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You might drive past it without a second thought, but hidden away in Aberdare is a huge warehouse filled with the costumes, sets and props of some of the world’s most famous ballet and opera productions. From thousands of costumes to life-sized cars and even a ship, this little-known valleys site plays a vital role in bringing the Royal Ballet and Opera’s productions to stages around the world.
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The Valleys Briefing
(A little round-up of some stories in brief from our valleys. Anytime you have something you’d like to share, no matter how big or small, email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com):
Phase one improvement works to a former coal tip in Cwmtillery are complete, following a devastating landslide during Storm Bert almost two years ago. Blaenau Gwent Council has worked closely with Welsh Government and partners, using funding through the Coal Tip Safety Grant Scheme, to carry out the works. The Council secured a total of £1.3million from Welsh Government for phase one works and £3million for phase two over the next two years. Phase one has focused on managing water more effectively, installing larger drainage pipes and new drainage systems, and reshaping parts of the site so water does not pond and can flow away more easily. These improvements will help reduce the risk of flooding, prevent water from building up and protect the site from erosion. Work on phase two will begin early next year and will focus on the reprofiling of the tip slopes. This will involve reshaping steep areas, adding more drainage and carrying out landscaping work, including grass seeding and tree planting.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet has agreed how extra funding for Highways and Engineering this year (2026/27) will be allocated. It includes major funding towards developing the Llanharan Sustainable Transport Corridor and Cynon Gateway Link Road – plus allocations for 28 extra road resurfacing schemes, 15 footway works, two new unadopted road projects, and additional funding for flood alleviation. A report outlining a proposed £12.13 million investment in Council priority areas was considered by Cabinet on Monday, September 21 and Members approved this one-off funding for the current financial year. For Highways and Transportation, it includes funding for roads/footways (£3.5 million), Llanharan Sustainable Transport Corridor (£3 million), Cynon Gateway Link Road (£3 million), flood alleviation (£250,000), and unadopted roads (£150,000).
Following its approval, Members considered a separate report on a proposed Supplementary Highways Capital Programme, which outlined how the funding would be allocated. It will be delivered on top of the current year capital programme for Highways and Transportation, worth £41.9 million, that was agreed by Cabinet in March 2026 and is being delivered throughout 2026/27.
Demand for housing in Merthyr Tydfil remains “heavily concentrated” in one-bedroom accommodation, a new report for the Council’s Thriving Merthyr Tydfil has said. As of 4 August, 2026, there were 2,244 active applications on the housing register with approximately one third assessed as being priority need. Demand is highest among those who need one-bedroom properties, and families requiring four or more bedrooms. The Valleys Lead spoke with a Merthyr Tydfil resident whose son can’t find a one-bedroom property. Read it here.
The extraordinary Royal Ballet and Opera secret hiding in the south Wales valleys
Not many would expect one of the UK’s most famous cultural institutions to be tucked away in the south Wales valleys, but if you’re driving through Aberaman, you’ll see a huge, aircraft-hangar-sized facility storing sets, costumes and props from hundreds of productions for the Royal Ballet and Opera.
“The warehouse was built in 1995,” Emine Omer of the Royal Ballet and Opera told The Valleys Lead. “It stores 244 ballets and 80 operas. The building is the size of five football pitches. It’s really huge.”
Before the Aberdare storage facility was built, the company had a storage site closer to London. But as it needed to expand, it began looking for somewhere with enough space to accommodate its growing collection.
“Aberdare had good transport links both to London and ports, and it was much cheaper,” Omer said. “We were able to buy land and build our own custom warehouse. Everything in the warehouse is custom-made and only used by us to suit our needs.”
Aberdare isn’t simply a storage facility – it plays an important role in how the Royal Ballet and Opera operates both nationally and internationally.
Many of the productions stored inside the warehouse are still “in rep”, meaning items can be brought back out if a production is revived on stage in London.
Specialised hydraulic lorries are used to transport productions from Aberdare to the company’s production workshops in Thurrock, where sets and costumes can be repaired or adjusted if needed, before they make their way to Covent Garden in London for performances.
“The lorries can drive directly down to our backstage area and be unloaded to have all the sets built up and ready to go on our stage,” Omer said. “It’s incredible to see it all happen.”
Inside the Aberdare warehouse are life-sized cars, a ship, an ancient bell dating from the 1800s, and thousands upon thousands of costumes.
The largest ballet, Sleeping Beauty, has 18,900 costumes.
“That’s just one ballet,” Omer said.
Having been rooted in the Aberdare community for more than 30 years, the Royal Ballet and Opera employs around 15 people at the site, most of whom have worked there for many years. Nearly all are local to the immediate area.
“It’s a really tight-knit community who feel passionate enough about the work to stay on for that long,” she said.
Though it doesn’t happen often, the company also seeks to open its doors to visitors, including local schools.
“We’re trying to do more,” Omer said, explaining that welcoming the community inside provides an opportunity to introduce people in the valleys to the world of performance, costume and set design.
