The Theatre Royal and Opera House opened in 1893, having been designed by local Merthyr Tydfil architect T. C. Wakeling in a Neo-Classical style. The building comprised of a 28ft wide and 22ft deep stage along with six dressing roms. The manager in the early years was a Mr Will Smithson who also ran the Royal Clarence in Pontypridd.

The theatre was taken over by Albert Jackson Withers of Bargoed in the early 20th Century. The Theatre Royal was used mainly as a live theatre during the First World War and beyond, with musicals, touring plays and pantomimes proving popular. Theatre Royal closed in the late 1960s and was subsequently converted into a bingo club, which itself closed in 2006. The building has been left derelict and was put on the 'at risk' register.

Meilyr Powel, RCAHMW, November 2020

Source:

'Entertaining South Wales, L-M', overthefootlights.co.uk, pp.31-32