Opera House (The), Manchester

The Opera House is a grand old 2000-capacity theatre, which was first opened on Boxing Day 1912 and through the intervening decades has played host to many of the biggest stars of British theatre including Noel Coward, Ivor Novello and Ralph Richardson. The lavish, opulent decor in rich reds and golds still evokes the atmosphere of that classic, bygone age. Although the Opera House was closed due to financial constraints in 1979, it was resurrected and re-opened in 1986, and has become the successful home of modern West End musicals, operas, plays and other large-scale shows.