Grand Opera House (Belfast)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Grand Opera House is a theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed by the most prolific theatre architect of the period, Frank Matcham. It opened on 23 December 1895.

The theatre saw performances by Gracie Fields, Will Fyffe and Harry Lauder. During the celebrations to mark the end of World War II, Eisenhower, Montgomery and Alanbrooke attended gala performances at the theatre. In the 1950s the Grand Opera House was acquired by the Rank Organisation which led to its increasing use as a cinema. However the increasing popularity of television soon ended this and the theatre went into decline in the 1960s.

Despite the onset of the Troubles, the theatre was listed in the 1970s and has been restored extensively since. The building has been damaged by bombs on several occasions, usually when the nearby Europa Hotel has been targeted. The theatre continued to thrive, hpwever, hosting musicals, plays, pantomimes and live music.

During the 1990s, the running of the theatre was taken over by the Grand Opera House Trust. An extensive rennovation was undertaken with the notable addition of The Baby Grand building. Its striking, modern appearance caused a a certain amount of controversy and mixed reviews as some felt that it was not in keeping with the original theatre. The building is intended to host smaller musical, dramatic and comedy performances and Belfast Fashion Week, as well as a host of educational events. The theatre reopened with a Gala event on the 21st October 2006.