Her Majesty’s Opera House, Church Street, Blackpool (1)

Opened on 10 June 1889 and built for William Holland and the Winter Gardens Company as a drama theatre with a capacity 1,500*. Proscenium opening 28 feet, stage depth 40 feet, stage width 60 feet. The Blackpool and Fleetwood Gazette of 7 June 1889, gave a lengthy description of the Opera house and assured readers that great efforts had been taken over safety: “it would almost be an utter impossibility for life to be lost under any circumstances.” Its main praise was reserved for the ceiling and the decor: "The ceiling, which is in the Louis Fifteenth style, is in itself a perfect work of art. Its beauties can hardly be described   it should be seen to be appreciated. Turn where one will the eye rests upon a lovely bit of carving; some glittering gilded ornamentations which suggests a fairy palace, delicately painted mirrors... or some marble work."

In 1888 the Umpire reported that the plans for Her Majesty's Opera House, Blackpool, had been passed by the Council and described Matcham as “a clever young architect, who appears at present to be picking up all the plums of theatre construction.”  

It was reconstructed in 1911 (Mangnall and Littlewoods) and 1939 (Charles MsKeith).

·         Capacity of Frank Matcham theatre based on Building News report [Building News 25 August 1911 page 276] Frequently given as 2,500.