The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama[1] (the National Conservatoire of Wales) was established in 1949 as Cardiff College of Music. Originally it operated from 18 rooms in Cardiff Castle and opened on Monday September 19th 1949.[2]
The name Welsh College of Music and Drama was adopted in 1970.[3]
The need for new premises was identified in the early 1960s, and it was reported in December 1962 that the existing accommodation in the Castle was no longer adequate, owing to the growth of the College, and the increasing use of the Castle for other public and private functions. The Parks Committee agreed in principle that a site in Bute Park could be used for a new College building, subject to the approval also of the Marquis of Bute.[4] In February 1963 the Committee approved a 1.4 acre site proposed by the City Architect.[5] The scheme was expanded in 1967 to include a National Theatre for Wales[6] and the ground eventually appropriated to the Education Committee in 1970 comprised approximately 1.9 acres of the Castle Grounds, opposite College Road.[7]
The College prospectus for 1973-74 included the following paragraph: "A new College building, comprising Studio Theatre, Teaching Block and Concert Hall is now being built in Bute Park, Cardiff, and the College will vacate the Cardiff Castle premises as soon as the new building is completed. The Studio Theatre already occupied by the Drama Department of the College is acknowledged as one of the finest in the country."[8]
The new building, later named after College Principal Raymond Edwards, was designed by the Cardiff City Architect John Dryburgh.[9] On 24th June 1977, in a ceremony in the Bute Theatre, the building was officially opened by the Queen, who unveiled a plaque commemorating the event.[10]
In 1997/98 the Welsh College of Music and Drama acquired the Castle Mews, now called the Anthony Hopkins Centre, for additional performance and teaching space.
The College's Royal title was awarded in 2002 in the Queen's Golden Jubilee, making it the fifth conservatoire to be awarded this title.[11]
In 2007 an international competition to design a major extension to the Raymond Edwards building was won by architects Bogle, Flanagan, Lawrence, Silver (BFLS).[12] The approved design extended the existing building eastward towards North Road, northward over existing college land adjacent to Fishers Bridge, and west into an area of unmanaged woodland in the custodianship of the Cardiff Council.[13]
This work was completed in June 2011. Costing £22.5M, the development included two new performance venues - Richard Burton Theatre (seating 180 people) and Dora Stoutzker Hall (seating 400 people) - new rehearsal studios and a new front of house area.[14] This new foyer overlooks part of the Bute Park Arboretum and gives spectacular views into the park.
The re-modelled building was opened on June 23rd 2011 by Kate Burton.[15][16]
Sources of information