Richard Mylan

"Before the Grand was converted into the Grand we see today, it used to have a row of terraced houses on either side of it. At one end was my Nana's café. It was called Connie's café and I'd go there every weekend, sit at the tables and look up at the walls and see signed photos of all the artists who performed at The Grand through the golden years. I used to walk along to the box office and look up at the pictures of who was playing that particular week and I guess that's where my fascination started. When I was a bit older, about six years old, the Northern Ballet Theatre Company came to Swansea with a 'Midsummer's Night Dream' and they needed a small boy to play The Egyptian Prince. I got chosen to do it...and that was my first ever experience on the stage at this incredible theatre...it was an experience that completely changed my life".

Richard Mylan is a Swansea born Theatre, Film and Television actor, whose work ranges from drama to comedy in television shows such as Waterloo Road and Coupling (BBC), to leading roles in Theatre productions in the West End and Olivier winning plays.

None of this would have been possible if it wasn't for the crucial support from Swansea Council, which enabled Richard to train at the Urdang Academy in London. Richard says, "At the time, I was 12 years old, living in Blaen-Yr-Maes, zero income, single parent family with two siblings. There's no way I'd have been able to afford the train fare, let alone go to London and train full time... Swansea Council literally made my dreams a reality". Ever since then, Richard has been driven by thoughts of giving back to the city that made it all possible.

Sadly, it took the death of his mother who passed suddenly in September 2020, to realise that life is far too short for 'One Days' and he immediately took steps to come home and finally be in a position to give back. By May the following year, Richard, his wife Tammie, son Jaco and young son Acen had moved back home. A meeting with Council leader Rob Stewart quickly followed, after which Richard assembled a formidable creative collective who went on to work with Tracey McNulty (Head of Cultural Services in Swansea) & roll out an ambitious creative plan for the city at the city's cultural home, the beautiful Swansea Grand Theatre, where Richard's love of theatre began. "It's very much full circle" says Richard.