The theatre’s owner, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LW Theatres, confirms the news
Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LW Theatres, is to change its name following the news yesterday, 8 September 2022, of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
A spokesperson for LW Theatres told the Stage newspaper (see link below) that it would change its name at the “appropriate time”, understood to be after the coronation of King Charles III.
Dominic Cavendish, Theatre Critic of the Telegraph, also confirmed the news on Twitter, saying that he had spoken to Lloyd Webber earlier today, and Lloyd Webber said: “It has always been in the back of my mind that this would happen. I’m now talking to people because we do need to change it.”
The theatre’s name last changed in 1952 to Her Majesty’s Theatre following The Queen’s accession, and ahead of her coronation in 1953. It was previously His Majesty’s Theatre from 1904 following the death of Queen Victoria and the accession of King Edward VII. Previously it has been known as the Queen’s Theatre, with permission from Queen Anne, and the King’s Theatre, after King George I.
The name change was not foregone on the death of The Queen, with precedent to also keep the existing name.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical The Phantom of the Opera, produced by Cameron Mackintosh, has played at the theatre since 1986.
The current Her Majesty’s Theatre building opened on 28 April 1897 with a production of Seats of the Mighty by Gilbert Parker. The theatre was designed by C. J. Phipps, and there have been theatres on the site since 1705.
Read more about Her Majesty’s Theatre
Book tickets to The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London
