Know your theatre:
The Grade II-listed 1912 Opera House in Quay Street, Manchester, is one of two major commercial theatres (with its sister Palace Theatre) in the centre of Manchester.
The 1,915-seater plays host to major musicals, ballet, concerts and a Christmas pantomime.
Distinguished by an ornate green and gold interior with highly-decorated plasterwork and brass, the Opera House seems more bygone-age (and if you want to read that as "cramped", be our guest) than its sister, though their capacities aren't very different.
Notable productions include the European premiere of Oklahoma! in 1947 and the European premiere of West Side Story in 1958. The post-London staging of My Fair Lady ran for 205 performances in 1963/4, seen by 430,000 happy punters. In 1979 it became the plushest bingo hall in the country, but returned to live theatre in 1984 with Michael Crawford in Barnum. The Phantom Of The Opera opened there in 1993 and ran until 1995 - still a UK record regional run.
Address:
Phone:
Manchester Opera House, Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3HP
Box Office 0844 871 3018, Groups 0333 009 5390
The Opera House tends to play ATG's touring musicals, pantomimes concerts and returning touring shows, though the programme is largely interchangeable with the Palace. Facilities-wise, there are several bars, all ornate and several rather cramped. There is some disabled access but theatres such as this impose severe access limitations. More info here.
Facilities:
Parking:
Some on-street parking if you're early enough, otherwise Great Northern (not Great Northern 2) and Spinningfields NCP car parks offer discounted parking with a ticket validated within the theatre.
Online box office:
Go here and follow the link to your show.