Swedish Theatre (Stockholm)
Encyclopedia
The Swedish Theatre in Stockholm
was, at the beginning of the 20th century, Sweden's largest dramatic theatre. During its years in use, from 1875 to 1925, it was often considered as Sweden's foremost national theatre (as opposed to the Royal Dramatic Theatre
). It was founded by the actor Edvard Stjernström and located on Blasieholmen in central Stockholm
.
Svenska Teatern, or Nya Teatern, was in its time Stockholm
's largest theatre, with 1,150 seats in its two stalls and four galleries (as a comparison, today's national stage Dramaten has around 700 seats for its main stage). The theatre was also equipped with the first rotating stage in Sweden and had its own ballet
-ensemble that was known worldwide for its quality.
The Swedish Theatre's productions were known for their luxurious decor and splendour. It was here that the original Swedish stagings of Henrik Ibsen
's most well-known plays took place, as well as a number of great productions of William Shakespeare
's and Anton Chekhov
's dramatic works. Under the directorship of Ludvig Josephson, it staged the premières of August Strindberg
's Master Olof
in 1881 and Sir Bengt's Wife and Lucky Peter's Journey in the following year. Many of the world's greatest theatre companies came to perform at the Swedish Theatre, including Stanislavski's
Moscow Art Theatre
and Reinhardt's
Deutsches Theater
. The Swedish Theatre also toured abroad, with several productions in Moscow, Berlin, Paris, Oslo and Copenhagen among others. Most of Sweden's greatest stage actors of the early 20th century were part of the theatre's ensemble: Anders de Wahl, Gerda Lundequist
, Tora Teje
, Inga Tidblad, Gösta Ekman d.ä.
, Pauline Brunius
and Hugo Björne
were among others.
After the death of the founder Edvard Stjernström, he theatre was run by his widow, the playwright
Louise Granberg
, in 1877-1880. The Swedish Theatre was for a long time the prime jewel in the notorious Swedish theatre manager Albert Ranft
's theatrical empire. The theatre was devastated in a fire on June 30, 1925, during the Great Depression
. It was never rebuilt. Since then, the Royal Dramatic Theatre
has been seen as the country's main national stage.
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...
was, at the beginning of the 20th century, Sweden's largest dramatic theatre. During its years in use, from 1875 to 1925, it was often considered as Sweden's foremost national theatre (as opposed to 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....
). It was founded by the actor Edvard Stjernström and located on Blasieholmen in central 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...
.
Svenska Teatern, or Nya Teatern, was in its time 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...
's largest theatre, with 1,150 seats in its two stalls and four galleries (as a comparison, today's national stage Dramaten has around 700 seats for its main stage). The theatre was also equipped with the first rotating stage in Sweden and had its own ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
-ensemble that was known worldwide for its quality.
The Swedish Theatre's productions were known for their luxurious decor and splendour. It was here that the original Swedish stagings of Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
's most well-known plays took place, as well as a number of great productions of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's and Anton Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
's dramatic works. Under the directorship of Ludvig Josephson, it staged the premières of August Strindberg
August Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
's Master Olof
Master Olof
Master Olof is a historical drama in five acts by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg. The story is about the reformer Olaus Petri's struggle against the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century...
in 1881 and Sir Bengt's Wife and Lucky Peter's Journey in the following year. Many of the world's greatest theatre companies came to perform at the Swedish Theatre, including Stanislavski's
Konstantin Stanislavski
Constantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski , was a Russian actor and theatre director. Building on the directorially-unified aesthetic and ensemble playing of the Meiningen company and the naturalistic staging of Antoine and the independent theatre movement, Stanislavski organized his realistic...
Moscow Art Theatre
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre is a theatre company in Moscow that the seminal Russian theatre practitioner Constantin Stanislavski, together with the playwright and director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, founded in 1898. It was conceived as a venue for naturalistic theatre, in contrast to the melodramas...
and Reinhardt's
Max Reinhardt (theatre director)
----Max Reinhardt was an Austrian theater and film director and actor.-Biography:...
Deutsches Theater
Deutsches Theater
The Deutsches Theater in Berlin is a well-known German theatre. It was built in 1850 as Friedrich-Wilhelm-Städtisches Theater, after Frederick William IV of Prussia. Located on Schumann Street , the Deutsches Theater consists of two adjoining stages that share a common, classical facade...
. The Swedish Theatre also toured abroad, with several productions in Moscow, Berlin, Paris, Oslo and Copenhagen among others. Most of Sweden's greatest stage actors of the early 20th century were part of the theatre's ensemble: Anders de Wahl, Gerda Lundequist
Gerda Lundequist
Gerda Carola Cecilia Lundequist was a Swedish stage actress, an Ibsen and Strindberg-thespian that in her time was known throughout Scandinavia as "The Swedish Sarah Bernhardt".-Career:...
, Tora Teje
Tora Teje
Tora Teje was a Swedish theatre and silent film actress. She appeared in ten films between 1920 and 1939.-Filmography:* Gubben kommer * Giftas * Damen med kameliorna * 33.333...
, Inga Tidblad, Gösta Ekman d.ä.
Gösta Ekman (senior)
Gösta Ekman, Sr. , born Frans Gösta Viktor Ekman, was a Swedish actor. Generally spoken of as Swedish theatre's most legendary stage actor, Gösta Ekman enjoyed a prolific stage career during his short life, becoming the first real star of Swedish theatre...
, Pauline Brunius
Pauline Brunius
Pauline Brunius, née Emma Maria Pauline Lindstedt was a Swedish actor, Screenwriter and director. She was the managing director of the Royal Dramatic Theatre from 1938 to 1948....
and Hugo Björne
Hugo Björne
Hugo Björne was a Swedish film and theater actor.-Life and career:Björne was born in Varberg on the Swedish west coast. He made his stage debut in 1907 and his film acting debut in 1913, starring in silent movies. Later, Björne would be better known as a supporting actor...
were among others.
After the death of the founder Edvard Stjernström, he theatre was run by his widow, the playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Louise Granberg
Louise Granberg
Louise Elisabeth Granberg , was a Swedish playwright, translator and theatre director.She was the daughter of the actor and writer Per Adolf Granberg and the sister of the playwright Jeanette Granberg. From 1849 forward, she translated and wrote plays, sometimes jointly with her sister, under the...
, in 1877-1880. The Swedish Theatre was for a long time the prime jewel in the notorious Swedish theatre manager Albert Ranft
Albert Ranft
Albert Adam Ranft was a Swedish theatre director and actor. Ranft debuted in the theatre company of Magda von Dolcke in 1876. He started his own travelling company in 1884 and was employed at Stora Teatern in Gothenburg from 1886...
's theatrical empire. The theatre was devastated in a fire on June 30, 1925, during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. It was never rebuilt. Since then, 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....
has been seen as the country's main national stage.
Sources
- http://runeberg.org/nfcf/0749.html
- Lane, Harry. 1998. "Strindberg, August." In The Cambridge Guide to Theatre. Ed. Martin Banham. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. 1040-1041. ISBN 0521434378.
- Meyer, Michael. 1985. Strindberg: A Biography. Oxford Lives ser. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1987. ISBN 019281995X.