His Majesty's Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen

His Majesty's Theatre is a remarkable theatre of the Free Renaissance style, built between 1904 and 1906 by Frank Matcham, with masonry work by A Anderson, slating by G Farquhar, joinery by Henry & Keith, sculpture by Mr Arrowsmith and W Buchan. The theatre sits on steeply sloping ground to the north, overlooking sunken gardens at the heart of Aberdeen City. It has undergone several refurbishments, including in 1933 by D MacAndrew & Co, 1980-82 by the city architect Ian Ferguson, 2005 with an extension by Trevor Smith of the city architect's department.

The symmetrical facade has seven bays and a two-bay domed tower. A giant order of pilasters divides the facade, and it is dominated by a copper-capped dome. The front features a portico, pierced stonework, a balcony with ball finials, and a six-light tripartite window above a two-floor section. Above this is an oval window set within a segmental-arched frame, topped by a semicircular pediment that holds reinforced concrete statues of Tragedy and Comedy. The front is constructed of Kemnay granite ashlar, with Tillyfourie granite to the sides and rear. Architectural details include a ground floor cornice, a frieze, a first-floor cill course, an eaves cornice with panelled blocking course, and ball finials. Round-arched doors and windows are punctuated by Gibbsean-style window surrounds, some with stylized pediments, and feature oculi, keystones, and voussoirs.

The principal south elevation presents an arcade-effect of window and door openings at ground level. The fenestration is regular on the first and second floors, with taller windows at the second floor, incorporating oculi in the outer bays. The tower, at the extreme right, features similar door and window details, with additional pediments in keystoned frames over both floors, leading to corbelled aedicules at the drum. A later wing adjoins the theatre to the east.

The theatre has timber sash and case windows with multi-pane glazing, and extensive use of coloured glass throughout.

The spacious and well-preserved interior combines baroque and neo-Jacobean strapwork decoration, using considerable amounts of alabaster and marble. A panelled foyer, featuring Ionic columns, a richly decorated ceiling, and a bronze bust of Frank Matcham, leads directly to the dress circle. The large auditorium has three cantilevered galleries, and a raked stalls area featuring decorative ceramic tiling to enhance acoustics. Boxes are treated with elaborate aedicular detail, including statues of Tragedy and Comedy flanking the proscenium arch, which is topped with a frieze depicting ‘The Goddess of Drama’. A circular Dress Circle Bar has a marble counter enclosing a gantry, and a horseshoe-shaped Stalls Bar is a replica of the original.