The Opera House, Manchester

Love the opera house ,but this time not happy with show ,mamma mia musical ,leading actors who played mother and daughter,we're so bad ,no connection with audience,they had no enthusiasm to the part they were playing they needed to loosen up ,few times I cringed and it actually hurt my ears when they were both trying for the high notes,the dancing was really bad I was actually embarrassed for them ,the leading man who mother maraid was so not the right actor should of been talk and dark like Pierre bros ,he was the smallest of the three main men and looked so out of place and I don't think he as fever want in anything before ,all in all they should of paid me for sorting through such a bad play

We went to the Manchester Opera House to see the performance of Carmen on November 29th. It was the first time we went to the Opera House and probably the last. If you want to enjoy an opera, suggest you go to somewhere like the Bridgewater Hall or London, as Manchester hasn't quite grasped the concept of delivering a sophisticated venue to suit the performances it attracts. We couldn't hear or enjoy the performance due to rustling sweet packets and crunching noises. These items are usually sold at cinemas where noise levels are high enough to block out these sounds, at opera's they are not!

Please try ang get it right for when the Royal Opera makes its home in Manchester, the city and it's people deserve better.

We have been to the Opera House in Manchester several times either with the children for Pantos and children's things or for shows and comedy in the evening. We would have sat at most parts of the Opera House but do try to avoid the very top as it is quite steep and nauseating, especially if you don't like heights.

As for the building I recommend checking the celling out it is quite wonderful, the whole building itself is very good but the fittings such as the carpets could do with updating. As far as the acoustics go, the Opera House does carry sound quite well and the seating arrangement is good without any obstructions (except when stated). The best seats in the house are on the floor but that goes for most venues. One thing I should point out is that the toilets are not the best and in need of some modernisations also they do seem to need more female toilets as the queue is often very long.

As far as extras go they do sell ice cream at intervals just vanilla or chocolate. The coffees are out of a machine, they do have at least two bars in the place but they are hard to find and generally very smoky and for both food and drink I find are overpriced. My advice is to go for a drink at Liz Dawn's bar The Grapes which is at the left hand side of the Opera House and allows children or across the road for a Tooheys in the Australian bar.

Overall this is a good venue but you don't choose the venue, you choose the show.