His Majesty's Theatre, Perth

Subsequent history and renovation[edit]

Over its first 70 years of life, His Majesty's played host to the traditional Shakespearean plays, opera, political rallies, boxing matches and movie screenings.^[6] It was particularly noted for its excellent acoustics.^[21] During World War II, the theatre functioned chiefly as a cinema due to travel restrictions on touring companies.^[6]


Original proprietor Thomas Molloy leased the theatre to others, including Ben and John Fuller, and local producer Anita Fitzgerald.^[22] Another lessee of the theatre, J. C. Williamson Ltd,^[22] is said to have made His Majesty's Theatre the Perth home of musical theatre.^[18] The theatre was renovated in 1912 at a cost of £9,000, and again in 1948 at a cost of £11,000.^[23] The latter renovation included new backstage electrical fittings and may also have been the time the verandah balconies were removed from the street frontage of the theatre.^[23] In 1952, the theatre was leased by the Edgley family^[22] and used for "Russian spectaculars".^[6] The theatre was redecorated for Edgley and Dawe in 1960, this time at a cost of £7,000.^[24] Edgley went on to purchase His Majesty's in 1969.^[22] After the Perth Entertainment Centre was completed in 1974, the Edgley productions shifted there,^[6] and the newly completed Perth Concert Hall was also favoured as a performance venue due to outdated equipment and general disrepair at His Majesty's.^[2] The theatre was sold in 1976 to Sir Norman Rydge.^[22]


Following several years with an uncertain future and a public campaign to save it,^[2] in 1977 the theatre was bought by the Government of Western Australia.^[1] Adhering to an April 1974 election promise to retain and restore the theatre in conjunction with a new Art Gallery and Cultural Centre, in 1977 the Charles Court Coalition Government undertook a A$10.5 million refurbishment.^[2][25] The final performance in the theatre before closing for renovation was the Gilbert and Sullivan Society's 25th anniversary production of Iolanthe.^[26] The refurbishment took three years^[16] and was overseen by architects Hill and Parkinson.^[27]


The refurbishment saw significant structural changes made to the hotel/theatre complex. Initially, it was suggested that the theatre be largely remodelled to a two-tier concert hall design.^[28] However, architect Peter S. Parkinson resisted this push to fundamentally alter the design of the theatre and a sympathetic restoration was instead favoured.^[28] Within the auditorium, it was found that the reinforced concrete floor of the stalls was substandard and was completely replaced.^[23] Additionally, on one of the upper levels a wall was discovered which was not supported by a beam in accordance with the building plans.^[23] The much-maligned supporting pillars were shifted back to improve sight-lines for the audience.^[17] The raked stage was replaced with a new flat one, and the proscenium arch widened by 2 metres (6.6 ft) and decorated with plaster mouldings of the original arch.^[17] The pressed-metal ceiling was also replaced with a plaster-moulded copy.^[17] The sliding dome in the roof was permanently sealed,^[1] and redecorated to match its original design from 1904.^[17] The orchestra pit was also expanded and new lighting and counterweights installed.^[17]


The hotel portion of the complex was separated from the theatre, and renovated to provide a home for the resident West Australian Opera and West Australian Ballet,^[29] as well as backstage facilities for touring companies.^[1] A separate building was constructed to the rear of the theatre to house new dressing and rehearsal rooms, as well as a new air conditioning system.^[17]


The theatre's grand marble staircase was relocated^[1] to provide a larger foyer.^[17] It had its marble treads replaced but retains the original balustrade.^[17] The former Sportsman's Bar of the hotel was converted to function as the theatre's new box office, and the side entrance from King Street was made an emergency exit.^[17] Soundproofing was also installed within the building's walls to reduce traffic noise.^[17]


During the renovation there was debate about the best way to manage the theatre in the future.^[30] The favoured option was to establish a trust to operate it, which could focus on best serving the arts rather than worrying about commercial viability of productions.^[30] However, on 8 February 1979, Premier Court announced that His Majesty's would be run by TVW Enterprises Ltd, the owner of the rival Perth Entertainment Centre.^[30] This led to public outcry over potential conflicts of interest, and in June 1979 TVW declined to manage the theatre.^[30] The Perth Theatre Trust was instead created, and it took over the running of the theatre.^[30] His Majesty's Theatre finally reopened on 28 May 1980, with a reduced seating capacity of 1250.^[16]


His Majesty's Theatre has long been recognised as an important piece of Western Australia's history: in 1978 it was entered onto the Register of the National Estate.^[31] On 8 April 1994, it was included as an interim entry on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places, before receiving a permanent entry on 16 December 1994.^[32] The theatre was named a State Heritage Icon in December 2004,^[29] and since February 2001 has housed a Museum of Performing Arts.^[1]


In 2004 the theatre celebrated its centenary and events included the publications of David Hough's volume of history. In 2006 the theatre became 'twinned' with the only other remaining theatre of the same name in the world, His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen, Scotland. Perth's His Majesty's Theatre is believed to be the only remaining working Edwardian theatre in Australia,^[1] and is presently managed on behalf of the Perth Theatre Trust by AEG Ogden,^[22][29] which also manages the Perth Concert Hall.^[33]


In 2008, Savcor (a company which specialises in restoration techniques for concrete and steel) was contracted to do a detailed survey of His Majesty's Theatre. This survey revealed a number of defects on the facades that potentially rendered it unsafe. In 2010, a project involving the restoration of damaged cornices and corbels was carried out. Damaged decorations were replaced by using modern repair mortars which produced perfect reproductions. Mick Summers was in charge of crafting the ornate flowers around the façade. This was achieved with the help of latex moulds which were taken from the original form. Due to structural deterioration, many of the balconies had to be rebuilt completely. The balconies' many features, including clamshell base, curved profile and plaster features, required many different processes to recreate the original. Both latex moulding and traditional construction techniques were used to make sure the balconies remained durable.^[34]


In December 2021, renovation work began to reinstate external balcony structures and return the 118-year-old building to its original façade. The Perth Theatre Trust said restoration of the balconies to their original splendour and upgrades of foyers would ensure the theatre remained a viable entertainment venue for future generations: "The extensive renovation will improve patron experience by enhancing the theatre’s main entrance and street precinct character; and extending internal foyer spaces to make them more accessible and functional". The canopy was removed and replaced with two levels of balconies designed to reflect Wolfe's intent. The balconies were constructed in sections and craned into place. They are more complex than the originals and can accommodate a variety of uses. The works were completed at the end of 2022.