Buxton Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buxton Opera House |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| OS grid reference | SK0562573485 |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | Frank Matcham |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
Buxton Opera House is a famous building in Buxton, England. It's a theatre with 902 seats. This special place hosts many events. These include the yearly Buxton Festival and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. You can also see pantomime shows at Christmas. All year long, it features musicals and other fun performances.
The theatre first showed live performances until 1927. After that, it became a cinema for many years. It was mostly a movie theatre until 1976. Then, in 1979, it was fixed up and opened again. Since then, it has been a busy place for live shows once more.
Contents
A Look Back: First 75 Years
The Buxton Opera House was built in 1903. A famous architect named Frank Matcham designed it. He also designed other well-known theatres. These include the London Palladium and the London Coliseum. The very first show at the Opera House was called Mrs Willoughby’s Kiss.
The Opera House was a popular theatre for many years. It hosted different touring groups until 1927. Then, it was changed into a cinema. At first, it showed silent films. In 1932, sound was added. This meant it could show "talkies," which are movies with sound.
From 1936 to 1942, the Opera House also held a summer theatre festival. Famous people have performed here. These include actor Alec Guinness and comedians like Ken Dodd and Peter Kay. Musical artists such as Howard Jones and Aled Jones have also been on its stage. Even the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova performed here.
After the Second World War, the theatre mainly stayed a cinema. In 1970, the building was given a special status. It became a Grade II* listed building. This means it's an important historical building. Over time, the Opera House started to get old and worn out. In 1976, it closed down. Many people thought it might never open again.
Modern Times: Fixing Up the Theatre
In 1979, the building was beautifully restored. A new orchestra pit was added. This was part of the original design by Frank Matcham. Since then, the Opera House has been a full-time theatre. It puts on about 450 shows every year. These shows include opera, dance, and musical theatre. You can also see pantomime, comedy, and drama. There are also shows for children and concerts.
A small team works backstage at the theatre. They set up all the shows and help the artists. Local volunteers also help out. They work in the front of the theatre. They might help at the bar or show people to their seats.
By the 1990s, the theatre needed more work. From 1999 to 2001, a big project took place. The inside and outside of the building were restored. In 2007, more improvements were made. Air conditioning was added to some areas. New seats were put in the gallery. The backstage areas were also updated and painted. Today, the theatre can seat 902 people.
In 2011, a magazine called FT Magazine wrote about opera house designs. The writer praised the Buxton Opera House. They said it was one of the best designed by Frank Matcham.
The Theatre Complex
The Opera House is part of a larger group of buildings. This group includes the Victorian Pavilion next door. It also has the Pavilion Arts Centre. This centre has 369 seats. It was rebuilt in 2010. It used to be called the Paxton Theatre.
The complex also has the Octagon Hall auditorium. This hall was built in 1875. There is also a two-story restaurant. It has a bar and a gift shop. The arts centre stage can also change. It can become a smaller theatre with 93 seats.
Exciting Festivals
Since July 1979, the Opera House has been home to the Buxton Festival. This festival runs for about two weeks in mid-July. It has become one of Britain's biggest opera festivals. It often features operas by Handel. It also shows other operas that are rarely seen. More popular classic operas are also performed.
The Buxton Festival Fringe happens at the same time. This festival is very popular. It's a great warm-up for the famous Edinburgh Fringe. It is now known as the largest 'true' fringe festival in the UK.
Since 1994, the Opera House has also hosted the yearly International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. This festival lasts for three weeks. It brings audiences from all over the UK and other countries.
The Opera House puts on over 400 performances each year. From 2004 to 2013, it hosted the Four Four Time music festival. This festival featured many different types of music. It ran for ten days every February. Famous performers like Marc Almond and Boy George played at the 2008 festival.
See also
In Spanish: Ópera de Buxton para niños
- Grade II* listed buildings in High Peak
- Listed buildings in Buxton
