Dear Group Leader

Welcome to House & Pavilion Arts Centre

Lovingly restored to its former glory in 2001, is an exquisitely “’s beautiful Edwardian theatre and one of the country’s finest examples of Frank glorious Opera House Matcham theatre design. We are also home to the Pavilion Arts Centre and Studio Theatre, our two smaller auditoriums in the Pavilion Gardens complex. at Buxton, with its warm and intimate The theatre plays an important part in the town's activities – beyond its varied design, always programme of events in the theatre there are many festivals throughout the year, guarantees a night to covering opera, literature and music. We’re delighted that The Big Session now has its new home in Buxton – three nights of fabulous folk music in Spring. The remember for Festival Fringe in Buxton is the largest in England and second only to the theatregoers” Edinburgh Fringe in the UK, many other venues join in during the festivals adding Knutsford Guardian to the town's lively, fun-filled atmosphere.

Although there is no on-site parking, coaches can drop off right outside the Opera House and there is coach parking in town.

Our bar areas are quite small, but we can help you can beat the queues by offering pre-ordered interval drinks. Refreshments may be available at a discounted price for group bookings and can be pre-ordered seven days in advance, please call for more details.

We offer Group rates on many shows and events, please visit our website for up to date information. To make a booking, please call the Box Office on: 01298 72190.

We’ve included information that might be useful when arranging a group visit, but please get in touch if you have any further questions.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Best wishes

Emma Oaks Head of Marketing & Audiences

Tel: 01298 72050 [email protected]

What’s On:

Although we are an opera house, we have so much more than just opera! Below is a small sample of the type of shows we have on stage, but to find out more check our website: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk.

races paired with epic films for “There is no better Comedy: If you’re looking for a outdoor enthusiasts, weekend belly laugh we have stand-up place for a panto than warriors and armchair adventurers. comedians, comedy dramas and our this gilded fairy palace, informal Buzz Comedy Club. especially filled with Dance: If you love dance we have everything from classical ballets to hundreds of clap- Drama: We have a varied Irish dancing and contemporary happy, singalong programme of drama, with dance to choose from. children” adaptations from classical literature and popular stories to Shakespeare Manchester Evening and whodunits. Theatre Tours: Take a look News behind the scenes at one of the country’s finest examples of a Frank Music: Almost every genre puts in Matcham theatre. In our new series an appearance; from popular of Back Stage Pass tours, discover performers, recitals, choirs, and the fascinating history of this iconic tribute acts, to brass bands, folk building, from its Edwardian music, gala concerts, musicals and beginning right up to the present our increasingly popular Jazz day. Starting from the Dress Circle sessions. Not forgetting the Big bar, the tour will take you through to Session folk festival in the Spring the auditorium and backstage where that has its new home in Buxton. you will get a glimpse of the inner workings of the theatre. Back Stage Family: Buxton Opera House Pass Tickets: £10 per person with a offers a great way to introduce your free group leader place for every ten children to the magic of tickets sold. theatregoing, with adaptations of children’s books and TV shows, Opera: Ah, yes, Opera. Where Beanbag story time sessions, better to see it than in one of Children’s comedy, holiday activities Matcham’s glorious theatres? After and not forgetting our yearly all, the man who designed the pantomime. must have known how to present Opera at its very Adventure: We host a best… celebration of the very best speakers and films from the world of For a full listing of what’s on visit: adventure-travel with stories of www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk or intrepid expeditions, challenges and call our box office on: 01298 72190

How to get here:

Buxton is easy to reach from the A6, A515 and A53. The theatre is well sign-posted once you reach the town centre.

If you are using a Sat Nav to help you Coach drop off: Although there get to Buxton, please use the is no on-site parking, coaches can postcode SK17 6XN for Buxton drop off right outside the Opera Opera House and SK17 6BE for the House and there is coach parking in Pavilion Arts Centre. town.

