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Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne

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Coordinates: 37°48′39″S 144°58′11″E / 37.8109452°S 144.9696207°E / -37.8109452; 144.9696207
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Her Majesty's Theatre
Alexandra Theatre (1886–1900)
His Majesty's Theatre (1924–1953)
Her Majesty's Theatre, 2012
Map
Address219 Exhibition Street
Melbourne
Australia
Coordinates37°48′39″S 144°58′11″E / 37.8109452°S 144.9696207°E / -37.8109452; 144.9696207
OwnerMike Walsh
DesignationVictorian Heritage Register
Capacity1,700
Current useMusicals, opera
Construction
Opened1 October 1886 as Alexandra Theatre
ArchitectNahum Barnet
Website
www.hmt.com.au

Her Majesty's Theatre is a 1,700-seat theatre in Melbourne's East End Theatre District, Australia. Built in 1886, it is located at 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. It is classified by the National Trust of Australia and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Purchased in 2000 by Mike Walsh, the theatre was restored and refitted to accommodate larger productions.

History

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The first recorded use of the area near the corner of Stephen (now known as Exhibition) Street and Little Bourke Street as a venue for entertainment was in 1880 when tiered seating was constructed and an open-air venue for circuses and equestrian shows established.

The Hippodrome lasted four years before the French-born entrepreneur, Jules François de Sales Joubert, secured a 30-year lease on the site and commissioned architect Nahum Barnet to design a theatre, business, and accommodation complex.

In 1886, work on Joubert's project was completed. On 1 October, the Alexandra Theatre opened. Named after the then Princess of Wales, wife of the future King Edward VII, the theatre was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, boasting a capacity of 2,800. The very first show staged was the comedy, Bad Lads. Also in the first year, the Australian classic, For the Term of His Natural Life, was performed, as was Saturday afternoon wrestling and a season of Italian opera.

The early days of the "Alec" (as it became known) were problematic. Joubert had spent almost twice his original budget on construction and was unable to obtain the required operating licences for the hotel, bars and cafes of the complex. By November 1887, he was insolvent.

Early in 1888, the renowned actor and playwright, Alfred Dampier, leased the theatre and introduced a successful programming and pricing formula. The "Alec" prospered.

In 1900, well-known expatriate American theatrical producer, James Cassius Williamson, took over the lease of the theatre and engaged architect William Pitt to supervise renovations. The stage was lowered by 60 cm. and the stalls and orchestra pit were raised by almost 30 cm. The Dress Circle was remodeled and new boxes were added. Seats were re-upholstered, re-painting was carried out and a new stage curtain and lighting were installed. The theatre, re-vamped and re-christened Her Majesty's Theatre in honour of Queen Victoria, re-opened with a production of Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore on 19 May.

In 1909, after a private sound test, Dame Nellie Melba, by then an international star, declared that the theatre’s acoustics were "dead" and that she would not perform unless they were altered. Further renovations to the theatre's interior were carried out in time for Dame Nellie to hold her Australian opera debut in November 1911.

On 6 July 1913, Williamson – the biggest theatrical entrepreneur in the world at the time – died at the age of 68. As a mark of respect, all the Williamson theatres "were dark" for one night, a rare tribute. However, the company he had established with Her Majesty's Theatre as its flagship continued to prosper, featuring the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan as staple farewell into the 1920s.

The name change from the Alexandra to Her Majesty's Theatre occurred eight months before the death of Queen Victoria. The theatre management maintained the name despite there now being a King on the throne. In 1924, the theatre was renamed again as His Majesty's Theatre,[1] this time in honour of King George V, after whose mother the original theatre had been named. It reverted to "Her Majesty's" in May 1953,[2] in time for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. As of July 2023, it remained as Her Majesty's despite the accession of King Charles III in September 2022.

Despite the changes in identity, the theatre consistently played host to the world's best artists and shows. The legendary Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, captivated Australian crowds at performances in 1926 and 1929.

Previous productions

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Previous notable productions at Her Majesty's include:[3]


References

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  1. ^ "Grand Opera Booking". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 24, 181. Victoria, Australia. 6 February 1924. p. 20. Retrieved 11 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "In Black and White". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 23, 711. Victoria, Australia. 25 May 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 11 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "AusStage - Her Majesty's Theatre". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
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