Lord Harewood and Sir Gordon Linacre Open New Arts Spaces:

The Harewood Studio and The Linacre Studio at Opera North

Two major players at Opera North are having brand new studios named after them to mark their work and commitment to the Company. Lord Harewood, the founder of Opera North, and Sir Gordon Linacre, the Company's President, open The Harewood Studio and The Linacre on Studio Tuesday 19 th September at 1.30pm.

Since Lord Harewood founded Opera North 28 years ago, rehearsals for its critically acclaimed programme have been held in cramped and airless rooms underneath Leeds Grand Theatre, or in various unsuitable buildings around Leeds .

As part of Transformation : the renovation of Leeds Grand Theatre and the creation of a permanent home for Opera North, two very large new studios have been built. In size they are footprints of the stage of Leeds Grand Theatre, enabling exact replica rehearsal sets to be created. They both have excellent acoustics and space to experiment and rehearse, and are deserving of the many artists involved in each production.

The upper Harewood Studio has a direct link onto the new scenery bridge and onto the stage of Leeds Grand Theatre. This enables scenery, lighting, props and costumes to be transferred immediately onto the stage. Opera North's new production of Rigoletto by Verdi is currently rehearsing in it. A cast and production team of 53 use The Harewood Studio and they will transfer to the Theatre's stage on Thursday 27 September and be greeted by the set, lighting and 60 members of the Orchestra of Opera North in the pit. Rigoletto is the first production to open the newly refurbished Yorkshire Bank Auditorium of Leeds Grand Theatre on Saturday 7 October.

The lower Linacre Studio has a separate ground floor get-in for scenery. Opera North's new production of Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten is currently rehearsing in it. Similar forces to Rigoletto will transfer to the theatre for stage rehearsals from Saturday 14 October, and the production will premiere on Thursday 26 October.

Notes to editors

Transformation , the renovation of Leeds Grand Theatre and the creation of a permanent home for Opera North, is a partnership with Arts Council England, Leeds City Council, Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera North. It is cast in two phases, and Phase One is completed for the opening of Rigoletto on Saturday 7 October.

Phase One delivers the building of the Opera Centre adjacent to the Leeds Grand Theatre, including a bridge link and lorry get-in lift. The theatre is undergoing a major technical upgrade, with a new flying system and orchestra pit, while the Yorkshire Bank Auditorium is being refurbished with improved sightlines, new seating and an air-cooling system.

Phase Two which begins in Summer 2007 comprises the restoration of the Assembly Rooms – a key element in the development of Opera North's education, artistic and access programmes – together with the restoration of the front-of-house Victorian heritage areas and the theatre's façade.

Cost of Transformation

The cost of the overall project is £31m (Phase One at £20.7m and Phase Two at £10.3m)

For further information about Transformation visit www.transformationatleeds.co.uk

Opera North's Autumn 2006 season at Leeds Grand Theatre

Sat      7 Oct      Rigoletto       6.30 pm

Mon      9 Oct      Rigoletto       7.15 pm

Wed     18 Oct      Rigoletto       7.15 pm

Sat     21 Oct      Rigoletto       7.15 pm

Wed     25 Oct      Rigoletto       7.15 pm

Thu     26 Oct      Peter Grimes       7.15 pm

Fri      3 Nov      La voix humaine     8.00 pm

Sat      4 Nov      Peter Grimes       7.15 pm

Tue      5 Dec      Peter Grimes       7.15 pm

Wed      6 Dec      Rigoletto       7.15 pm

Thu      7 Dec      Peter Grimes       7.15 pm

Fri      8 Dec      Peter Grimes       7.15 pm

Sat      9 Dec      La voix humaine     8.00 pm

Leeds Grand Theatre Box Office – 0870 122 4362 or www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

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