Buxton Opera House Coach Parking: Water Street Burlington Road Buxton There are four free coach bays on Burlington Road (2 minutes’ walk SK17 6XN away)

Pavilion Arts Centre Sylvan Coach Park is a small coach St John's Road park located next to the roundabout Buxton at the intersection of the A6/A53. Derbyshire Charges: £5 for up to 4 hours, over 4 SK17 6BE hours £10.

Parking: There is free parking With prior agreement, coaches can after 6pm in the car park behind be parked on the promenade at Pavilion Gardens, a short walk from Pavilion Gardens if you use the both venues (Please note: the facilities. Free £5 meal voucher for covered area of the car park closes the driver for parties of 20+. For at 6pm). There is also free on-street more information call: 01298 23114. car parking after 6pm close to the theatre, but please make sure that you avoid the Residents Parking Scheme areas.

There is additional evening and weekend parking at St. Thomas More School, Palace Fields, Buxton SK17 6AF – please leave some money in the honesty Box!

Trains: A train service is available from Manchester Piccadilly Station to Buxton. For further information on all available services and connections call 03457 48 49 50.

Access: Registered Disabled customers are eligible for discounts on many performances, please see the information about each show in the brochure or on our website for more details.

The Opera House systems in both the Opera House & Something extra: The Opera House is an Edwardian Pavilion Arts Centre for people with We can arrange: building and only partially accessible to wheelchair users. The wheelchair hearing impairments. This works  Refreshments entrance is 72cms at its narrowest through a special headset rather  Pre/post performance point. We have three wheelchair talks spaces in the Stalls at ground floor than your hearing aid, and is  BSL interpreted level, and a specially adapted toilet. available from the theatre. Please performances We can arrange wheelchair transfers reserve one when you book your  Relaxed Performances if booked in advance with the Box tickets (a £10 cash deposit on the  Office. Theatre tours night is required). There is also an

induction loop system at both Box Unfortunately the Stalls bar is not If there is anything else that Offices. accessible by wheelchair, but a may be of interest to your member of staff will gladly bring group please get in touch on: refreshments to your seat. Marketing: 01298 72050. The information in our brochure is The Opera House Foyer and Box available in other formats. Please Office counter are not wheelchair contact the Marketing Department accessible, but there is now on: 01298 72050. wheelchair access to the side Box Office door (in Water St), with Assistance Dogs: an intercom system to alert staff. Assistance dogs are welcome The Dress Circle and Upper Circle levels are not wheelchair accessible For more information visit: and can only be reached by climbing www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk the stairs. The building is If you have any further questions not accessible by motorised scooter. please get in touch on: 01298 72050

The Pavilion Arts Centre: All parts of the Pavilion Arts Centre, except the Main Room balcony, are accessible by wheelchair.

Companion tickets: In both venues your safety is paramount. In an emergency, if you would have difficulty making your way out of the building on your own, we strongly advise that you bring a companion.

Hearing Impairment: We have passive infra-red (PIR)

About Buxton - England’s Leading Spa Town

Buxton's rich history features Romans, royal prisoners and outlaws, alongside a vibrant local arts/music scene, literary festivals and the much loved ‘theatre in the hills’, The Dome – built to house the Duke of Devonshire’s horses, and the Pavilion Gardens built in Victorian times and now restored to its former glory.

University of Derby's Devonshire Regular festivals & The Crescent & Spa is undergoing a campus – amazingly, this vast space events: £36m refurbishment, a model of the was built to house the Duke of plans and exhibition board is on display in the Tourist Information Devonshire's horses. The slate dome April/May: The Big Centre and will, from Spring 2015, is the largest unsupported dome in Session Folk Festival be on show in the Pump Room, the UK, with a diameter of 174ft. where visitors will once again be able to access this historic building The Dome is home to many events, May: Buxton Spring and take the waters. fairs, and concerts open to the Fair public, more details can be found Take the Tour: The inland resort of online www.atthedome.co.uk. July: , Buxton resonates with Victorian Visitors can access the main dome, splendour and this gentle guided read the history of the building and Buxton Festival Fringe, walking tour, lasting approximately enjoy coffee and lunch in the café. Buxton Military Tattoo three hours, offers the opportunity to become immersed in the history Take the Tour: From Horses to August: Buxton’s of this beautiful spa town. Booking Courses - ask at the Tourist essential, contact Netta on: 01298 Information Centre about tours of Family Festival 79648, [email protected] the building. or Buxton Tourist Information Centre October: Great Peak on: 01298 25106. Pavilion Gardens District Fair

