The Opera House Manchester is a Grade II listed building that originally opened in 1912 as the New Theatre. Designed by Charles Lovett Gill in the Classical style, it is an expansive commercial theatre in the heart of Manchester.
The venue has undergone several changes of ownership, name and function - including as a cinema and bingo hall - and was renamed the Opera House due to an association with conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. Since 2009, it has been owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group along with its sister venue, Manchester’s Palace Theatre. The theatre now hosts a varied schedule of events each year.
For over 50 years, Manchester Opera House has been a receiving and producing house for landmark productions including the 1958 European premiere of West Side Story , and the 1990s UK regional premiere of The Phantom of the Opera . Following major refurbishments in 2003, the venue continues to host major productions including the world premieres of Ghost the Musical, & Juliet, Bat Out of Hell and Back to the Future the Musical , all of which transferred to the West End.