Opera House, Royal Tunbridge Wells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Opera House |
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The Opera House
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| General information | |
| Status | Open |
| Type | Opera house |
| Architectural style | Edwardian Baroque |
| Town or city | Royal Tunbridge Wells |
| Country | England |
| Groundbreaking | 1901-10-10 |
| Completed | 1902 |
| Opened | 1902 |
| Renovated | 1996 |
| Owner | J D Wetherspoon |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Briggs |
| Awards and prizes | Grade II listed building |
The Opera House is a building in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. It used to be an opera house and is now a pub. It is a special building known as a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and design.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Opera House
Building and Early Years
The Opera House was finished in 1902. It was designed by an architect named John Briggs. When it first opened, it was a grand place that could hold 1,100 people.
In 1913, the Opera House held special concerts. These concerts helped raise money to rebuild a cricket building. That building had been damaged by fire.
From Cinema to Bingo Hall
In 1931, the Opera House changed its purpose. A company called Union Cinemas bought it. They turned the grand opera house into a cinema.
During the Second World War, the building was hit by a bomb. Luckily, the bomb did not explode. Instead, it got stuck above the stage and caused a fire inside. The building had to be repaired. It reopened in 1949.
In the 1960s, there were talks about tearing the building down. But instead, it was saved and became a bingo hall. In November 1966, the Opera House was given its Grade II listed status. This meant it was officially recognized as an important historical building.
Modern Use and Opera's Return
In 1996, the Opera House changed again. A company called J D Wetherspoon bought it. They turned the historic building into a pub.
Even though it's a pub now, opera has returned! In 2006, the Opera House hosted an opera performance. It was Handel's Tamerlano. Since then, a local opera company has performed there every year. They have shown operas like Troy Boy, La traviata, The Magic Flute, Kiss Me, Figaro!, The Barber of Seville, and La Boheme.
What It Looks Like: Design of the Opera House
The inside of the Opera House has a special design. It mixes two styles: Edwardian Baroque and Neo-Georgian.
On the roof, there is a large dome. This dome is in the Baroque style. When the building was first built, there was a statue of Mercury on top of the dome. Mercury is a god from Roman myths. This statue was removed in the 1920s. In 1923, the main staircase was changed. An old painting from the 1700s was added to it. The painting shows people having fun.