With an increase in tourism during St Anne’s Well Victorian times, the Pavilion Gardens Buxton Water is one of the purest complex was built to provide December: Opera natural mineral waters in Europe entertainment, with 23 acres of House Pantomime and you can fill your own bottles gardens and serpentine walkways as from the permanent flow at St well as outdoor and indoor Anne's Well in front of the Crescent. promenades. At one end, the There are more Octagon was a favourite dance hall festivals being added Don’t miss the well dressing in early and is now host to many fairs and all the time, visit the July, a stunning sight not to be exhibitions throughout the year, and website for more missed. The age old custom of well still holds afternoon tea dances dressing is unique to the Peak (Please note: due to essential details! District and many towns and villages repairs, the Octagon will be closed proudly create and display their until Dec 2016. There is a marquee floral masterpieces next to wells and on the promenade that is housing water features throughout the the events until the Octagon re- summer. opens). The main part of the building now houses a restaurant and Art The Dome Café, along with the Tourist Formerly a hospital and now the Information Centre and a local artists’ gallery.

Relax at The Pavilion Gardens, plus There is a market at Higher Buxton great adventure play for kids. Lunch every Tuesday & Saturday. This is a in the Pavilion and experience one of small general market from 6.30am the many events held inside each to 5pm - times may vary depending month, find out more online at on the weather. www.paviliongardens.co.uk. Take Farmer’s Market: time to relax in the Conservatory There is usually a Farmer’s Market in and take in the fantastic aerial the Pavilion Gardens on the first photography of the . Thursday of every month, between The complex hosts over 75 fairs, 9.30am and 2pm. Stalls include fresh events, and markets each year, produce and locally-made crafts. For including the Great Peak District Fair dates and more information call: in October, which showcases local 01298 23114. food, craft, and produce.

Cavendish Arcade More information: The Grade II Listed arcade was The Buxton Town Guide which originally developed by the Duke of includes a town map showing car Devonshire in the 1820s as a parks, toilets and a calendar of major thermal/hot baths to complement events in the town is available on the natural baths. The complex is the Visit Buxton website: now a boutique shopping mall, with www.visitbuxton.co.uk fine independent shops. Don’t miss the information boards painting a A video about Buxton is available picture of the arcade’s past and one here: www.visitbuxton.co.uk/ of the country’s largest stained glass buxton-video ceilings! Tourist Information Buxton Market Place Buxton Tourist Information Centre, A short walk up past the Slopes Pavilion Gardens, St Johns Road, reveals the traditional market place, Buxton, SK17 6BE. Tel: 01298 25106 with 80 independent shops, services Email: [email protected] and places to eat. Walk down to www.visitbuxton.co.uk Scriveners, possibly one of England’s www.visitpeakdistrict.com best second-hand bookshops. Look out for great new boutiques leading Accommodation the revival of this historic area. Buxton has a great range of accommodation including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs. Poole’s Cavern

Poole’s Cavern has attracted curious visitors to this underground treasure house in the High Peak spa town of

Buxton for thousands of years. Our Stone Age ancestors sheltered here, Romans concealed gifts to the gods of the underworld and medieval outlaws sought refuge. 17th century explorers named the cavern the ‘Wonder of the Peak’ www.poolescavern.co.uk

Markets: Higher Buxton Market: