Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of the Welsh capital. The building was officially opened on the weekend of November 26, 27 and 28, 2004.
A three-day ceremony was organised by Bryn Terfel, the creative director of the whole opening weekend. Phase one of the building was opened during that weekend and phase two opened on January 22, 2009, with an inaugural concert.
The centre has hosted performances of opera, ballet, contemporary dance, theatre comedy, pop stars and musicals.
Wales Millennium Centre comprises one large theatre and two smaller halls with shops, bars and restaurants. The main Donald Gordon Theatre has 2,497 seats, the BBC Hoddinott Hall 350 and the Weston Studio Theatre 250.
WMC houses the Welsh National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Literature Wales, National Dance Company Wales, Hijinx Theatre, Touch Trust, Tŷ Cerdd, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Arts Council of Wales.
The Centre has made numerous appearances in film and television, including Doctor Who, whose modern era is produced locally by BBC Wales. The spin-off series Torchwood, has its headquarters, known as ‘The Hub’, set underneath the adjacent Water Tower, Roald Dahl Plass, with the Wales Millennium Centre’s frontage featuring heavily through the show.