Most passers-by wouldn’t realise what lies behind the shabby exterior on New Briggate but the Assembly Room is the jewel in the Transformation project.

They opened on 4 August 1879 with a conjuror and were at the heart of Victorian social life as a venue for meetings, bazaars and concerts.

Frank Tugwell remodelled the space in 1912 into a cinema which eventually shut its doors in 1985.

For the past quarter of a century the Assembly Rooms has been out of the public gaze. They have, however, never lost their vibrancy. Behind closed doors the Room has been used for rehearsals. Singers, musicians and other performers have used the space, rehearsing amongst threadbare surroundings and general decay.

Our aim is to restore this creative space for the benefit of audiences throughout the region.

Transformation will provide a new performance venue, which will be home to small-scale projects, Education workshops, and when not used for public performances will provide a rehearsal space for the Orchestra of Opera North who currently rehearse miles away from the theatre.

The Assembly Room will once again be reinstated as a civic landmark for the city which will also become a focal point for social events such as conferences and corporate hire.

Click here to find out more about the restoration of the auditorium.