Grand Opera House
How Theatres Trust's support helped a historic theatre embark on a major restoration and capital redevelopment project
Designed by eminent theatre architect Frank Matcham, the Grand Opera House is the last remaining Victorian theatre in Northern Ireland and became Belfast’s first listed building in 1974, saving it from demolition by developers.
This was, of course, two years before Theatres Trust came into existence. Our involvement with the Grand Opera House has been supporting its continued survival as it adapts to meet modern needs.
Theatres Trust gave expert written evidence and appeared at the subsequent hearing in 1999 when the Grand Opera House successfully appealed against the local planning authority rejecting its application to put publicity banners on its main façade. We made the case that such promotion was essential to raise the theatre’s profile and contribute to its viability, and it would not detract from the heritage value of the building.
In the early 2000s, we supported the theatre’s major redevelopment programme that involved extending onto the adjacent site of the former Royal Belfast Hippodrome to create a new second theatre space along with foyers, bars, cafés and education facilities. Having long understood the need to create additional space for this important theatre, we were pleased to be able to support the plans.
The Grand Opera House underwent a £12.2m restoration and development project in 2020 to restore the auditorium, reinstating the opulent look and feel of the auditorium that Matcham had intended 125 years earlier. It was also an opportunity to upgrade lighting, sound systems and air handling and improve the theatre’s accessibility with more wheelchair spaces and easier routes through the theatre.
Ahead of the restoration project, the theatre consulted with Theatres Trust to better understand the challenges of restoring a listed building and heritage auditorium. We were also happy to provide letters of support for the project to major funders, helping to secure grants from National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation amongst others.
The theatre reopened in 2021 with the auditorium and the plasterwork elephants restored to their full glory.
This case study was produced as part of our Fifty@50 campaign to mark our 50th anniversary in 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Heaney