TMHerMajesty'sTheatre

Her Majesty's Theatre


====Her Majesty's Theatre was originally named the Alexandra, after the then Princess of Wales, but eight months prior to the death of Queen Victoria it was re-opened as Her Majesty's. Even after the passing of Queen Victoria the theatre maintained the name, although by then a king was on the throne. In time Her Majesty's became His Majesty's, this time after King George V, but the name was soon changed back. Despite the theatre's ever-changing identity, it has remained a beautiful and popular venue for some of the world's best acts.====

//History//
In 1880, the land on 219 Exhibition st was used as a popular venue for circuses and equestrian shows. The open-air venue housing these events was named the Hippodrome. Then Jules Francois de Sales Joubert secured a thirty-year lease on it and commissioned Nahum Barnett to design a theatre, business and accommodation complex there. What is now known as Her Majesty's Theatre was built and opened on that land in 1886 as the Alexandra. It was the largest theatre in the southern hemisphere, boasting a seating capacity of 2,800. However, Joubert had blown almost twice his budget in building it, and did not possess the licenses required to operate the hotel and bars of the complex. He was insolvent by 1887, meaning he had to give the theatre up.

In 1888 playwright Alfred Dampier successfully leased the theatre, introducing an effective programming and pricing formula. The Alec (as the theatre was then nicknamed) flourished. In 1900 J.C. Williamson Ltd leased the theatre, re-naming it to Her Majesty's and engaging architect William Pitt to supervise renovations. The theatre was re-opened specifically for operetta (a type of light opera). However, in 1909 Dame Nellie Melba declared the theatre's acoustics 'dead' and refused to perform there unless they were altered. Renovations occurred once more and the theatre continued to amaze.

However, this period of greatness was short-lived. Fire gutted the auditorium in 1929 and the theatre lay semi-derelict during the early years of the great depression. During this time F.W. Thring briefly used it as a film studio. In 1934 the auditorium was rebuilt and the damaged parts refitted. The interior was redesigned - the first live theatre in Australia to feature Art Deco style. The theatre was purchased again in 2000 by Mike Walsh who restored and re-fitted the theatre yet again, this time to accommodate larger productions. Her Majesty's Theatre is classified by the National Trust of Australia and is on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Some of the more memorable productions Her Majesty's has seen include: - Performances by legendary ballerina Anna Pavlova (1926-29) - My Fair Lady (1959) - 42nd Street (1993) - Chicago (1998) - Hair (2003) - Mamma Mia! (2005) - Madame Butterfly (2007 (Melbourne Opera Company) - Monty Python's Spamalot (2007) - Fiddler On The Roof (2008) - Billy Elliot (2008) - Mary Poppins (2010) - Doctor Zhivago (2011)

//Architecture//[[image:Theatres034.jpg align="right" caption="Her Majesty's Theatre (taken by Rachel)"]]
The original theatre, the Alexandra, was designed by architect Nahum Barnet, with a late Victorian architectural style and French renaissance overtones on the three-storey elevation to Exhibition st. The street frontage was highly decorative and elaborate but the interior finish slightly austere due to lack of funds. The three-tierauditorium was designed to hold 2,800 and the stage included an early example of a fly tower.

In 1900, when J.C. Williamson leased the theatre and re-named it to Her Majesty's, renovations occurred, William Pitt being the architect to oversee these changes. A lavish use of gold paint, plush curtains and upholstery, and new carpeting proved impressive and exotic. For the comfort of the actors, suites of dressing rooms, cloak rooms and offices were installed. The stage was lowered by 60cm and the stalls and orchestra pit raised by almost 30cm. The Dress Circle was remodeled and new boxes added. Stage lighting was altered, making the theatre nicer to behold and experience.

When fire struck in 1929, gutting the auditorium, it lay semi-derelict during the early years of the great depression. Finally it was revamped in 1934 and redesigned to include Art Deco features. Not much else occurred until 2000, when Mike Walsh restored and refitted Her Majesty's to accommodate larger productions.

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