The Grand Opera House's main auditorium taken from the Upper Circle, stage left.
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Theatre Tour Experience

Delve into the colourful past, and hear about the dazzling present and exciting future of Northern Ireland's oldest Theatre.

Book A Tour
  • Sat 12 Oct 2024
  • Saturdays 10:30am & 12:00pm
  • £12.50 - £9.00 Includes maximum applicable per ticket booking fee.

Discover the History

Uncover a unique piece of Belfast's cultural history on an interactive tour.

Exclusive Access

Gain new perspective by stepping out onto the iconic auditorium stage.

Expert Guidance

Join us on a friendly, informative and fun journey from 1895 to the present day.

Upcoming Shows

Find out more about the exciting shows coming up at the Theatre.

A smiling woman theatre worker in a vest and tie with a "Grand Opera House" name tag stands in a theatre auditorium

About the Tour

Led by one of our knowledgeable Customer Experience Assistants, a Theatre tour gives you the chance to see the incredible results of the restoration of this iconic building, and explore the fascinating story of the Grand Opera House’s rich and colourful history.

Follow in the footsteps of Charlie Chaplin, Luciano Pavarotti and Darcey Bussell by walking out onto the iconic stage; see what happens behind the scenes during a show, and explore the symbolism and meaning of the gods, elephants, stars and other stunning architectural features inside Frank Matcham's auditorium.

Theatre Tours last for between 45 minutes and an hour, and tour participants also have exclusive access to the Heritage Exhibition for 30 minutes before their tour start time.

The Heritage Exhibition on the fourth floor of the Grand Opera House.

Heritage Exhibition

Completed in 2021 with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Grand Opera House Heritage Exhibition charts the history of the Theatre from its 1895 construction on the former site of Ginnett’s Circus, to the present day.

The exhibition begins in the stalls foyer with a gallery of some of the best-known performers to have appeared on the Grand Opera House stage. In the Grand Circle foyer you can learn about the life and work of the Theatre’s architect, Frank Matcham, and in the Grand Circle Bar you can see photos from some of the biggest shows to have visited in recent years.

The main part of the exhibition is in the Gods foyer, where a visual timeline and interactive touchscreens take you through the key dates and events in the Theatre’s history.


“A wonderful way to spend a few hours. Would highly recommend looking out for tickets.”

Trip Advisor, May 2023

“We went for a tour of the theatre and we absolutely loved it. The history behind it, the stories and facts was so much more than I would have imagined.”

Trip Advisor, January 2023

“It really brought the history of the place to life – I feel like I’ll always look at the Grand Opera House in a new light now.”

Trip Advisor, April 2022

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What's On

From drama, musicals, comedy, opera, dance, family shows to record-breaking pantomimes, book your tickets today.

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of theatre

Experience the magic of theatre with a Grand Opera House gift voucher.

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