Transformation

The Howard Assembly Room is the culmination of Transformation, a £31.2 million campaign, which started in 2005. Completed in two phases Transformation began with the renovation of Leeds Grand Theatre and now reveals the former Assembly Rooms, fully restored to their original Victorian splendour, with a barrel vaulted ceiling, arched windows and gothic motif decoration.

Phase One
Phase one gave Opera North two new rehearsal rooms, a scenery bridge link between the Opera Centre and Leeds Grand Theatre and a hydraulic lift to raise lorries from street to stage level. The Leeds Grand Theatre received a technical upgrade, including a steel scenery suspension grid, a new flying system, an enlarged orchestra pit and a complete refurbishment of the Yorkshire Bank Auditorium, with improved sightlines, new seating and an air-cooling system.

Phase Two
Phase two has created the Howard Assembly Room, The Emerald Grand Hall and a new glass link bridge spanning Harrison Street. The Howard Assembly Room, a restoration of the former Assembly Rooms, is a 350-seat flexible performance space, home to the Orchestra of Opera North and an exciting new venue in Leeds showing an eclectic mix of art, talks, events and performances, all programmed by Opera North.

Transformation has created a permanent home in Leeds for Opera North. 

Transformation thanks
Arts Council England
Yorkshire Bank
Arnold Laver Timber World
Strata
Eversheds LLP
Foretel
Town Centre Securities PLC
Yorkshire Post
Gregory Property Holdings Limited
Market Town Taverns
BUPA Care Homes
Shepherd Building Group Ltd
newmediacollective
HDC Optical Media Group
Seven HR
Leeds City Council
Heritage Lottery Fund
Yorkshire Forward

Yorkshire Bank, the University of Leeds, Emerald Group publishing and Dr and Mrs Keith Howard have all been major benefactors of the Transformation fund-raising appeal.