Our Venues

Located in the heart of Buxton, we operate and programme two much-loved heritage theatres, Buxton Opera House and the Pavilion Arts Centre. 

Find out more about our venues below.

Buxton Opera House

Lovingly restored in 2001, Buxton Opera House is one of the UK’s finest examples of Frank Matcham’s theatre design. With 902 seats, its beautiful interior and cosy atmosphere create a magical setting for live performances.

Visitors can also enjoy the Matcham Gallery, which showcases original architectural plans and historical memorabilia. The gallery is open during shows and backstage tours.

Each year, the Opera House hosts around 250 performances, including:

  • Theatre
  • Music
  • Comedy
  • Talks
  • Dance
  • Family shows
  • Pantomimes

It’s also the proud home of the annual Buxton International Festival and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.

In recent years, Buxton Opera House has produced and co-produced several shows, including:

Home-produced shows:

  • Cinderella (2023) – Annual Pantomime
  • Jack and the Beanstalk (2024) – Annual Pantomime
  • Hare and Tortoise (2023) – Children’s Christmas Show
  • Rumpelstiltskin (2024) – Children’s Christmas Show

Co-productions:

  • The Full Monty (2023) – with Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Mark Goucher Productions
  • Hairspray (2025) – with Mark Goucher Productions
  • The Vanishing Elephant (2025) – with Cahoots NI
  • Military Wives (2025) – with York Theatre Royal and Everyman Theatre Cheltenham
Pavilion Arts Centre

Just behind Buxton Opera House is the Pavilion Arts Centre, a flexible venue with 355 seats. It’s perfect for smaller performances like drama, stand-up comedy, and live music, including the popular Buxton Buzz Comedy Club and Coffee Concerts.

The Pavilion Arts Centre plays an important role in several major festivals:

  • Buxton Fringe Festival
  • Buxton International Festival
  • International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival

It’s also home to Buxton Opera House Creates, our programme that supports community involvement in the arts. The space is used for creative projects, meetings and rehearsals, and performances by our community groups.

Since 2024, the Pavilion Arts Centre has hosted a special annual community show celebrating Buxton and the surrounding area. These shows are created in Buxton and feature local stories and talent. Previous productions include:

  • Keeper of the Books (2024)
  • One Night in Buxton (2025)

Image gallery

  • External image of Buxton Opera House in the evening lit up
  • View of the inside of the opera house from the side of upper circle, the stage curtains are closed and match the green of the seats. Ornate gold plaster work covers the ceiling
  • Close up of curtain with Buxton Opera House auditorium in the background
  • interior of the opera house from the stage, the green seats of the stalls are visible through the stage lights, as is the ornate gold ceiling
  • The pavilion art's centre taken from the back of the audience. Yellow and pink lights beside the stage.
  • Image of the Pavilion Arts Centre auditorium, showing high ceilings and 3 levels of black seating

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