The centenary celebration, which includes screenings, talks and live performances, is being launched by the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society to mark a century since Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy first appeared together on screen. Organisers say Swansea will feature prominently in the tour’s historical material, thanks to the city’s role in the pair’s post‑war British tours.
Laurel and Hardy performed in Swansea on 22 September 1952, taking to the stage at the Empire Theatre on Oxford Street. The venue, once described as a “mecca” for live variety, regularly attracted the biggest names in entertainment. During their stay, the duo were based at the Mackworth Hotel on High Street, where they were often seen waving to fans from their balcony.
They were due to return to Swansea in May 1954, but the booking was cancelled after Oliver Hardy fell ill. It would have been one of their final UK appearances.
The Empire Theatre itself was a landmark of early 20th‑century Swansea. Built in 1900 by Moss Empires, it seated around 2,500 people across stalls, pit, dress circle and gallery. It stood next to the Carlton Cinema, now Waterstones, and hosted comedians, dancers, bands and circus acts until its closure in 1957. The building was demolished in 1960 and later replaced by a discount store.
The centenary tour will also highlight the renewed interest in the pair following the 2019 film Stan & Ollie, starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, which charted their final UK tour and introduced a new generation to their story.
Neil Brand, composer and silent film historian, said the duo’s appeal has endured because of the warmth and humanity at the heart of their comedy.
“Laurel and Hardy are still loved because they were the most human of clowns,” he said. “They were vulnerable, they were funny, and they were always on the side of the audience. That’s why people still respond to them today.”
Brand will bring his new centenary show, An Evening with Laurel & Hardy, to Swansea Grand Theatre’s Arts Wing on Saturday 14 March 2026 at 7.30pm.
Neil Brand said the Swansea date would be a highlight of the tour.
“I’m really looking forward to bringing the centenary show to Swansea. The Grand Theatre audience is always warm and knowledgeable, and this new production gives me the chance to share restored silent films, rare clips and the stories behind them. It’s a celebration of everything that made Stan and Ollie timeless, and I can’t wait to share it with Swansea in March.”
A spokesperson for the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society said the Swansea connection remained an important part of the duo’s legacy.
“Swansea was one of the cities where Stan and Ollie were welcomed with real warmth. The Empire Theatre was a major stop on their British tours and the stories of them greeting fans from the Mackworth Hotel balcony have become part of local folklore,” they said.
The tour will include memorabilia, rare footage and talks from historians who have traced the pair’s movements across Britain. Swansea’s appearance in the programme is expected to draw interest from local film and theatre fans, as well as those who remember the Empire Theatre before its demolition.
The Empire’s history continues to fascinate researchers and nostalgia groups. Though long gone, it remains one of the city’s most fondly remembered entertainment venues, often confused with the still‑standing Swansea Grand Theatre but distinct in both design and purpose.
The centenary tour is expected to run throughout the year
