Buxton Opera House
Buxton Opera House is our main venue. It is an exquisitely beautiful Edwardian theatre and one of the country’s finest examples of Frank Matcham theatre design. The theatre was lovingly restored to its former glory in 2001.
There are 901 seats across four levels, the Stalls (448), Dress Circle (200), Upper Circle (152) and Gallery (98).
The stage has a rake of approx. 1:24.
Dimensions:
- Proscenium: 9.1m wide, 6m high.
- Playing area using standard masking: 9.1m wide, 9.4m deep from setting line.
- Stage rake 1:24 approx.
Please follow the link for full technical and stage information.
Pavilion Arts Centre
Pavilion Arts Centre is our second theatre, opened in September 2010, housed in what was formerly the Paxton Suite of the Pavilion Gardens complex, behind the Opera House.
The Pavilion Arts Centre has two spaces: a 360-seat Main Room and 93-seat Studio Theatre. The Studio Theatre is formed by closing a partition on the main room stage. The partition is not soundproof so the Main Room and the Studio Theatre cannot be used at the same time. Each space has its own entrance (both on St John's Road), and the Main Room also has its own box office, which is open for Main Room shows only from one hour before each performance. The Main Room also has its own spacious bar.
Both spaces have retractable seating, which enables each to be used not only for performances but also for rehearsals, workshops, fairs and exhibitions.
With all the stalls and bleacher seats fully retracted, the Main Room has around 200 sq.m of flat rehearsal or exhibition space, and the Studio Theatre (which also serves as the stage to the Main Room) around 80 sq.m.
Pavilion Arts Centre main room
The Main Room has 78 seats in the stalls, 140 on a tiered bleacher and 142 in the balcony. If the room is set up cabaret style this is set up as 96 people around tables and 142 in bleacher (237 in total). We use the Main Room for a mixed programme of stand-up comedy and music including the Big Session Festival as well as a Live Streaming and performances by the Buxton Festival and Buxton Festival Fringe.
Dimensions:
- 7.4 metres width
- 6.6 from back to tab line
- Approx 20cm wider at proscenium
- Stage extension always in place
- Slightly wider than proscenium
- 3.1 metre forward beyond proscenium line
- Get in: 2.35 metres at angle. Flats must be able to go through this space
- 4 dressing rooms beneath the stage, with access to the performance area from a backstage staircase
Please follow the link for full technical and stage information.
The Studio Theatre
The Studio Theatre has a flat floor performing area and houses our programme of fringe, independent small-scale drama and film.
Dimensions:
- Flat floor space 6 metres wide by 5 metres deep with black box curtaining round three sides.
- Tiered seating immediately in front of performance area
- Each row 10 seats wide, rising to a height of 3m above performance area
- 4 dressing rooms beneath the stage, with access to the performance area from a backstage staircase
Please follow the link for full technical and stage information.
To find out more about bringing a show to our venues or hiring the spaces please contact our Head of Programming, Sarah Kell: [email protected]