Building    From 1705 

His Majesty's Theatre / Her Majesty's Theatre

Categories: Theatre

In 1705 Vanbrugh completed the Queen's Theatre, named in honour of Queen Anne, which quickly became informally known as the Haymarket Opera House (not to be confused with the Theatre Royal Haymarket / Haymarket Theatre nor with the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden). On the accession of George I in 1714 it became the King's Theatre and now formally changes names depending on the gender of the monarch. Initially it was not a success because of its terrible acoustics and in 1709 it was turned over to Italian opera. It was here that Handel produced 'Rinaldo', his first opera in England. After a fire in 1789 the theatre was rebuilt. See Little Whig and Kitt Catt for the strange story of the original foundation stones. In 1816-18 Nash and George Repton made alterations to the building which included the addition of the Arcade on the west side. The current theatre, designed by C.J. Phipps in 1897 for Herbert Tree, is the fourth on the site.
In 1948, the Government of New Zealand leased the site comprising the bombed rubble of the Carlton Hotel, Her Majesty's Theatre and the Royal Opera Arcade. New Zealand House, built on the site of the Carlton Hotel, was opened in 1963.

2023: On the coronation of King Charles III this theatre changed its name from Her Majesty's Theatre to His  Majesty's Theatre.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
His Majesty's Theatre / Her Majesty's Theatre

Commemorated ati

Her Majesty's Theatre - H Tree

This theatre was founded in 1897 by Herbert Tree, actor, and directed by him ...

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Her Majesty's Theatre - SWET

Theatreland - Heart of the performing arts in London Her Majesty's Theatre ...

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Royal Opera Arcade

The "plaque" is actually a very dull modern notice inside the arcade so for o...

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Thomas Doggett

This plaque raises some questions. Firstly, how could he have 'died a pauper'...

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Other Subjects

Anthony Newley

Anthony Newley

Actor, singer and songwriter. Born at 230 High Street, Hackney. He played the Artful Dodger in David Lean's 1948 film of Oliver Twist, and on television he was in the impenetrably surreal 1960 come...

Person, Cinema, Music / songs, Theatre, TV & Radio, USA

1 memorial
Henry Condell

Henry Condell

Fellow actor and friend of William Shakespeare and John Heminge. Heminge and Condell had been co-partners with Shakespeare in the Globe Theatre. On his death the plays existed only in the form of ...

Person, Theatre

1 memorial
Jessica Tandy

Jessica Tandy

Actor. Born Jessie Alice Tandy in Upper Clapton. She appeared in over 100 stage productions and more than 60 roles in film and TV. In 1940, on the break-up of her marriage to actor Jack Hawkins, sh...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio, USA

1 memorial
Will Hay

Will Hay

Comedian and actor. Born William Thomson Hay at 23 Durham Street, Stockton-on-Tees. His career started in music-halls and concert-parties. He went on to work with Fred Karno, developing his schoolm...

Person, Cinema, Science, Theatre, Australia, New Zealand, USA

1 memorial
Sir Gerald du Maurier

Sir Gerald du Maurier

Actor-manager. Born at 27 Church Row, the last and fifth child of George du Maurier. As a child he would pose for his father's drawings. A close associate of J M Barrie he was the first actor to pl...

Person, Theatre

1 memorial