Opera North, Howard Opera Centre

What it’s like

Full opera and youth choruses for kids, with subtitles above the stage and seats from £16.

This isn't a watered down "kids' version" of opera, it's the real thing, just with a few routes in that don't assume you already know your Verdi from your Puccini. There are opera for young people productions and film screenings with a live orchestra, which is a proper way to introduce a child to the sound of sixty musicians without them fidgeting through three hours of Wagner. English subtitles run above the stage, so nobody's lost when the singing switches to Italian.

If your child fancies doing more than watching, there's a Children's Chorus for ages 8 to 11, a Young Voices group for 11 to 15 year olds, and a Youth Chorus for 15 to 21s. That's a decent ladder for a kid who catches the bug young and wants to keep going through their teens.

On price, first timers get in for £20 and under 30s and students pay £15, with children's tickets discounted to £10 off the standard price. Tickets start from £16 at Leeds Grand Theatre, which stings less once you clock that seats higher up in the circle or balcony give you a proper view of the orchestra as well as the stage. Booking isn't compulsory, but the box office is only open in person for a narrow two hour window on weekdays, so online is the easier route if you want to sort tickets without planning your commute around it.

One thing to flag if you've got a child who's sensitive to flashing lights: Act III of Rigoletto uses them, so that's worth knowing before you pick a seat near the front. It's wheelchair accessible, and it's a walkable 5 to 10 minutes from the buses, a bit further from the train station.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

8 to 21s wanting to sing, younger kids fine as audience

Getting there by bus or train

5-10 minutes walk from buses and 15 minutes walk from the train station

Worth knowing

At least 300 seats available for £30 or less at every Opera North performance at Leeds Grand Theatre in the 2026–27 season

• Box office in person is only open 12 to 2pm Monday to Friday, phone lines run longer at 12 to 6pm
• Higher seats in the circle or balcony give a better view of the orchestra, not just the stage
• At least 300 seats are £30 or less at every Leeds Grand Theatre performance in the 2026-27 season
• It's a 5 to 10 minute walk from buses and about 15 minutes from the train station

Plan your visit

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