20th century Designed by Adelaide-born architects David Williams and Charles Thomas Good, the foundation stone for the Princess Theatre was laid on 14 October 1912. However, after it was built in 1913, it opened as the New Tivoli Theatre, and is the only original Tivoli still standing. The opening ceremony was presided over by Mayor
John Lavington Bonython on 5 September 1913. Its first music director was
Will Quintrell, before he moved to the
Tivoli, Melbourne. The theatre was renamed the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1920, and back to the Tivoli Theatre in 1930. In 1954 it was acquired by
J. C. Williamson's, but it was very dilapidated by the end of the
Adelaide Festival season in March/April 1962, so the owners undertook a complete refurbishment of the interiors, costing £300,000. The
dress circle was removed in order to create a feeling of greater intimacy, and seating capacity reduced to approximately 1200. The
orchestra pit was enlarged, and panels built over it to improve acoustics, and air conditioning was installed. Heritage features were stripped, replaced by plastic and anodised aluminium décor. The external walls were painted grey. It reopened on 9 November 1962 by premier
Sir Thomas Playford as Her Majesty's Theatre, with a performance by J. C. Williamson Theatres themselves of
The Mikado by
Gilbert and Sullivan. Its present name dates from 31 August 1988. The heritage
facade and eastern wall were preserved, but everything else removed, creating space for a redeveloped larger theatre. The project included expanding into the lot next door, increasing the size of the stage and auditorium, returning
grand circle seating, and improving accessibility and facilities front of house and backstage. The new Her Majesty's Theatre opened on 12 June 2020. The theatre was unveiled by
Douglas Gautier , Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and artistic director. Uncle Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O'Brien, a senior
Kaurna and
Narungga man, marked the official completion with a
Welcome to Country and
smoking ceremony. The redeveloped theatre features a 1467-seat
auditorium over three levels. The grand circle was rebuilt, after an absence of 50 years. Two curving staircases in the expanded main foyer and other features retain some of the original
Edwardian-era
Art Nouveau elements, including a
pressed metal ceiling, elegant
architraves and mouldings. The theatre's "signature wall", formerly in the basement, was deconstructed and reinstalled brick by brick in a central position backstage. The wall is covered with signatures from visiting stars, including
Julie Anthony,
Rowan Atkinson,
Lauren Bacall,
Alan Cumming, and
Barry Humphries. On the floors of each foyer level, brass tiles are engraved with the names of some of the notable stars who have performed at the theatre over the past 100 years.
Accessibility improvements include stair-free access to all levels and backstage areas and accessible seating on all levels. ==Governance==