Our Venue: The Royal Opera House

21 January 08

For the fourth year running the historic Royal Opera House in Covent Garden plays host to the Orange British Academy Film Awards.

On Sunday 21 February, a myriad of stars from the world of film will be greeted by fans and flashbulbs as they walk up the famous red carpet to enter the doors of the Royal Opera House. Seated in the historic main auditorium, they will learn who will be going home with a BAFTA mask.

A Historic Venue

Opened in 1728, the building has experienced many changes over the years. Twice destroyed by fire, it has played host to a range of activities including opera, theatre, and the infamous Old Prices riots in the early nineteenth century.

The Royal Opera House is today an internationally recognised centre of opera and a worthy host of the Film Awards ceremony. The latest renovation project was completed in December 1999 at a cost of £178m and the glamorous Main Hall holds up to 2,000 people.