OUGD601 - Practical Application - Research into the Grand

History of the Grand

The Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House was built in 1878 in a backlash to the music hall tradition which was thought by ‘polite society’ to lower the tone of entertainment via the sort of humour presented in these pub-based establishments.

The theatre was built on a site of approximately three quarters of an acre with a frontage on New Briggate of 56 yards, including the Assembly Rooms. The theatre cost a total of £62,000 and took 13 months to build. 

The architect, George Corson, was heavily influenced by his assistant James Robertson Watson who had undertaken a tour of Europe’s churches and theatres. Many of the design inspirations came from these continental influences, in particular the gothic, ecclesiastical spires. The exterior is in a mixture of Romanesque and Scottish baronial styles, while the interior has such gothic motifs as fan-vaulting and clustered columns.

The first performance at the theatre was Much Ado About Nothing on 18 November 1878 and stars that have trodden the boards over the years have included Sarah Bernhardt, Ellen Terry, Julie Andrews, Felicity Kendal, Morecambe and Wise and Laurence Olivier.

2018 will mark the 140th Anniversary of The Grand Theatre opening. It is widely regarded as a major milestone in Victorian theatre building. Tours of the theatre are available to find out more about the history of this fascinating building.

In 1876, ten Leeds business men got together with a vision and the money to create a magnificent new theatre for the city. On opening, the Grand Theatre was managed by Wilson Barrett , an astute actor / businessman who successfully ran the theatre for over 15 years. Over the last 150 years, Leeds Grand Theatre and its beautiful sister venue City Varieties Music Hall have continued to be central to the culture and economy of the city.

These days, Leeds Grand Theatre brings the West End to Yorkshire whilst the City Varieties continues to be what Dara O’Briain hails as ‘one of the best venues for stand-up in the country’. Between them they draw audiences of around 400,000 people a year from Leeds, Yorkshire and beyond.

We are now looking for similarly visionary businessmen and businesswomen to help support these historic venues, as well as Leeds’ cosiest cinema, the Hyde Park Picture House , and secure our future for the next 150 years and beyond.

Productions and Events at the Grand, City Variety and Hyde Park Picture House

Comedies and Concerts

• Jon Richardson
• Dara O Brian
• Jake Bugg
• Elkie Brooks
• Sir Ken Dodd
• Jane McDonald
• Sixties Gold

Musicals

• Fat Friends - The Musical
• The Band
• CATS
• An Officer and a Gentleman
• The Last Ship
• Beautiful 
• This is Elvis
• Wicked
• Calendar Girls
• Jersey Boys
• Shrek
• Nativity

Drama

• ART
• The Case of the Frightened Lady
• The comedy about a bank robbery 

Dance Classes and Talks

• Keep Dancing for the over 50's
• Northern Ballet Revealed

Dance Shows

• Tango Moderno - Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace
• Northern Ballet's Jane Eyre
• Sir Kenneth MacMillan
• The Little Mermaid 

"We hope you'll agree there's a great line up over the next few months with everything from Opera and ballet by our resident companies, Opera North and Northern Ballet, to spectacular West End Musicals, fantastic drama and some old favourites in concert."