His Majesty's Theatre is a west-end theatre located on the Haymarket close to Trafalgar Square. The building was designed by Charles J Phipps in 1897 and built for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the 'Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art' there. In the early part of the 20th century, Tree produced a series of spectacular productions of Shakespeare plays along with other classical works. The theatre has also hosted premières by well-renowned playwrights such as Noel Coward, George Bernard Shaw, and J.B. Priestly.
The wide stage at the venue has made the theatre ideally suited to stage large-scale lavish productions, and the theatre has specialised in hosting musicals for many years and has been home to several record-setting runs, including notably the World War I sensation 'Chu Chin Chow' and the current resident production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's masterpiece 'The Phantom Of The Opera' which has played continuously at the venue since 1986.
The theatre was established as the 'Queens Theatre' by playwright and architect John Vanbrugh, in 1705. At the time, the law prohibited legitimate drama if unaccompanied by music in all but two London patent theatres so this theatre quickly became an opera house and showcased more than 25 premieres by George Frederick Handel between 1711 and 1739.
Early in the 19th century, the theatre hosted the opera company (that was eventually to move over to the Theatre Royal Covent Garden in 1847), and the first London performances of Mozart's La Clemenza Di Tito, Don Giovanni, and Cosi Fan Tutte were performed here. The venue also hosted the 'Ballet of Her Majesty's Theatre' along with several other famous operas.
The name of the theatre has always changed with the sex of the monarch. It was named the King's Theatre in 1714 following the accession of George I and was renamed in 1837 at the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign as Her Majesty's Theatre and then known as His Majesty's Theatre following her death from 1901 to 1952, before reverting back to Her Majesty's on the accession Queen Elizabeth II. The name of the theatre has recently reverted back to His Majesty's Theatre following the coronation of King Charles III. The theatre has a seating capacity of 1,216, and the was Grade II listed by English Heritage in 1970. Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group Theatres bought the lease to the theatre in 2000 on a long-term lease from the Crown Estate.
London theatre tickets to all performances at His Majesty's Theatre can be bought securely through this website.
FAQ's About Booking Tickets To His Majesty's Theatre
Are Tickets To His Majesty's Theatre Expensive?
As His Majesty's Theatre has four tiers and also a lot of restricted and limited view seats there are multiple pricing structures on offer for this show making this a difficult question to answer! Tickets for usually start at around £25 in the Balcony and can go right up to around £200 for the best seats in the Stalls or Dress Circle on Saturday's in peak season making finding well priced and/or good value tickets somewhat of a mission!
Do They Ever Discount Tickets To His Majesty's Theatre?
Yes they do. Occasionally. Although the current production and long running resident show, The Phantom Of The Opera is one of the most successful musicals of all time, there are still eight shows per week to fill. It is incredible that demand for tickets is still as strong as ever but even with a show as popular as this one there will always be quiet weeks where bargains can be found if you look?
Are Midweek Matinees Cheaper?
They can be as long as you avoid school holidays. Thursday matinee tickets can often be the best value option and discounts can sometimes be found especially in the quieter months such as November or February.
What Does R/V On The Ticket Mean?
If your ticket states that your seat is 'R/V' then there will be some kind of restriction or limited view. It is advisable therefore to check the seating plan before you buy any seats marked R/V as His Majesty's Theatre has many pillars in the Stalls and Dress Circle sections as well as overhangs from the different tiers which could possibly affect your enjoyment of the show quite considerably.
Are Upper Circle Or Balcony Tickets Good Value?
Due to the layout of the theatre many of the seats in these areas come with some form of restriction to the view. The seats in the centre of the Upper Circle are mostly clear view and this does reflect in the price whereas the seats to the sides are much cheaper but although they do come with a small restriction, the prices are usually reasonable for these seats, and as there are no pillars in this section the view is not too bad from most of them. Seats in the Balcony section though are very high up and generally require someone to have 20/20 vision even if the seats are marked as clear view. It is very much recommended that you look at the seating plan before booking either Upper Circle or Balcony tickets.
Is It Cheaper To Buy Tickets To His Majesty's Theatre Online?
Not an easy question to answer! Even though the current show at His Majesty's Theatre has been playing consistently for well over three decades, consumer demand for tickets is still as strong as ever meaning that during busy weeks and at weekends all online ticket agencies will need to sell at face value plus a booking fee to make a profit so for peak periods it can be beneficial to buy tickets directly from the box office. In the quieter periods though, and for midweek performances and in particular the Thursday matinee there can often be online discounts to be had making it actually cheaper than buying directly from the theatre.
What Are Liability Tickets?
Occasionally some ticket agencies buy tickets from the theatre in advance at negotiated rates despite already having daily allocations. They do this to either offer extra value to the consumer by selling at a discount to the theatre or rival agencies or simply to make extra profit. Although this is a strategy that does work, it is not an exact science which means that on occasion they are left with a surplus of tickets that they struggle to offload which are known as 'liabilities'. For lastminute bargain hunters this can present a golden opportunity as tickets are perishable products and the price can drop quite substantially in the final hour before the curtain goes up! It should be noted however that if you have your heart set on seeing the show on a certain day then this is not a good strategy as to be lucky and acquire liability tickets for a specific show is very much good fortune rather than shrewd planning!
Are All Ticket Agencies The Same?
The short answer to this is no! It is always advisable to use suppliers who are affiliated with or members of the Society Of London Theatre (SOLT) and the Society Of Ticket Agents And Retailers (STAR) as this will ensure that you get good service, transparent pricing and peace of mind about your purchase. If booking tickets through retail outlets such as the shops in and around Leicester Square always ask whether they are 'official' vendors before you buy and when booking online always look for the SOLT and STAR icons on the website.
