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.

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

Globe Theatre, Southwark

Globe Theatre, Southwark

Created when the lease ran out for The Theatre in 1597 so the building was dismantled and rebuilt across the Thames as The Globe. Closed by the Puritans and pulled down in 1644. The reconstruction...

Building, Theatre

6 memorials
Dorothy

Dorothy

Comic opera set in rural Kent in 1740. The plot surrounds the Squire's daughter, Dorothy and her cousin Lydia, who, tired of the social rounds, decide to pose as villagers during the festival of th...

Event, Theatre

1 memorial
Sir Noel Coward

Sir Noel Coward

Actor, playwright, composer, film director, author, singer. Born Helmsdale, 5 Waldegrave Road, Teddington. Died at home in Jamaica, where he was buried. Obsessed with the theatre, he was a child a...

Person, Cinema, Gender Issues, Music / songs, Seriously Famous, Theatre, Jamaica

4 memorials
William Terriss

William Terriss

Actor-manager, owner of the Adelphi Theatre. Born in London as William Charles James Lewin. Terriss was murdered as he entered the theatre at a back door by a disgruntled/deranged former employee/...

Person, Theatre

1 memorial
Anna Neagle

Anna Neagle

Actor. Born Florence Marjorie Robertson in Forest Gate, Essex. After appearing in the chorus of several revues, she changed her name and had her first significant film part in 'Goodnight Vienna' in...

Person, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial