 The Coliseum was closed for seven months |
The London Coliseum, the capital's largest theatre and home of the English National Opera, has re-opened after a �41m restoration. The 2,358 seat auditorium has been returned to its original Edwardian splendour, while a 40% increase in public space includes a rooftop bar.
Delays in completing the restoration work saw the season's first opera, Nixon in China, cancelled last month.
The season opens on 27 February with Wagner's Rhinegold.
The delay in opening was put down to the restoration work in the stage areas not being finished on time.
The landmark building is topped by a globe that will now rotate, with fibre-optic light beaming from it.
A glass-top rooftop bar allows visitors a view of Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column.
One essential change has been the doubling in capacity of ladies toilets, hopefully spelling the end of the notoriously long queues during intervals.
Saturday's inaugural event was a guest-only affair, including many of those who have worked on the restoration project.
During the Coliseum's seven-month closure, the ENO performed across the capital at the Barbican Hall.
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