Martin Nürenbach
Encyclopedia
Martin Nürenbach, or Nurembach (unknown - 1780), was a German acrobat
, actor
, dancer, tight-rope-dancer
and theatre director, active in Sweden
, Norway
and Finland
. He is known as the founder of the first theatre in Norway.
and brother-in-law of Charlotta Seuerling
. He is listed as a member in the Stenborg Troupe
in a passport to Uppsala
in 1767, and 1767-68 as a member of the Seuerling troupe. He was then active as "dancing master of the city" in Gothenburg
, before he performed and instructed pupils in acrobatics and dance in companionship with "The Worldfamous Madame Stuart
" from Scotland in Oslo
in Norway in July 1770. In the end of 1770, he was a member of a Norwegian theatre troupe. In 1771, he was given permission to open the first theatre in Oslo, and during the 1771-1772 season, he was director for the first theatre house to offer plays in Norwegian by Norwegian actors in Norway. Previously, the Norwegian theatre troupes all played as travelling theatres. Unfortunately, the names of thes actors are unknown. This theatre closed down in 1772 after only one season, when the theatre-ban from 1738 was reintroduced in Norway, but has its place in the history of Norway as its first theatre, and the act for which Nürenbach is famous. In 1780, the Amateur Theatre Det Dramatiske Selskap
replaced it, but Oslo and Norway had to wait for a permanent theatre until 1826 when the first version of the Christiania Theatre
(first under a different name) was founded by Johan Peter Strömberg
.
In September 1773, he can be found in Stockholm
, were he made such a success as an acrobat in the Humlegården
Theatre at the Stenborg Troupe that the troupe had to build new places to get place for the audience. He performed after every play, and also acted, as in the role of Harlequin
8 October. After this, "Nürenbach with spouse" accompanied the Stenborg troupe to Finland. Later, he bought the privilege to play theatre in Finland from Petter Stenborg
in companionship with the actor Beckman. After this, his fate is unknown. In 1774-80, they would have been the only theatre in Finland. In 1781, his companion Beckman was in Stockholm and accused Nürenbach for abandoning him and taking all his actors from him; the court statement described Nürenbach as "No longer present in the Kingdom". He was to have died in Tavastia in Finland in late 1780.
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, dancer, tight-rope-dancer
Tightrope walking
Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
and theatre director, active in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. He is known as the founder of the first theatre in Norway.
Biography
Nürenbach was the son-in-law of the theatre director-couple Carl Gottfried Seuerling and Margareta SeuerlingMargareta Seuerling
Margareta 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...
and brother-in-law of Charlotta Seuerling
Charlotta Seuerling
Charlotta Seuerling or Charlotte Seuerling , was a blind Swedish concert singer, harpsichordist, composer and poet, known as "The Blind Song-Maiden". She was active in Sweden, Finland and Russia. Her last name is also spelled as Seijerling and Seyerling...
. He is listed as a member in the Stenborg Troupe
Stenborg Troupe
The 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...
in a passport to Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
in 1767, and 1767-68 as a member of the Seuerling troupe. He was then active as "dancing master of the city" in Gothenburg
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...
, before he performed and instructed pupils in acrobatics and dance in companionship with "The Worldfamous Madame Stuart
Madame Stuart
C.D. Stuart, known under her stage name Madame Stuart , was a Ballet dancer, acrobat, tightrope-walker, singer, musician, actress, dance teacher, composer and beer brewer. She played an important part in Norwegian cultural history as a pioneer in several fields...
" from Scotland in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in Norway in July 1770. In the end of 1770, he was a member of a Norwegian theatre troupe. In 1771, he was given permission to open the first theatre in Oslo, and during the 1771-1772 season, he was director for the first theatre house to offer plays in Norwegian by Norwegian actors in Norway. Previously, the Norwegian theatre troupes all played as travelling theatres. Unfortunately, the names of thes actors are unknown. This theatre closed down in 1772 after only one season, when the theatre-ban from 1738 was reintroduced in Norway, but has its place in the history of Norway as its first theatre, and the act for which Nürenbach is famous. In 1780, the Amateur Theatre Det Dramatiske Selskap
Det Dramatiske Selskap
Det Dramatiske Selskab is the name for several Norwegian amateur theatre drama troupes. These troupes were the first permanent theatre troupes in the cities of Norway...
replaced it, but Oslo and Norway had to wait for a permanent theatre until 1826 when the first version of the Christiania Theatre
Christiania Theatre
Christiania Theatre, or Kristiania Theatre, was Norway's finest stage for the spoken drama between October 4, 1836 - September 1, 1899. It was located at Bankplassen by the Akershus Fortress in central Christiania, in Norway...
(first under a different name) was founded by Johan Peter Strömberg
Johan Peter Strömberg
Johan Peter Strömberg was a Swedish actor, dancer and theatre director. He was the founder of the first public theatre and theatre school in Oslo in Norway....
.
In September 1773, he can be found in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, were he made such a success as an acrobat in the Humlegården
Humlegården
Humlegården is a major park in Östermalm in Stockholm. It is the location of the Royal Library and in the centre of the park is a large statue of Carl von Linné, better known as Linnaeus.- History :...
Theatre at the Stenborg Troupe that the troupe had to build new places to get place for the audience. He performed after every play, and also acted, as in the role of Harlequin
Harlequin
Harlequin or Arlecchino in Italian, Arlequin in French, and Arlequín in Spanish is the most popularly known of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian Commedia dell'arte and its descendant, the Harlequinade.-Origins:...
8 October. After this, "Nürenbach with spouse" accompanied the Stenborg troupe to Finland. Later, he bought the privilege to play theatre in Finland from Petter Stenborg
Petter Stenborg
Petter Stenborg was a Swedish actor and theater director who played an important role of the continuation of the native speaking theater in Sweden...
in companionship with the actor Beckman. After this, his fate is unknown. In 1774-80, they would have been the only theatre in Finland. In 1781, his companion Beckman was in Stockholm and accused Nürenbach for abandoning him and taking all his actors from him; the court statement described Nürenbach as "No longer present in the Kingdom". He was to have died in Tavastia in Finland in late 1780.
See also
- 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...
- Karl Gustav BonuvierKarl Gustav BonuvierKarl Gustav Bonuvier, , was a Swedish actor and theatre director, active in Sweden and Finland. He is remembered for having founded the first theatre house in Finland.- Biography :...
- Åbo Svenska TeaterÅbo Svenska TeaterÅbo Svenska Teater is a Finland-Swedish theatre in the city of Turku in Finland and the oldest theatre in the country, founded in 1839. The building itself is also the oldest still functioning theatre house in Finland...
- Det Dramatiske Selskab