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About

The Winter Gardens’ present theatre is actually the third
Opera House to have been built on the site. The first, designed by famous theatre
architect Frank Matcham, was named ‘Her Majesty’s Opera House’ and
opened with Gibert & Sullivan’s new opera ‘Yeomen of the Guard’ on
June 10th 1889. The 2,500 seat theatre cost a grand total of £9,098 to build. In
November 1910, the Opera House closed for rebuilding. It's larger replacement, by
architects Mangnall and Littlewood, was formally opened nine months later.  The
second Opera House was demolished 27 years later and in it's place was erected the
present 3,000 seat building. Possessing the largest stage in the country, it was designed
in a modernist style with a sweepingly curved proscenium. The Opera House was opened on
July 14th 1939 by Jessie Matthews and her husband Sonnie Hale, followed by the revue
‘Turned Out Nice Again’ starring George Formby. In 1955 a Royal Variety
Performance, the first outside London, was given for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. A
period-style Royal box was constructed for the occasion.