Her Majesty's Theatre

Her Majesty's Theatre

This gorgeous Art Deco venue has a history dating back to the early 19th century
  • Theatre
  • Melbourne
Adena Maier
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Time Out says

In 1839, a gentleman named George Porter purchased a plot of land in Melbourne for £100, or the modern-day equivalent of more than 20,000 Australian dollars. It remained virtually untouched until the 1850s, at which point it became occupied by offices and shopfronts, and it wasn't until 1880 that it became home to some of our city's earliest cultural events. 

After operating as the Hippodrome for a few years, a property developer caught wind of its popularity and decided to turn it into what was at the time the largest theatre in the Southern Hemisphere. It was named the Alexandra Theatre in honour of the then-Princess of Wales, and thanks to the help of several playwrights, theatrical producers and architects, it prospered. 

The theatre was renamed His Majesty's Theatre in 1924, in honour of King George V, and then in 1953, it became Her Majesty's in honour of Elizabeth II. In recent history, it's been home to productions including Hamilton and Disney's Frozen.

Want to snag the best seats in the house? Consult our guide on where to sit in Melbourne's theatres.

Details

Address
219 Exhibition St
Melbourne
3000
Transport:
Nearby stations: Flinders Street; Parliament; Melbourne Central

What’s on

Waitress the Musical

Broadway smash-hit musical Waitress is making its Melbourne (and Australian) debut in 2026, blending sweetness, sass and soulful songs in one heartwarming show. The Tony-nominated production is set to premiere at Her Majesty's Theatre in May 2026 for an exciting, month-long run.  As one of the world’s newer Broadway sensations, Waitress made its debut in New York in 2016, where it ran for four years. Based on the late Adrienne Shelly’s cult 2007 indie flick of the same name, the musical has been whipped into a moving tale of self-liberation against the odds. The show is brought to life by a trailblazing, female-led creative team, featuring a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson, an uplifting score by Grammy winner Sara Bareilles (including the showstopper anthem, ‘She Used to Be Mine’), and direction by Tony winner Diane Paulus. “It’s been a dream of mine to see Waitress (finally) find its way to Australia,” said Sara Bareilles. “This story is about dreams, friendship and the courage needed to learn to love oneself, which feels so universal and so timely.” As the name suggests, the story follows Jenna, a small-town waitress and seasoned pie maker who dreams of escaping her rocky marriage and starting fresh. When a baking contest and an unexpected new romance give her a taste of change, Jenna discovers that the secret ingredient to happiness might be closer than she thought. The Australian premiere of Waitress has been years in the baking – and we’re ready to have...
  • Musicals

Death of a Salesman

4 out of 5 stars
It’s a play considered to be one of the greatest of all time, and after undergoing a show-stopping run in 2023 and 2024, it (and its award-winning star Anthony LaPaglia) are returning to Melbourne once more. Running from August 11 until August 22, 2026, Arthur Miller’s inimitable Death of a Salesman will be staged at Her Majesty’s Theatre for a limited Melbourne run that you don't want to miss.  First performed in 1949, the Pulitzer Prize-winning production explores the promises and pitfalls of the American Dream. The two-act tragedy is told through a montage of memories, confrontations, arguments and dreams of protagonist Willy Loman who tries to navigate what it means to be successful in post-war America. The show runs for about three hours, and generally starts at 7pm on weekdays, with one 2pm performance on Saturdays.  For more info and to secure your tickets, head to the website.   Read on for our five-star review of Death of a Salesman from 2023. *** The curtains of Her Majesty’s Theatre open on Neil Armfield’s magnificent production of Arthur Miller’s Death of A Salesman to reveal a towering grandstand; rusted and weather-stained, ‘Ebbets Field’ printed across the top of its commentary box. All but one of the 14-strong cast are sitting on the bleachers, waiting. "Willy?", Linda Loman asks as her husband limps on stage holding two suitcases. It’s one of the most recognizable images of 20th-century theatre, and it’s keenly watched by the entire ensemble. Miller’s...
  • Drama
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