[3] It was part of the company's expansion of the late 1920s which also saw theatres constructed in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Oxford and The Dominion, in London.

The theatre's proximity to Southampton Central railway station made its location ideal, but meant that many shows were not as spectacular as their London counterparts.

As part of the Rank Organisation, the theatre has hosted concerts by many famous artists, including Bill Haley & His Comets in 1957, the Beatles in 1963, the Rolling Stones supported by Ike & Tina Turner and The Yardbirds in 1966,[6] Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens 1967, Led Zeppelin in 1973, Queen in 1974, 1975 and 1977, The Police in 1979 and 1982,[7] Rush in February 1978, Iron Maiden in 1980, 1981, and 1983, Status Quo, Kate Bush in 1979, AC/DC's last concert with Bon Scott in January 1980, and Ozzy Osbourne in October 1980.

On the afternoon of their 1981 concert there, Slade filmed a music video for their single "Wheels Ain't Coming Down" at the theatre.

The theatre closed for major redevelopment in January 1986, with the entire stage area being improved and additional facilities, such as computerised box office, being added.

The 2007 Christmas show was Michael Rose and Chris Moreno's production of The Wizard of Oz, starring Russ Abbot, Gregor Fisher, Gary Wilmot and Matthew Kelly, as The Wicked Witch of the West.

[11] The 2008 season included Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love and Cats and the new productions of Zorro and The Wedding Singer.

In 2009, the traditional Christmas show was Cinderella, starring Christopher Biggins, Matthew Kelly, Craig McLachlan and Stefanie Powers.

[citation needed] Also in 2009, the Mayflower welcomed West Side Story, Calendar Girls and Evita, among other shows, before closing for three months, for massive development of the backstage areas, including a new scene dock and also refurbishment of the stalls and circle bar.

Around summer 2012, during an open day to celebrate twenty-five years of the Mayflower, an appeal was launched for plans of changing the main foyer, which no longer met the modern needs of the theatre.

[12] The key benefits were as follows: After the last performance of the musical Strictly Confidential finished, work began on extending the foyer for over a couple of months.