Manchester Opera House

The Manchester Opera House stands in Quay Street, a short walk from the city’s canals. It is a large theatre with 1,920 seats, built in the early 20th century and later renamed. The building is Grade II listed and shares ownership with the nearby Palace Theatre. Both are run by the Ambassador Theatre Group, which stages touring musicals, ballet, concerts and Christmas pantomimes. The theatre’s classical façade features fluted columns and a relief of a horse-drawn chariot above the entrance. The Opera House has a long history of premieres and notable productions. In 1958 it hosted the European premiere of West Side Story. Later, it presented the British regional premiere of The Phantom of the Opera from 1993 to 1995. More recently, it premiered Ghost The Musical in 2011 and Back to the Future: The Musical in 2020. The auditorium retains its green and gold colour scheme, with two curved balconies and a high, coffered ceiling. Inside, the stage is 13 metres deep and 11 metres wide, with an orchestra pit for 80 musicians. The proscenium arch is decorated with gryphons flanking a circular medallion. The theatre’s symmetrical design and classical details make it a landmark in Manchester’s theatre district. Visitors find a grand yet welcoming space, where every seat offers a clear view of the stage.