Pavilion Arts Centre

The Pavilion Arts Centre stands in Buxton’s Conservation Area behind the Opera House. Built in 1889 as the Entertainment Stage, it is part of the Pavilion Gardens complex. The centre has a main 360-seat theatre and has been home to Buxton Cinema since 2017. It shares its programme with the Opera House, which has 900 seats. The building is Grade II listed and was designed by local architect William Radford Bryden. Its millstone grit stone façade features theatrical masks of comedy and tragedy. The centre is Buxton’s oldest surviving theatre and has hosted many notable figures. In 1833, the violinist Niccolò Paganini performed at an earlier theatre on Broad Walk. In 1946, Peter Wyngarde made his professional debut there in Quality Street. The resident repertory company once included Nigel Hawthorne. The Paxton Suite was redeveloped and opened in 2010 as the Pavilion Arts Centre. It is a key venue for the Buxton Festival and Fringe Festival. Visitors find a main theatre and a smaller Studio Theatre inside. The building’s large shaped gables and stonework reflect its Victorian origins. The centre’s programme includes plays, films and performances by local schools. The nearby Pavilion Gardens offer a pleasant setting for a visit. The Arts Centre remains a lively part of Buxton’s cultural life.