Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney
Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Australia, refers to three theatres of the same name:
 Original Her Majesty's Theatre, c. 1887 - 1917. | |
| Address | Corner of Pitt and Market Street 107 Quay Street Sydney Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33.870658°S 151.20835°E |
| Type | Proscenium arch |
| Capacity | 2000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 10 September 1887 |
| Closed | 10 June 1933 |
| Demolished | 1933, 1960's, 2000 |
| Rebuilt | 1902, 1927, 1975 |
| Architect | Morell and Kemp |
One was a theatre which opened on 10 September 1887 and closed on 10 June 1933. It was located on the corner of Pitt and Market Street, Sydney, where Centrepoint stands today.[1]
The second was located in Quay Street. It had opened with the show Sunny in 1927 as the Empire Theatre. When J. C. Williamson wanted a long run for My Fair Lady, they renamed the theatre Her Majesty's. The theatre barely survived the 1960s and was destroyed by fire.
The third was also located at 107 Quay Street, Haymarket (near Central Station).[2] It opened on 30 November 1973 but is no longer standing. Apartments were built on the site.
History
Her Majesty's Theatre 1887–1902
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The original Her Majesty's had its origin in the partnership of James Allison and George Rignold[3], lessees of Adelaide's Theatre Royal and the Melbourne Opera House.[3] They secured a long lease on a site in Pitt Street, Sydney[4], and formed a company for the purpose of founding a theatre.[5] The theatre was designed by architects Gustavus Alphonse Morell and John Edward Kemp.[6]
The foundation stone was laid by Sydney Mayor Thomas Playfair in December 1884. The opening play was Henry V, and lessee Rignold was the lead player.[7] The Governor of New South Wales, Lord Carrington, attended the opening night, arriving with his wife in a carriage, with a military escort.
Rignold held the lease for eight years, his final production was Cloncarty on 21 September 1895. For a short period, Alfred Woods leased the theatre, then J. C. Williamson and George Musgrove took over in 1896.[1]
On Sunday 23 March 1902, a fire broke out.[6] The asbestos safety curtain failed to operate and the interior of Her Majesty's was destroyed.[6]
Her Majesty's Theatre 1902–1933
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The theatre re-opened on 1 August 1903[6][8], replaced by a new four-storey[6] building on the Market Street side and a new Edwardian style interior[6] on the Pitt Street side behind the original facade designed by architect William Pitt junior.[6]
Financial pressures from a new amusement tax, competition from the new talking movies and the economic climate led to the closure of the theatre on 10 June 1933. The last performance was The Maid of the Mountains, starring Gladys Moncrieff. Bulldozers moved in the next day and demolished the theatre. A Woolworths retail store opened on the site 22 March 1934.[1]
Depictions
The $100 Australian banknote (in the background of the Dame Nellie Melba portrait) features an image of the interior of the theatre.[9]
See also
References
- Her Majesty's Theatre at History of Australian Theatre
- Location of current Her Majesty's
- "HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). 9 September 1887. p. 8. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- "NEWS OF THE DAY". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). 12 January 1884. p. 13. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- "Mr. James Allison". The Lorgnette (55). Victoria, Australia. 18 January 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 14 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- McPherson, Ailsa. "Her Majesty's Theatre". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- "OPENING OF HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE, SYDNEY". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 13 September 1887. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- "AMUSEMENTS". The Hebrew Standard Of Australasia. 8 (2). New South Wales, Australia. 24 July 1903. p. 11. Retrieved 1 October 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- $100 note Archived 5 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine at Reserve Bank of Australia
External links
- Ailsa McPherson (2010). "Her Majesty's Theatre Haymarket". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 11 October 2015.[CC-By-SA ]
- Ailsa McPherson (2010). "Her Majesty's Theatre Pitt Street". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 11 October 2015.[CC-By-SA ]