2023 marks the 120th Anniversary for the historic theatre in the hills, Buxton Opera House. This year the stunning venue designed by Frank Matcham, is celebrating this momentous
milestone with a commemorative programme of events. The first being Buxton Opera House 120 Anniversary Concert starring singing sensation Russell Watson, Oliver Award-
winning Joanna Riding and many other familiar faces from the Opera House stage, on Thursday 1st June. There are still a small number of tickets available! Go to: buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/event/buxton-opera-house-120-starring-russell-watson
The concert will be a musical celebration highlighting some of the most loved shows that
have graced the stage over the years. There will also be performances from the
forthcoming Buxton International Festival and The 29th International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, as well as pieces performed by Buxton opera House Young Company and Young Contemporary Dance Company.
On Saturday 27th August the Opera House opens its doors for a free public Open Day showcasing the building’s magnificent history and architecture.
Over the last 120 years, Buxton Opera House has undergone much renovation and has had
a variety of uses including a theatre, as intended, from 1903 to 1927 and a cinema showing both silent films and ‘talkies’ from 1927 to the mid-1970s. After falling into disrepair, the Opera House was restored in 1979 thanks to huge local support, with further restorations taking place in the late 1990s. Today Buxton Opera House hosts 450 productions a year from opera to comedy, ballet to musicals, and provides the residents and tourists of the High Peak with a fantastic year-round programme of entertainment.
Continuing the anniversary programme, in September Buxton Opera House welcomes a
brand-new production of The Full Monty, which is being co-produced by the venue in
collaboration with the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham. The show opens in Buxton from Tue
26th – Sat 30th September before embarking on a UK tour and features an all-star cast
including Danny Hatchard (EastEnders) Jake Quickenden (X Factor, Dancing on Ice) Bill
Ward (Coronation Street), Neil Hurst (Coronation Street), Ben Onwukwe (Marcella)
and Nicholas Prasad (Doctors).
Autumn 2023 sees visits from West End shows such as The Mousetrap and The Woman in Black, followed by Buxton’s family favourite pantomime, Cinderella from Fri 8th December. Varna International Ballet return with The Nutcracker and Swan Lake in 2024, followed by a visit from Strictly’s Giovanni Penrice in his new show Let Me Entertain You. In their year of celebration, Buxton Opera House has something for everyone! Every ticket purchased helps to support the theatre to continue to show the very best of entertainment for another 120 years!
Buxton Opera House, Water Street, Buxton, SK17 6XN
T: 01298 72190