More seats and better views could be coming to York’s Grand Opera House under new plans.
An application submitted to City of York Council would see an extra row of 15 seats installed at the back of the Clifford Street and Cumberland Street venue’s existing third tier.
Alterations including reducing the height of the third tier’s screens and the removal of brass finish rails in the second tier are also proposed as part of the works.
The Grand Opera House’s plans state it would see a currently unused part of the venue transformed to help bring in extra income and increase its capacity.
The venue’s plans propose raising the floor behind the current last row on the third tier to house the new seats.
Access would be provided provided via steps matching those already in the Grade II-listed opera house.
Screens installed during renovations in the 1980s separating the third tier’s rows would be all be lowered by 20cm to improve audience views.
The removal of the false brass rail at the front of the second tier is also designed to improve visibility.
Plans stated the proposals would be a beneficial investment which would improve the use of the building, including by taking its capacity beyond 1,000.
The application stated: “The additional seating will utilise an element of the third tier which has been quite literally useless for a considerable amount of time, thereby bringing it into beneficial purpose.”
