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

Sir George Alexander

Sir George Alexander

Actor-manager. Ran the St James's Theatre from about 1891 until his death in 1918.

Person, Theatre

3 memorials
New WImbledon Theatre

New WImbledon Theatre

A Grade II listed theatre, which opened originally as just the Wimbledon Theatre. Many famous artistes appeared here between the wars. and the musicals 'Oliver!' and 'Half a Sixpence' premiered her...

Place, Theatre

1 memorial
English National Opera

English National Opera

Originated in the opera recitals presented by Lilian Baylis at the Old Vic theatre in 1898 and then at Sadler's Wells. As Sadler's Wells Opera it moved to the London Coliseum in 1968 and became the...

Group, Music / songs, Theatre

2 memorials
General John Burgoyne

General John Burgoyne

Army officer, politician and playwright. Born at Park Prospect, Westminster. He entered the army in 1740 and in the Seven Years War he captured Valencia de Alcantara. During the Saratoga Campaign i...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, Theatre, Canada, Ireland, Spain, USA

1 memorial
John Heminge

John Heminge

Fellow actor and friend of William Shakespeare and Henry Condell. 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