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

J.B. Priestley

J.B. Priestley

Novelist, playwright and essayist. Wrote "When we are married" and "An Inspector Calls".

Person, Literature, Theatre

1 memorial
Lionel Logue

Lionel Logue

Speech therapist and actor. Born Lionel George Logue in College Town, Adelaide, South Australia. He started work as a speech therapist and actor. During the First World War, he treated soldiers re...

Person, Other, Theatre, Australia

1 memorial
Lyric Theatre

Lyric Theatre

Theatre. Built by the producer Henry Leslie with profits from the hit show 'Dorothy' which had originally opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre. It was given Grade II listing in 1960.

Building, Theatre

1 memorial
Theatre Royal Stratford East

Theatre Royal Stratford East

designed by architect James George Buckle in 1884. From WW1 onwards it endured periods of closure until Joan LIttlewood arrived with her Theatre Workshop Company in 1953. The image shows the theatr...

Group, Theatre

1 memorial
John Fletcher

John Fletcher

Dramatist. Born in Rye, Sussex. His solo works are now virtually forgotten, and he is best remembered for his collaborations, particularly on Shakespeare's 'Henry VIII' and 'The Two Noble Kinsmen'.

Person, Theatre

1 memorial