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Exterior of Leeds Grand Theatre at night time. A poster for Carousel can be see on the left hand side and a lamppost is on the right.

Leeds Grand Theatre

Built in 1878, reportedly following an off-the-cuff remark by Prince Albert that Leeds needed a good theatre as “nothing was more calculated to promote culture and raise the tone of the people”, Leeds Grand Theatre is the most magnificent titular character!

Dressed in Victorian velvet, gold leaf, ornate plasterwork and illuminated by a magnificent Waterford Crystal chandelier adorned with 6,389 crystals, Leeds Grand Theatre has welcomed some of the world’s greatest performers since opening in 1878. Legend has it that the company’s directors gathered the workforce in the orchestra pit on 28 May that year to celebrate the theatre’s success with a mug of beer, a meat pie and three hearty cheers.

Like any grand old dame, the theatre has weathered its share of challenges, from a proposed demolition in 1969 to a major roof restoration completed in 2016. Thanks to the support of Leeds City Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, it continues to thrive as one of the UK’s leading receiving theatres. Today, Leeds Grand Theatre is home to resident companies Opera North and Northern Ballet, hosts the very best touring productions, West End hits, world premieres and internationally renowned music and comedy – not to mention a few resident ghosts.

Grand by name, Grand by nature.

A brief history of Leeds Grand Theatre

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A timeline of Leeds Grand Theatre's history from 1858 to 1878 titled Leeds Grand Theatre: A Brief History. Text written along a linear timeline reads: 1858. On a visit to the city with Queen Victoria, Prince Albert remarks that Leeds is in need of a good theatre, saying that “nothing was more calculated to promote culture and raise the tone of the people”. 1876. The Grand Theatre Company, a group of 10 wealthy directors, is formed with a capitol of £50,000 to build a theatre. Accompanied with a circular image of a sketch of The Grand's exterior. More text reading: 1877. A 3/4 of an acre site is bought on New Briggate. The design is entrusted with George Corson and James Robertson Watson. As well as the theatre, the plans include six shops, the Assembly and Supper Room, and large storage cellars. Construction begins in October. 1878. The theatre is christened Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House on 28 May, when the directors, workers and gentlemen gather in the pit and raise a mug of beer, a meat pie and three cheers to its success. It took 13 months to build with a cost of £62,000. 1878. ‘This building will positively open’ on November 18th, with a capacity of 2,600 seated and 200 standing. The first show is Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Accompanied by an image of the front of the programme from the first performance. More text reading: 1878. The first pantomime - Blue Beard the Grand - or Harlequin the Amorous Ameer is staged.
A timeline of Leeds Grand Theatre's history from 1879 to 1900 titled Leeds Grand Theatre: A Brief History. Text written along a linear timeline reads: 1879. The conjurer, Dr Lynn, opens the Assembly Rooms on August 4th. 1892. A canopy is built over the main entrance. Accompanied by an image of the exterior of The Grand showing the canopy. Image is circular. More text reads: 1893: Leeds Amateur Operatic Society perform La Fille de Madame Augot. They will perform at The Grand every year. 1895. Electricty is installed in the auditorium. 1898: A new stage is built. Accompanied by an old image of the new stage. More text reads: 1900. A fire curtain is installed.
A timeline of Leeds Grand Theatre's history from 1907 to 1960 titled Leeds Grand Theatre: A Brief History. Text written along a linear timeline reads: 1907. The Assembly Room is turned into a cinema, later known for its ‘blue’ movies. 1918. The day before war is declared, The Grand opens with the farce The Private Secretary and Oh! What a Day. The theatre remains open through WW1, raising morale, fundraising and recruiting for the cause. Accompanied by a black and white circular image of women in wartime dress in one of the bars in The Grand. More text reads: 1939. During WW2, The Grand provides light relief and mounts a series of farces and musical comedies. It also provides space for air raid shelters. 1945. Peace is celebrated with a week-long victory festival, Youth Marches On!, produced in association with the Yorkshire Evening News. 1958. The Queen and Prince Philip watch a performance of Handel’s Samson on October 17th. Accompanied by a black and white circular image of Queen Elizabeth 2nd and Prince Philip meeting the cast of Handel's Samson. More text reads: 1960s. Original wall tiles are covered with plaster and paint.
A timeline of Leeds Grand Theatre's history from 1963 to 1971 titled Leeds Grand Theatre: A Brief History. Text written along a linear timeline reads: 1963. Leeds Grand Theatre is awarded Grade 2 listed status. 1964. Theatre history is made when TV artists appear in a nine-week Television Stars series. Accompanied by a circular image of the programme including Tony Hancock's name. More text reads: 1965. Smoking is banned in the auditorium. 1969. A sub-committee of Leeds City Council discuss plans to replace Leeds Grand Theatre with office blocks. A public campaign is launched to save it. 1969. Leeds City Council sign a seven-year lease for The Grand in December. Accompanied by a circular old coloured image of The Grand's exterior. More text reads: 1971. A £1 million restoration begins including modern lighting, an extended orchestra pit and repainting/refurbishing the auditorium.

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Audience from behind taken from the balcony of Leeds Grand Theatre.

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Leeds Grand Theatre from the Upper Circle. You can see the backs of theatre seats in the front of the picture and the right hand side of the stage, and boxes to the right of it.

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A group of Leeds Grand Theatre staff celebrating the 140th birthday with a Jersey Boys themed cake and giant 140 balloons.

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A picture of the Leeds Grand Theatre auditorium from the stage take with a fisheye lens.

Seating plan

You can view the seating plan for the beautifull Leeds Grand Theatre auditorium to help choose your seats for your next visit.

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A view of the Leeds Grand Theatre audience during a show.

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A view of the boxes at The Grand.

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Image of two audience members sat in the stalls at City Varieties Music Hall taken from behind sharing a comment about the show they're seeing.

What’s On

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The Sound of Music

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Heathers the Musical

Presented by Bill Kenwright Limited and Paul Taylor-Mills
Leeds Grand Theatre
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