Her Majesty’s Theatre – Adelaide
Adelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre, was constructed in 1913, making it Adelaide’s oldest continually operating performance venue. Described upon opening as ‘the most luxuriously appointed theatre in Australia,’ ‘Her Maj’ is the last surviving example of the Tivoli chain of theatres in Australia.
In the 60s and 70s, redevelopments removed some original architectural features and lowered the seating capacity to 900.
COX were engaged in 2017 to redevelop the theatre to meet the needs of a dynamic and evolving arts industry. The community has long been calling for bigger shows with increased seating, improved back of house facilities, and better integration within the bustling market and Victoria Square precinct.
The theatre now features a 1467-seat auditorium and brought back the grand circle after its removal over 50 years ago. The heritage façade and eastern wall were preserved, adding a new west wing with a striking glass facade. Bold balconies, pressed metal ceiling and architraves have been reinstated, paying homage to the original 1960s Edwardian plans.
“The Ribbon” is a concept central to the interior design response – a continuous and seamless transition between inside and out. ‘The Ribbon’ physically manifests through continuous and repeated motifs, materiality, and details, bringing together isolated spaces into a seamless whole.
Symbolic translations of theatrical attributes, such as shapes and patterns found within musical instruments, rhythm, and dance, influence and inform the interiors, reflected in the graceful staircases and deconstructed art deco patterns.
The now ‘working’ auditorium, dressed in a rhythmic timber façade, has been gently inserted into the heritage fabric like a precious jewellery box – defining a respectful relationship between the existing heritage elements and newly built form.
