The Brit Info website [visit
link] tells us:
"This theatre has changed names five
times now and probably will change again sometime. Erected in 1705, it was named
the Queen's Theatre. It later burned and was rebuilt, but by this time the
monarch was a king. It became the King's Theatre then. In 1837, the monarchy
changed so the name became Her Majesty's Theatre. Another fire caused
reconstruction, and the name chosen was the Italian Opera House. This building
was demolished and rebuilt to be named His Majesty's Theatre. Of course, when
Elizabeth became Queen, the present name became the official name of the
theatre.
Many famous operas were produced in
the theatre until the fire of 1867. From 1897, the focus was mostly on plays
with just an occasional opera. After World War II, musicals seemed to be the
favored entertainment here. Chu Chin Chow, Bitter Sweet, Brigadoon, Paint Your
Wagon, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and Phantom of the Opera are among
the famous musicals which have played here."
The Arthur LLoyd website [visit link] also
tells us:
"Her Majesty's Theatre which today
stands on the Haymarket, London, opposite the Theatre Royal Haymarket, opened on
the 28th of April 1897 with a play called 'Seats of the Mighty' by Gilbert
Parker. Before the play an Inaugural Address was given by Mrs. Tree, whose
husband, Beerbohm Tree, produced the play. The Theatre was the last completed
work of the eminent architect C. J. Phipps in his lifetime.
The present Her Majesty's Theatre is
actually the fourth Theatre on the site, the first was the Queen's Theatre,
named in honour of Queen Anne, which was built by Sir John Vanbrugh on land
which was a former Stable Yard in the Haymarket. The land was bought at the
considerable cost, considering the time, of £2000 and the Theatre opened under
the management of William Congreve on the 9th of April 1705 with an opera called
'The Loves of Ergasto' by Giacomo Greber.
The Theatre was not a success
however, and was described as being better looking than it was functional,
apparently the acoustics were terrible. The Theatre was later turned over to
Italian Opera in 1709. It was here that Handel produced his first opera in
England, 'Rinaldo' which was finally a success for this massive Theatre, and
Handel went on to produce a number of operas there.
The theatre is a Grade II* listed
building and the entry at the English Heritage website [visit
link] tells us:
"Her Majesty's Theatre G.V. II*
Theatre. 1896-97 rebuild by C.J. Phipps for the great actor-manager Sir H
Beerbohm Tree whose consulting architect Romaine Walker devised the interior
decoration. Stone faced with leaded and slate roofs. The remaining pavilion
portion of a large symmetrical design (incorporating the now demolished Carlton
Hotel) in a French Renaissance inspired style with big pavilion roof and dome
combined with more Italianate detailing at attic level. 4 storeys, attic storey
and half dormers. 9 windows wide with a 3 window return to Charles II Street
continued in a long recessed 5 storey side elevation. Ground floor range of
foyer, saloon and balcony doorways, between piers to 5 bay centrepiece, the
outer doorways architraved with framed bay lights over, all under elegant glass
and iron canopy. The 1st and 2nd floors, with giant pilaster order, the 5 centre
piece advanced with a giant Corinthian colonnade forming a loggia in front of
the architraved and corniced windows. On the 4th floor the 5 central bays are
flanked by pairs of elaborately pedimented half dormers below the French mansard
roof whilst over the centrepiece rises a square attic carrying a massive square
French dome astride the roof surmounted by a slender octagonal lantern with a
spreading gallery. Interior has wainscotted foyer with Ionic pilaster order and
beamed ceiling with deeply recessed coffers above rich frieze. The auditorium
with fanned stalls, cantilevered balconies and gallery has opulent but refined
French neo classical theme inspired by Gabriel and DeWailly's Opera at
Versailles with scagliola proscenium flanked by 3 tier boxes set between
scagliola Corinthian columns; the curving side walls of the auditorium modelled
as blind arcading with paired Corinthian pilasters; enriched cornice to main
ceiling with large saucer dome etc. This extremely well planned theatre was
Phipps's last work. Beerbohm Tree had the dome fitted up with a banqueting hall
and living room as his home during his brilliant management of the theatre from
1897 till his death in 1917. Her Majesty's is the fourth royal patent theatre on
this site since Vanburgh's building of 1704-5."