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

Savoy Theatre

Savoy Theatre

The Savoy Theatre opened in 1881. Despite this date it is a delightful example of Art Deco, explained on the Savoy Theatre website as follows: The theatre closed on 3 June 1929 to be internally com...

Building, Theatre

3 memorials
Max Wall

Max Wall

Comedian and actor. Born Maxwell George Lorimer at 37 Glenshaw Mansions, Brixton. His parents were both music-hall entertainers. After his father's death, his mother married Harry Wallace, from who...

Person, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Peggy Ashcroft

Peggy Ashcroft

Actor. Born Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft in Croydon.

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Barbara Everest

Barbara Everest

Film actor. Born in Southfields, London.  Her career spanned over fifty years. Played Elizabeth the servant in Gaslight (1944). Her day of birth is given as 19 or 9, depending on source.

Person, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial
Virginia McKenna

Virginia McKenna

Actor and wild-life campaigner.  Born Marylebone.  Briefly married to actor Denholm Elliott, then to actor Bill Travers 1957 until his death in 1994.  Played Violette Szabo, in the 1958 film 'Carve...

Person, Cinema, Animals, Theatre

1 memorial