The present theatre was built after the fire of 1856. It was designed especially for opera and ballet with a main hall of 2000 seats and is famous for the quality of its acoustics. It forms a group with the Floral Hall alongside, built by the same architect to serve as a concert hall with small rooms. Since 1946 the opera house has played host to the Sadler's Wells Ballet which, 10 years later under a Charter of the Queen, became The Royal Ballet.