Buxton Opera House
| General Information | ||
| About | Built in 1903 and designed by Frank Matcham, one of Britain's finest theatre architects, the Opera House ran as a successful theatre, receiving touring companies until 1927. In 1927 the theatre was turned into a cinema. Silent films were shown at first and in 1932 the theatre was wired for sound and 'talkies' took over. The demand for live theatre persisted though, and Lillian Bayliss, a woman of immense energy and vision, and manager of The Old Vic, presented summer Festivals in Buxton in 1937 and 1939. Among the stars to delight Buxton audiences at this time were Sybil Thorndike, Lewis Casson, Robert Donat, Anthony Quayle, Robert Morley and Alec Guinness. Although the Festivals continued during wartime, a loss of momentum resulted in the end of live theatre production. Throughout the late 1940s, 50s and 60s the Opera House operated solely as a cinema, with only local amateur theatre performances and the annual pantomimes providing any links to its illustrious past. Towards the end of the 1970s the Opera House fell into disuse but was lovingly restored in 1979 following dedicated work by many people both locally and nationally. Since the completion of this restoration work Buxton Opera House has been at the centre of a remarkable success story and has developed as a community theatre catering for wide-ranging tastes and ages. In late 1990s however it became apparent that the Opera House required further urgent restoration work in order to secure its future into the next century and beyond. An extensive £1.9 million programme of external and internal restoration was undertaken between October 1999 and June 2001 to restore the theatre to its original 1903 glory. | |
| Built | 1903 | |
| Capacity | 938 | |
| Contact details | ||
| Address | Water Street Buxton SK17 6XN | |
| Booking Tel | 0845 12 72190 | |
| Technical Tel | 01298 72050 | |
| Website | http://www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/ | |
| Members of Casting Call Pro who have worked for Buxton Opera House | ||
| 2010 |  | Andrew Sykes, Jimmy Under My Skin Breathe Out Theatre |
 | Philip Cox, Dr Daly The Sorcerer Opera della Luna | |
 | Mark Kempner, Alderman Fitzwarren Dick Whittington Channel Theatre | |
 | Nick Staverson, Sarah The Cook Dick Whittington Channel Theatre Company | |
 | Paul Morgans, Cyril Dick Whittington Channel Theatre productions | |
 | Matthew Huntbach, Mr Ogilvie Acting on Instinct Lucky Finn Productions | |
 | Monique Benoiton, Mary-Anne Clark Acting on Instinct Lucky Fin Productions | |
| 2009 |  | Richard Buxton, Arturo Ui, Judge The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui The Three Stooges Theatre Company |
 | Kara McLean, Ensemble The Pirates of Penzance Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company | |
 | Hannah Richmond, Ensemble The Pirates of Penzance The G&S Opera Company | |
 | Tammy Davies, Ensemble The Pirates of Penzance The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company | |
 | Matthew Ibbotson, Chorus Princess Ida / Pirates of Penzance Buxton G & S Society | |
| Kara McLean, Ensemble Princess Ida Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company | |
| Philip Cox, King Gama Princess Ida Festival Gilbert & Sullivan Company | |
| Hannah Richmond, Ada Princess Ida The G&S Opera Company | |
| Tammy Davies, Chloe Princess Ida The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company | |
 | Matthew Blackwell, Borachio Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare in the dome 2009 | |
 | Sarah Sharkey, Ensemble Iolanthe Charles Court Opera | |
 | Samantha Hilton, Gretel Cinderella Panto Channel Theatre | |
 | Ciara Janson, Cinderella Cinderella Channel Theatre Productions | |
