Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House is something of an institution in Leeds; built all the way back in 1878, it’s been welcoming culture lovers through its doors ever since. The architect, George Corson, developed the building with influences ranging from Scottish baronial to Romanesque, with added gothic hints – making a real statement with its design.
Part of the vibrant Leeds scene for over 135 years now, the theatre is well known by locals and visitors who flock to the wide variety of performances that it offers throughout the year. Its central location allows its users to combine a night at the theatre with a slap-up dinner in one of the many city’s restaurants, or pre-theatre drinks or cocktails at any of the local pubs and wine bars if they wish – after all, if you’re heading to the theatre, it makes sense to make a real night of it!
Leeds Grand Theatre has a maximum seating capacity of 1550 – but popular shows can still be known to sell out quickly, so it’s well worth booking early if there’s something you want to see. Home to many Northern Ballet productions, the theatre also hosts music events, comedy nights, plays and much more – plenty of choice for even the most discerning of visitors.
In 2014, delights on offer include a production of the musical Evita (starring former Wet Wet Wet front man, Marti Pellow), the ever-popular West Side Story, TV and stand up comedians Jon Richardson and Dawn French, and performances of Shrek and Wicked.
With a choice of seating, you can select tickets by price or view, perhaps treating yourself to one of the lavish balcony seats which give you fantastic views of the stage. If you book early enough, you can choose your seats anywhere you wish; dress circle, stalls, upper circle – the only restrictions will come down to how many seats have already been snapped up!
Leeds Grand Theatre parking options
To fully enjoy your night out, you should take a moment to plan in advance. While Leeds enjoys great transfer links, some visitors may find that their trains or buses stop running before the performance has ended! Driving is a much easier option for most – but it pays to avoid the dreaded Loop Road around the city if you don’t want the potential stress of getting lost.
The best Leeds Grand Theatre parking option is Trafalgar Street – situated away from the city centre streets, but still only a 4 minute walk to the theatre doors on New Briggate. With some of the cheapest parking prices in Leeds, it also benefits from spaces suitable for mini buses, so if you’re visiting as a group, you’ll be well catered for.
So whatever you fancy seeing, why not head to the website at www.leedsgrandtheatre.com and book your tickets now? And remember to head to Trafalgar Street for your easiest parking option!