Wales Millennium Centre
| The Armadillo | |
 
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| Location | Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, Wales |
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| Owner | Phase 1: Wales Millennium Centre Phase 2: Lime Property Fund (Aviva Investors) |
| Operator | Wales Millennium Centre |
| Capacity | Donald Gordon Theatre: 1,897 BBC Hoddinott Hall: 350 Weston Studio Theatre: 250 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 2002 |
| Opened | Phase 1: 26–28 November 2004 Phase 2: 31 January 2009 |
| Construction cost | Phase 1 GB£106.2 million Phase 2 GB£18 million |
| Architect |
Percy Thomas Partnership (now Capita Architecture) |
| Tenants | |
| Arts Council of Wales, Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre, Literature Wales, National Dance Company Wales, Hijinx Theatre, Touch Trust, Tŷ Cerdd, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Welsh National Opera and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. | |
Coordinates: 51°27′54.14″N 3°9′48.72″W / 51.4650389°N 3.1635333°W
Wales Millennium Centre (Welsh: Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru) is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of 4.7 acres (1.9 ha). Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert. The centre has hosted performances of Opera, Ballet, Dance, Theater, comedy and Musicals.
The Centre comprises one large theatre and two smaller halls with shops, bars and restaurants. It houses the national orchestra and opera, dance, theatre and literature companies, a total of eight arts organisations in residence. It is also home to the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre.
The main theatre, the Donald Gordon Theatre, has 1,897 seats, the BBC Hoddinott Hall 350 and the Weston Studio Theatre 250.
In 2001 Lord Rowe-Beddoe was appointed chairman of Wales Millennium Centre, a company limited by guarantee. Board members include Sir Michael Checkland.
The Centre replaced an earlier project for the site, the Cardiff Bay Opera House, a plan supported by the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation to construct a permanent home for the Welsh National Opera. The project failed to win financial support from the Millennium Commission, the body which distributed funds from the UK National Lottery.
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