Grand Opera House, Belfast

The GOH was built in 1895, designed by important theatre architect Frank Matcham. Its auditorium is designed in the oriental style, and recent renovations promise to restore some of the original features of the theatre.

This venue has been a part of Belfast’s landscape since 1895. It was designed by the most important theatre architect of the time, Frank Matcham. Its auditorium is, according to the Theatre Trust, the best surviving UK example of the oriental style applied to theatre architecture.  Over the years it has hosted variety programmes and gala performances attended by Eisenhower, Montgomery and Alanbrooke during the end-of-war celebrations. In 1963, Luciano Pavarotti - up till then fairly unknown to the British public - made his UK debut on stage in Madame Butterfly, in the role of Lieutenant Pinkerton. 

In spite of this prosperity, the period of the Troubles did indeed cause a lot of trouble for the Grand Opera House, and the building was closed in 1972. But the threat of demolition pushed the Ulster Architectural Society to campaign to save the building and the GOH became the first listed building in NI. It was bought by the Arts Council and restored between 1976 and 1980. The theatre continued to show performances but it was damaged after two car bombs in 1991 and 1993. New blast walls were built in to protect audiences from further bombs, and, in defiance, the GOH hosted the BAFTA awards in September 1994. The building is now owned by the Grand Opera House Trust Ltd. who have extended the theatre to build a bar and restaurant and additional dressing rooms. The 2020 restoration programme will cost £12.2 million but promises to restore the crush bar, repaint the ornate plasterwork that decorates the auditorium and refurbish the stalls. 

The GOH hosts musicals, plays and ballets from both local and touring production companies. Recent productions include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and a performance by Scottish Ballet. 

Elizabeth B. Thomsen / Wikimedia CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Elizabeth B. Thomsen / Wikimedia CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Opening Hours

Monday:
10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday:
10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday:
10:00 - 17:00
Thursday:
10:00 - 17:00
Friday:
10:00 - 17:00
Saturday:
10:00 - 17:00
Sunday:
Closed
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