Hidden in the heart of the peak district is the little town of Buxton, home to one of the three designs created by Frank Matcham in the early 20th century. With the other two located in London, the Buxton Opera House was a hidden treasure of Matcham’s to be enjoyed by the people of the Midlands. It hosts 902 people and was built in 1903 with the original intention of being a venue for live performances. With the evolution of cinema some 24 years later, the venue was transformed in preparation for silent cinema up to WWII. The change did not end there as a sound system was installed for “talkies” to be shown from 1932 until the early 70s; finally to be refurbished back to a live performance venue in 1979, and so it stands until today. There are around 450 live performances in Buxton Opera House every year, with a variety to satisfy all audiences.
To get to Buxton, there are three A roads leading to the town which are the A6, A53 and A515. The three roads meet at the roundabout near the University of Derby in the town centre. The Opera House is located on Water Street just off the A53. Pay and display parking is available nearby for up to 50 cars and there are two disabled parking spaces.
If you scroll up, you will see a comprehensive list of the finest restaurants near Buxton Opera House to help you plan your meal before or after a show. If you’re planning to see a Matinee you could have a nice lunch at one of the hotels; or maybe you’d want to save your appetite for the full experience of a three course meal after the show at any of the Spanish, Italian or other fine dining restaurants all a short walk close to Buxton Opera House.
Did you know there are two annual festivals that run at the Edwardian Opera House which are the Buxton Festival and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.