The Opera House

The Opera House

Opera house, 1901-03, restored 1979. Designed by Frank Matcham and restored by Derek Sugden of Ove Arup Partners. The building is constructed from coursed rock-faced gritstone with ashlar dressings and Welsh slate roofs.

The south-facing entrance front is symmetrical and rises 2 storeys plus attic. It has 5 windows with curved ends. Banded pilasters run across the ground floor with an entablature above, while plain pilasters frame the upper floors. The central recessed entrance is flanked by a pair of single fluted and banded Doric columns in-antis, with glazed double doors and canted glazed side panels topped by 4 overlights with circular glazing. Above is a concave plaster panel with scrolls. On either side stands a round-headed doorway with fanlight (the right one now blocked), and beyond these are single canted doorways with double panel doors. A central section of 3 bays is covered by an ornate iron and glass canopy supported on 2 columns, each topped by an octagonal lantern. Above this rises a large central Diocletian window in a moulded surround with keystone and curved balustrade, flanked by plain sashes in moulded surrounds with keystones. The composition is topped by a ramped parapet inscribed OPERA HOUSE with a coat-of-arms above, flanked by balustrades with urn finials. The curved sides beyond feature 2 plain sashes in moulded surrounds each. On either side above stand 2 circular domed towers with paired squat Doric columns and 4 glazing bar windows, topped with entablature, ramped parapet and pedimented finials. Each tower is crowned with a ribbed lead dome surmounted by a ball finial.

The north front to Water Street presents an irregular stepped frontage in 3 blocks, each stepping forward to the right. The left block is 3-storey and 4 windows wide, with a curved projecting porch supported on 2 wooden columns and 2 double doors. To the right above is a semi-circular projection with 3 windows and a shallow lead bell-canted dome. The windows are set in moulded vertical panels, those to the first floor featuring blind round heads. A curved section to the right displays 2 windows to the top floor. The central block is 2 storeys and 2 windows wide, with a central canted porch containing double doors to centre and left, each topped with a pediment, while the right side has an external staircase wall. Above are 2 Venetian windows. The right block is 3 storeys and 5 windows wide, with a large segment-headed doorway with keystone and double panel doors. Above this is a circular window with ornate iron hanging lantern flanked by thin pilasters and topped by a pediment. To the left is a single sash to each floor. To the right are 3 pairs of plain sashes to each floor, with upper floors flanked by thin pilasters and topped by pediments. Beyond to the right is a canted corner with a large doorway inscribed STAGE ENTRANCE above which are 3 plain sashes, and above again 3 round-headed sashes. The frontage is topped by a ramped parapet with 6 ball finials, and a set-back hipped roof is crowned by an octagonal glass and iron lantern with pyramidal roof and finial.

The interior features Baroque Revival style decoration executed by Dejong of London, described as "sumptuous". It contains a good foyer, stairs, and auditorium with elaborate plaster decoration to the proscenium arch, boxes, balcony fronts and ceiling with painted panels. Classical and Art Nouveau influences appear in the stained glass. The building is reputed to retain original stage equipment. The original gasolier and distributor for the gas lighting and ventilation system remain evident.

The Opera House opened on 1 June 1903 at a cost of £25,000. It became a cinema in the 1950s. Following restoration, it reopened as a theatre on 30 July 1979 with a performance of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor".