Comediehuset
Encyclopedia
Comediehuset or Sillgateteatern (The Herring-Street Theatre) was a Swedish theatre, the first real Public theatre in Gothenburg
. It was located at the corner of Sillgatan, the Herring-street (now Postgatan) and Nedre Kvarnbergsgatan and active from 1779 to the 1830s.
, also visited the town, but there was no actual building for this. In the 1770s, amateur theatre, was very popular among the wealthy families Alströmer and Hall, and in 1779, the first house for Public theatre was founded by Patrik and Clas Alströmer
.
The "Comedie House" was originally built of wood, but was rebuilt in stone already in 1782. It was the third theatre built, after Bollhuset in Stockholm (1667) and the theatre of Norrköping
(1762), and in 1784, a theatre was opened in Karlskrona
; a great enthusiasm and development of the theatre had begun in the country after King Gustav III of Sweden
had founded the Royal Swedish Opera
in 1773.
The activity and the standard on the Gustavian theatre in Gothenburg was high; the theatres outside of Stockholm was not as closely watched by the authorities as the theatres in Stockholm, and several plays therefore had their premier in Gothenburg, Karlskrona and Norrköping earlier than in Stockholm. Figaro
had its premier in Comediehuset in 1786 and Hamlet
in 1787, much sooner than in the Royal Dramatic Theatre
in Stockholm. The troupe performing in the theatre was called Gemenasiska sällskapet. It was lead first by Johan von Blanc; in 1786, he was deposed after a conflict with the actors, who fled his rule and almost reached the Norwegian border before they were stopped. He was replaced by Andreas Widerberg, who soon left for a career in Stockholm, and left the theatre to Lovisa Simson, who became Sweden's first female director of a not travelling theatre in 1787-1792.
The theatre was closed in the 1830s and the building itself burned down on 13 March 1867. It was replaced by Segerlindska teatern (1816–1892), which was also called Stora teatern and Mindre teatern (from 1864), which in its turn was replaced by Stora Teatern, founded in 1859. The foundation was part of the theatrical development in Sweden at this point- several of the biggest cities of Sweden had its first real theatres about this time; Norrköping
in 1762, Karlskrona
in 1784 and Malmö
in 1808.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
. It was located at the corner of Sillgatan, the Herring-street (now Postgatan) and Nedre Kvarnbergsgatan and active from 1779 to the 1830s.
History
Travelling theatre companies had had visited Gothenburg since long ago; one such visit is mentioned in 1696, and in the 18th century, a Swedish theatre company, that of Peter LindahlPeter Lindahl
Peter Lindahl , was a Swedish stage actor and theatre director. He belonged to the most known of the pioneer generation of actors at the first Swedish theatre....
, also visited the town, but there was no actual building for this. In the 1770s, amateur theatre, was very popular among the wealthy families Alströmer and Hall, and in 1779, the first house for Public theatre was founded by Patrik and Clas Alströmer
Clas Alströmer
Baron Clas Alströmer was a Swedish naturalist who was a student of Carl Linnaeus at Uppsala University. From 1760–1764 he traveled throughout Southern Europe, collecting plants for Linnaeus. He established a botanical garden and natural museum near Gothenburg which was managed by the notable...
.
The "Comedie House" was originally built of wood, but was rebuilt in stone already in 1782. It was the third theatre built, after Bollhuset in Stockholm (1667) and the theatre of Norrköping
Norrköping
Norrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest...
(1762), and in 1784, a theatre was opened in Karlskrona
Karlskrona
Karlskrona is a locality and the seat of Karlskrona Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 35,212 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Blekinge County. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque city and is host to Sweden's only remaining naval base and the headquarters of the...
; a great enthusiasm and development of the theatre had begun in the country after King Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
had founded the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
in 1773.
The activity and the standard on the Gustavian theatre in Gothenburg was high; the theatres outside of Stockholm was not as closely watched by the authorities as the theatres in Stockholm, and several plays therefore had their premier in Gothenburg, Karlskrona and Norrköping earlier than in Stockholm. Figaro
Figaro
-Literature:* Figaro, the central character in:** The Barber of Seville by Beaumarchais***Il barbiere di Siviglia , the opera by Paisiello based on Beaumarchais' play...
had its premier in Comediehuset in 1786 and Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
in 1787, much sooner than in the Royal Dramatic Theatre
Royal Dramatic Theatre
The Royal Dramatic Theatre is Sweden's national stage for "spoken drama", founded in 1788. Around one thousand shows are put on annually on the theatre's eight running stages....
in Stockholm. The troupe performing in the theatre was called Gemenasiska sällskapet. It was lead first by Johan von Blanc; in 1786, he was deposed after a conflict with the actors, who fled his rule and almost reached the Norwegian border before they were stopped. He was replaced by Andreas Widerberg, who soon left for a career in Stockholm, and left the theatre to Lovisa Simson, who became Sweden's first female director of a not travelling theatre in 1787-1792.
The theatre was closed in the 1830s and the building itself burned down on 13 March 1867. It was replaced by Segerlindska teatern (1816–1892), which was also called Stora teatern and Mindre teatern (from 1864), which in its turn was replaced by Stora Teatern, founded in 1859. The foundation was part of the theatrical development in Sweden at this point- several of the biggest cities of Sweden had its first real theatres about this time; Norrköping
Norrköping
Norrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest...
in 1762, Karlskrona
Karlskrona
Karlskrona is a locality and the seat of Karlskrona Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 35,212 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Blekinge County. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque city and is host to Sweden's only remaining naval base and the headquarters of the...
in 1784 and Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
in 1808.
See also
- BollhusetBollhusetBollhuset, also called ', ', and ' at various times, was the name of the first theater in Stockholm, Sweden; it was the first Swedish theater and the first real theater building in the whole of Scandinavia. The name "" means "The Ball House", and it was built in 1627 for ball sports and used in...
- Bjornegardteatern
- Margareta SeuerlingMargareta SeuerlingMargareta Seuerling, née Lindahl, , was a Swedish actress and Theatre director in a travelling theatre company, perhaps the most known travelling actress of her time in Scandinavia, active in both Sweden and Finland...
- Stenborg theatreStenborg TheatreThe Stenborg theatre, also called Svenska Komiska Teatern, Komiska Teatern and Munkbroteatern, was a historical Swedish 18th century theatre, active between 1784 and 1799 in Gamla stan in Stockholm. It was the second theatre of Stockholm during the Gustavian age...
- Stenborg troupeStenborg TroupeThe Stenborg troupe was a Swedish Theatre Comedy troupe, active in Sweden and Finland in the 18th century. It was also called Stenborgska skådebanorna , Svenska komeditruppen and Svenska Comedien or Svenska Teatern...