William Pitt, Princess Theatre, 1885–86, watercolour with gouache, presented by the Friends of La Trobe Library, 1968, H31053

Designed by the architect William Pitt, the Princess Theatre reflected contemporary French influences and was in keeping with the great theatres of Europe. The prestigious theatre debuted on 18 December 1886 with a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. The performance was warmly received and the audience also gave a rousing reception to William Pitt, who appeared on stage during the interval.