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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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 ...

Read More

Her Majesty's Theatre - SWET

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

Read More

Royal Opera Arcade

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

Read More

Thomas Doggett

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

Read More

Other Subjects

Margaret Walker

Margaret Walker

Acting school director. She worked with Joan Littlewood in the Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, which inspired her to found the East 15 Acting School in Loughton, Essex.

Person, Education, Theatre

1 memorial
Laurence Housman

Laurence Housman

Radical playwright, writer, illustrator, socialist, pacifist and founding member of the Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage. The photo shows Housman in 1914. Brother to A. E. Housman. Studied art an...

Person, Art, Gender Issues, Theatre

1 memorial
Ronnie Corbett

Ronnie Corbett

Actor and comedian. Born Ronald Balfour Corbett in Edinburgh. His career started in the theatre, particularly in cabaret with Danny La Rue. He came to national fame in BBC television's sketch show ...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Theatre, TV & Radio, Scotland

1 memorial
Forty Years On

Forty Years On

Alan Bennett's first west end play, set in St Albion's public school (the title is taken from the school song of Harrow public school). It is an allegory of Britain from the end of World War I.

Event, Theatre

1 memorial
Sir J. M. Barrie

Sir J. M. Barrie

Playwright and novelist. Born Kirriemuir, Scotland. Moved to London, Bloomsbury, in 1885 for his writing career. Less than 5 foot tall he was not very successful with women and developed a habit of...

Person, Literature, Theatre, Scotland

5 memorials