York’s Grand Opera House has reached a milestone that gives the building’s history a different kind of spotlight. The theatre is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a programme of behind-the-scenes events, offering residents and visitors the chance to explore the venue beyond its usual shows. Details of individual events and booking arrangements should be checked with the theatre before making plans, as visits have traditionally been offered irregularly by ATG Entertainment.
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The building on the corner of Clifford Street and Cumberland Street has had several lives. Its front section began as a corn exchange, officially opening in 1868, while the theatre seen today was created when local businessman William Peacock brought that building together with a warehouse behind it. Architect John P. Briggs designed the conversion, and the Grand Theatre and Opera House opened on 20 January 1902 with Little Red Riding Hood, starring music-hall performer Florrie Forde. The venue was later known as the Grand Opera House and Empire, the Empire Theatre and, during its time as a sports and entertainment centre, the S.S. Empire.
A behind-the-scenes visit is particularly relevant here because the theatre’s story is written into its structure. Parts of the original corn exchange and warehouse remain, including a warehouse wall visible beside the stagehouse on Cumberland Street. Inside, the auditorium includes restored features from the 1909 refurbishment, while the proscenium arch carries a large mural showing the chariot race from Ben-Hur. These are details that can be easy to overlook when the focus is on the performance in front of you.
The venue has also survived some major changes in use. It closed as a theatre in 1956, after falling audiences and the impact of entertainment tax, and reopened in 1958 as the S.S. Empire. The seating and stage were removed for roller skating, dancing, bingo and wrestling. After closing again in 1985, the building was bought in 1987 and restored at a cost of £4 million. It returned to live theatre on 26 September 1989 with Macbeth, before another closure and reopening in 1993. Today it is operated by ATG Entertainment and remains a Grade II listed building, designated in 1986.
That long sequence of alterations makes the anniversary events more than a standard theatre tour. They provide a chance to consider how one York building has accommodated music hall, silent films, live drama and sport, while retaining visible links to its earlier forms. The stage has hosted performers including Charlie Chaplin, Gracie Fields, Lillie Langtry, Marie Lloyd, Vera Lynn, Laurel and Hardy, and Morecambe and Wise; the behind-the-scenes programme places the building itself at the centre of the story.
The Grand Opera House is at Clifford and Cumberland Street, York, YO1 9SW. For the latest information about the 125th-anniversary events, access arrangements and any available tours, use the venue’s official page before visiting: schedules may change, and the anniversary celebrations refer to 2025 rather than the current date of 11 August 2026.
Published Date
11 August 2026
