THE DAVID SAUNDERS AWARD FOR HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE
HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE REDEVELOPMENT COX ARCHITECTURE
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID SIEVERS
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The redevelopment of Her Majesty’s Theatre by COX Architecture has given vibrant new life to the last remaining Tivoli theatre in Australia. Originally constructed in 1913, Cox have satisfied two key objectives – to celebrate the theatre’s rich history and to redesign and expand for modern requirements and a prosperous future.
The realigned grand staircase complements the cascading interior. Features like the “memory walk” in the foyer floor, the reconstruction of the Green Room’s “wall of signatures” spanning a century of celebrities, and inclusion of original pressed metal ceiling design interpret Her Majesty’s past.
The famous 1913 photograph from opening night, with patrons packed to the rafters from all three levels, was used as a primary inspiration. Later modifications had removed the upper tier and radically reduced seating capacity by more than half. The original art nouveau curves of the balustrading and proscenium have been reanimated with sculptured timber.
Even though only two external walls were retained, the careful execution of the architecture and the historical references signal a deep respect for the theatre’s former glory. The intangible stories and reflected cultural histories have returned the architecture to centre stage and restored to Adelaide an entertainment venue to be proud of.
