Cultural events at the Great Hall

The Great Hall on our Bay Campus is fast becoming an important cultural venue. Local choirs are using the space as a regular rehearsal venue and throughout November and December the spectacular concert hall featured a packed cultural programme including a series of “Centenary Lectures”.

The Centenary Lecture series which has been curated and introduced by Owen Sheers, is bringing leading UK and international figures from business, politics, sports, culture and the arts to our state- of- the- art Great Hall venue.

Thursday 10th November saw Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy in performance at the Great Hall with her favourite court musician John Sampson who performed a virtuoso tour through musical highlights of the past 500 years played on a fascinating collection of period and modern instruments.  ‌The evening of entertainment brought an hour of light and shade, laughter and reflection to Swansea. Carol Ann read from her acclaimed collections, including The World’s Wife, The Bees and other works.

An Evening with Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo on Thursday 17th November  saw one of the UK’s best-loved authors and storytellers read from and discuss his new book Such Stuff: A Story-maker’s Inspiration.

On 15th December the local community was invited to join Jackie Kay Makar, National Poet for Scotland and Ifor Ap Glyn, National Poet of Wales for an evening of poetry and conversation.

We were also delighted to welcome internationally renowned soprano, Elin Manahan Thomas to the Great Hall in December for “a celebration of the life and work of Morfydd Owen through song, piano music and text”, as well as local schools and colleges, including the Royal Welsh College Brass Band, for their Winter and Christmas choirs and recitals.

To the staff and pupils of Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr, the venue provided a stunning new location for their December Christmas Concert which this year brought over 450 guests to the Great Hall for a Christmas Concert featuring the school choir and orchestra made up of over 150 pupils, including over 20 harpists.

C Mari Jones, Business Manager & Clerk to the Governing Body said:

“We thought the venue of the Great Hall was absolutely AM-A-ZING (to coin a phrase!).  The event was very successful and memorable for us and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

“Feedback from parents and others was extremely positive and complimentary. The assistance provided by the University was absolutely second to none and we are extremely grateful to everyone in Events and Hospitality”.