Buxton Opera House

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor

Visit now

Buxton Opera House

Water Street, Buxton, SK17 6XN
01298 72190
Book now

With its stained-glass frontage, elegant Doric columns and twinned rib domes, the magnificent art deco style entrance to Buxton Opera House gives only a flavour of the grandeur that awaits inside. Built in 1903 by one of Britain’s most celebrated theatre architects, Frank Matcham, and lovingly restored to its former glory in 2001, this is a place to experience theatre-going at its finest. Take a guided backstage pass tour (including a visit to the Matcham Gallery) to learn more about the history of this iconic Edwardian building and the man who designed it.

Bricks and mortar, mosaic tiles and polished balustrades aside, Buxton Opera House is also one of Britain’s leading receiving theatres, presenting around 450 performances each year, spanning dance, comedy, children’s shows, drama, music, pantomime and opera. Big names such as Ian McKellen have graced its boards, and the lively programme is well-worth keeping an eye on. Plus, the prestigious Buxton International Festival takes place here for two weeks each summer, when the town comes truly to life.

Buxton’s cultural hub, the Opera House complex also includes the Pavilion Arts Centre, located just behind in a building that originally opened in 1889 as ‘The Entertainment Stage’. Following a £2.5 million conversion, it’s now a state-of-the-art venue, home to Buxton Cinema and a second theatre that hosts smaller, independent drama productions, stand-up comedy, and regular music events, including lunchtime jazz and coffee concerts.

Voted the Most Welcoming Theatre in the region at the UK Theatre Awards and supported by an army of nearly 200 friendly volunteers, the Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre occupies an important place in the hearts of many locals, and art, history and theatre fans alike – never failing to impress.

What's on near Buxton Opera House

MusicManchester
Fat Dog at Aviva Studios

On the Day of the Dead, South London’s Fat Dog bring their wired, theatrical electro-punk to their biggest stage yet.

From £25
The Orchestra (For Now)
MusicManchester
The Orchestra (For Now) at YES

London’s The Orchestra (For Now) channel the chaos and thrill of early BCNR – darker, weirder, and completely gripping live.

From £15.07
MusicManchester
Model/Actriz at Band on the Wall

Blending post-punk aggression with queer pop and industrial techno, New York’s Model/Actriz play Manchester in support of their second album, Pirouette.

Where to go near Buxton Opera House

Chinatown
Restaurant
Pho Cue

Family-run Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown. Prepare to queue for Pho Cue.

Come to Swithens Farm for a great family day out in Leeds. Our farm has plenty to offer whatever age you are!Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around. We now have a farm shop, café, playbarn and petting farm. When we first opened we only had the usual farm animals – cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and it was free entry. We now have llamas, alpacas, meerkats, rabbits, guinea pigs, donkeys and a pony.On the working farm, we breed our own cows, pigs and sheep and we sell the meat through the farm shop and the café. If you buy a sausage sandwich from the café the sausage will be from the butcher who has made the sausage by hand using our own pork. We also produce our own free-range eggs.
Leeds
Swithens Farm

Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around.

Peak District
Restaurant
The Chequers Inn

The Chequers Inn is a 16th century, family-run, traditional country inn with an impressive dining space. The Peak District at its best.

Testbed Main Space
Leeds
Event venue
TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Manchester
Restaurant
Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
Leeds
Event venue
The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

Leeds
Event venue
The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

Culture Guides

A white mattress is burning in a black rocky landscape.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries in the North are far from spooky this October - instead you'll find tactile sculptures, plant magic and curatorial experiments.

Music in the North

From New York’s experimental underground to the most exciting sounds coming from local scenes, we're lining up a noisy autumn of gigs.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Theatre this month bursts with contrasts - from bold new writing and Black History Month highlights to contemporary arts and reimagined classics.

Cinema in the North

A host of Halloween horrors, experimental shorts, plus pioneering black British cinema make our October Cinema Guide.

Poet Helen Mort.
Literature Events in the North

One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...