Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne facts for kids
|
Alexandra Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre |
|
Her Majesty's Theatre, 2007
|
|
| Address | 219 Exhibition Street Melbourne Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°48′39″S 144°58′11″E / 37.8109452°S 144.9696207°E |
| Owner | Mike Walsh |
| Designation | Victorian Heritage Register |
| Capacity | 1,700 |
| Current use | Musicals, opera |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1886 |
| Architect | Nahum Barnet |
Her Majesty's Theatre is a famous theatre in Melbourne, Australia. It has 1,700 seats and is located at 219 Exhibition Street. This historic building was built in 1886. It is a special place that is protected by the National Trust of Australia and listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
In 2000, a TV host named Mike Walsh bought the theatre. He had it fixed up and made bigger so it could host even larger shows. Today, it's a popular spot for musicals and operas.
Contents
History of the Theatre
The area where Her Majesty's Theatre now stands was first used for entertainment in 1880. It was an open-air space called the Hippodrome. People would come to watch circuses and horse shows there.
The Alexandra Theatre Opens
After four years, a French businessman named Jules François de Sales Joubert took over the site. He hired an architect, Nahum Barnet, to design a new theatre. This theatre would also have businesses and places to stay.
The new theatre opened on October 1, 1886. It was called the Alexandra Theatre. It was named after Princess Alexandra, who would later become the wife of King Edward VII. At the time, it was the biggest theatre in the Southern Hemisphere, with room for 2,800 people! The very first show was a comedy called Bad Lads. Other early shows included the Australian story For the Term of His Natural Life and even wrestling matches.
Early Challenges and Success
Building the Alexandra Theatre cost a lot more money than planned. Because of this, Joubert had money problems and couldn't get all the permits he needed. By 1887, he was in debt.
But things changed in 1888 when a famous actor, Alfred Dampier, leased the theatre. He found a way to make the shows popular and affordable. The "Alec," as it was known, started to do very well.
Becoming Her Majesty's Theatre
In 1900, a well-known American theatre producer, James Cassius Williamson, took over the theatre. He made many changes to the building. The stage was lowered, and the seating areas were changed. New seats, paint, and lighting were added.
The theatre was then renamed Her Majesty's Theatre to honor Queen Victoria. It reopened on May 19 with a show called HMS Pinafore.
Famous Performers and More Changes
In 1909, the famous singer Dame Nellie Melba visited the theatre. She said the sound was "dead" and wouldn't perform unless it was fixed. So, more changes were made inside the theatre. Dame Nellie Melba then had her first Australian opera performance there in November 1911.
James Williamson, who was a very important person in theatre, passed away in 1913. All the theatres he owned, including Her Majesty's, closed for one night to show respect. His company continued to put on many popular shows, especially operas.
Name Changes Through the Years
The theatre was renamed Her Majesty's Theatre before Queen Victoria died. Even when a king was on the throne, the name stayed the same. In 1924, it was renamed again to His Majesty's Theatre to honor King George V.
Then, in May 1953, it changed back to "Her Majesty's" for the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II. It is still called Her Majesty's Theatre today, even though King Charles III became king in 2022.
No matter its name, the theatre has always hosted amazing artists and shows. The famous Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, performed there in 1926 and 1929, enchanting Australian audiences.
