
Directed by Kit Thacker
November 1990
Same Time, Next Year by Bernard Slade
Directed by Gareth Armstrong
December 1990 – January 1991
Merlins Return by Kjartan Poskitt
Directed by Christopher Pilkington
January 1991
Master Harold & the Boys by Athol Fugard
Directed by Kit Thacker
June – July 1991
Hiawatha by Michael Bogdanov
Directed by Kit Thacker
Sponsored by South Wales Electricity
July – August 1991
Farndale Murder/Mystery by David McGillivray
Directed by David McGillivray
Sponsored by Welsh Water
August – September 1991
Stepping Out by Richard Harries
Directed by Kit Thacker
Sponsored by Milford Haven Port Authority
November – December 1991
Mr Biff the Boxer by Allan & Janet Ahlberg
Directed by Anthea Dobry
December 1991 – January 1992
Mother Goose by Colin Wakefield & Kit Thacker
Directed by Kate Edgar
January – February 1992
Up ‘n’ Under by John Godber
Directed by Andrew Powrie
Sponsored by Milford Haven Port Authority
February 1992
Anthony & Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Directed by Kit Thacker
August 1992
Dial ‘M’ for Murder by Frederick Knott
Directed by Kit Thacker
October 1992
The Final Appearance of Miss Maimie Stewart by Phillip Michell
Directed by Mike James
November 1992
Season’s Greetings by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Kit Thacker
December 1992 – January 1993
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis adapted by Glyn Robbins
Directed by Kit Thacker
Sponsored by Elf Oil Refinery
August – September 1993
Inside Job by Brian Clemens
Directed by Kit Thacker
September – October 1993
Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy adapted by Sally Hedges
Directed by Mike James
December 1993 – January 1994
Oz by Mike James
Directed by Mike James
October 1994
School for Wives by Moliere
Directed by Mike James
Sponsored by Lloyds Bank
December 1994 – January 1995
Pied Piper by Robert Browning
Directed by Mike James
Sponsored by Gulf Oil Refinery
February 1995
Frankie & Tommy by Garry Lyons
Directed by Mike James
September – October 1995
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Mike James
December 1995 – January 1996
The Amazing Mr Toad by Mike James
Directed by Mike James
February – March 1996
Duet for One by Tom Kempinski
Directed by Mike James
October 1996
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartwright
Directed by Mike James
December 1996 – January 1997
The Emperor’s New Clothes by Mike James
Directed by Mike James
October 1997
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Directed by Mike James
December 1997 – January 1998
Hansel & Gretel by Mike James
Directed by Mike James
Februrary 1998
Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel
Directed by Mike James
October 1998
Neville’s Island by Tim Firth
Directed by Peter Doran
December 1998 – January 1999
Christmas Cat & The Pudding Pirates by Christopher Lillycrap
Directed by Peter Doran
February 1999
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill adapted by Stephen Mallatrat
Directed by Peter Doran
October 1999
Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh
Directed by Peter Doran
November 1999
Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Peter Doran
December 1999
Aladdin by Peter Doran and James Williams
Directed by Peter Doran
October 2000
Blue Remembered Hills by Dennis Potter
Directed by Peter Doran
December 2000
Pinocchio by Peter Doran & James Williams
Directed by Peter Doran
February – March 2001
A Prayer for Wings by Sean Mathias
Directed by Peter Doran
October – November 2001
Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman Music by Alan Menken
Directed by Peter Doran
November – December 2001
Jack & the Beanstalk by Peter Doran & James Williams
Directed by Peter Doran
February 2002
The Caretaker by Harold Pinter
Directed by Dave Bond
October - November 2002
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Dale Wasserman
Directed by Peter Doran
November – December 2002
Danny, the Donkey Man & The Search for Merlins Crystal by Peter Doran & James Williams Directed by Peter Doran
Sponsored by Texaco
January - February 2003
One For The Road by Willy Russell
Directed by Peter Doran
October 2003
Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck
Directed by Peter Doran
November – December 2003
The Christmas Cuckoos Cooking by Peter Doran and James Williams
Directed by Peter Doran
February 2004
Educating Rita by Willy Russell
Directed by Peter Doran
October 2004
Bedroom Farce by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Peter Doran & Kate Dove
November - December 2004
Santa’s Missing Trousers by Peter Doran & James Williams
Directed by James Williams
Oct ober 2005
Dead Funny by Terry Johnson
Directed by Peter Doran
November - December 2005
Aladdin by Peter Doran & James Williams
Directed by Peter Doran
February 2006
Only a Matter of Time by Alan Plater
Directed by Peter Doran
October 2006
Noises Off by Michael Frayn
Directed by Peter Doran
November - December 2006
The Snow Queen by James Williams
Directed by James Williams
October 2007
Flora’s War (tour) by Tim Baker
Directed by Peter Doran
March 2008
The Hired Man by Melvyn Bragg & Howard Goodall
Directed by Peter Doran
Official Launch sponsored by Dragon LNG
October 2008
Neville's Island by Tim Firth
Directed by Peter Doran
November 2008 - January 2009
Cinderella by Peter Doran and James Williams
Directed by Peter Doran
July - August 2009
The Norman Conquests by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Peter Doran
She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith
Directed by Peter Doran
A co-production with Theatre Mwldan and Mappa Mundi
April - May 2009: Wales Tour
September 2009: Greenwich Theatre, London
October 2009 : Torch Theatre followed by tour of England
November 2009 - January 2010
Pinocchio by Peter Doran and James Williams
Directed by Peter Doran
July - August 2010
Intimate Exchanges by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Rhys Thomas
October 2010
An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley
Directed by Peter Doran
November - December 2010
Jack & The Beanstalk by Peter Doran and James Williams
Directed by Peter Doran
May 2011 (plus Wales tour)
Flowers From Tunisia by Laurence Allan
Directed by Simon Harris
October - November 2011 (plus Wales tour)
Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo
Directed by Peter Doran
November - December 2011
The Christmas Cuckoo's Cooking
Written & Directed by Peter Doran
April-May 2012
Who's Afraid of Rachel Roberts?
Written by Helen Griffin & Dave Ainsworth Directed by Peter Doran
October 2012
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Directed by Peter Doran
November - December 2012
Dick Whittington
Directed by Peter Doran
Recognised as a Regional Performing Arts Centre by the Arts Council of Wales. Cydnabyddir gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru fel Canolfan Ranbarthol y Celfyddydau Perfformio.
