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

Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, CH, DBE.

Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, CH, DBE.

Actress. Margaret Natalie Smith, known professionally as Maggie Smith, was born on 28 December 1934 in Ilford, Essex, the youngest of the three children of Nathaniel Smith (1902-1991) and Margaret ...

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

1 memorial
Austin Rudd

Austin Rudd

Music hall singer and comedian. Born Arthur Rudd in London. In his day he was extremely popular and he toured throughout the world, but is now largely forgotten. His act was described as being 'qua...

Person, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
Gus Elen

Gus Elen

Music-hall singer. Born Ernest Augustine Elen at 103 Pulford Street, Pimlico. He started performing in public houses in 1891, singing songs about working-class life. Moving on to the stage, he beca...

Person, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw

Born Dublin. Socialist, member of the Fabian Society. Plays include: Saint Joan, Major Barbara and Pygmalion on which My Fair Lady is based. Didn't like his first name, "Don't George me!" so is oft...

Person, Literature, Politics & Administration, Seriously Famous, Theatre, Ireland

5 memorials
Frederick Park

Frederick Park

Park and Ernest Boulton were 'Fanny and Stella', the celebrated Victorian cross-dressers. Little is available about Park but see Boulton for their joint activities.

Person, Gender Issues, Theatre

1 memorial