Howard Assembly Room

Opera North at Howard Assembly Rooms

A major new cultural venue, the Howard Assembly Room, was opened in Leeds by our Chief Executive Alan Davey on 16 January 2009.

It is the culmination of the £31.2 million Transformation campaign, which also renovated Leeds Grand Theatre and created a permanent professional home for Opera North.

The Howard Assembly Room gives Opera North an opportunity to develop innovative, smaller-scale work to complement its main-stage programme.

It also provides a much-needed rehearsal base for the Opera North’s orchestra, and will become a hub for Opera North’s education and outreach work in partnership with the University of Leeds.

Formerly a debating hall and entertainment area, the Assembly Room fell into disrepair but has now been restored to its Victorian splendour, complete with stunning original barrelled ceiling.

We are a major investor in the new venue, backing the project with £16.5 million of Lottery funding, alongside partners including Leeds City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The venue, which is next door to the Grand Theatre, has a capacity of 350 and will present an eclectic mix of art, events, talks and performances programmed by Opera North.

It launched with a ten day taster programme that included an open rehearsal by Opera North of Elektra and The Tiger Lillies in concert.

Visit the website at www.operanorth.co.uk/howard-assembly-room