Buxton Opera House
Buxton Opera House is in The Square,
Buxton,
Derbyshire,
England.
It was built in
1903 and designed by
Frank Matcham, one of Britain's finest theatre architects. He also designed two famous
London theatres: the
London Palladium (
1910) and the
London Coliseum (
1904).
The Opera House ran as a successful theatre, receiving touring companies until
1927, and also became the venue for an annual summer theatre festival from 1936 to 1942 in conjunction with the
London-based
Old Vic company.
In the intervening years it served as a cinema. But under the direction of the High Peak Borough Council, which became its owner, a complete renovation of the theatre took place between 1976 to 1979.
Since July 1979, the Opera House has been home to the
Buxton Festival, which has developed into one of Britain's largest opera-based festivals. Typically, it includes a
Handel opera (with conductors such as Harry Christophers) and other rarely-seen operas as well as more popular classics. The Opera House also hosts the
International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.
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Buxton Opera House
