Åbo Svenska Teater
Encyclopedia
Åbo 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. The name means "The Swedish theatre of Åbo"; Åbo
is the Swedish name of the city of Turku.
the centre of Finland, and the rapid development of the theatre in Sweden during the age of king Gustav III of Sweden
arose the interest for theatre also in Finland. Swedish travelling theatre troupes visited the city from the 18th-century and forwards, such as the Stenborg Troupe
in the 1760s, the troupe of Carl Gottfried Seuerling in the 1780s and the troupe of Margareta Seuerling
, who became the first theatre troupe permanently residing in Finland; and in 1813, the first theatre house was founded by K. G. Bonnevier
by permission of the Russian czar (as Finland had then became a part of Russia
), were his troupe performed until 1827.
The theatre has been located in its present building since 1839, when it was opened with the play Gubben i Bergsbygden the 21 January 1839. During the 19th century, the theatre did not have a permanent staff, as Finland did not have any native actors at this point; the actors consisted of travelling Swedish troupes, which toured both Sweden and Finland, of which one of the most notable was the troupe of Pierre Deland
, which performed regularly on this theatre in the 1840s and 1850s. The first native actors performed in the theatre in 1872, though it was not to be until 1894, that the first complete troupe entirely of native actors performed here.
The theatre building is owned by Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi and it is run by Åbo Svenska Teaterförening.
The theatre has four formal stages; Stora Scenen, with three hundred seats, Studioscenen with one hundred seats, and Tiljan-scenen, also with one hundred seats, as well as local activity.
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
in 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...
and the oldest theatre in the country, founded in 1839. The building itself is also the oldest still functioning theatre house in Finland. The name means "The Swedish theatre of Åbo"; Åbo
Abo
Abo may refer to:* ABO blood group system, a human blood type and blood group system** ABO , enzyme encoded by the ABO gene that determines the ABO blood group of an individual* Abo of Tiflis , an Arab East Orthodox Catholic saint...
is the Swedish name of the city of Turku.
History
Turku was during Finland's age as a part of SwedenSweden
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....
the centre of Finland, and the rapid development of the theatre in Sweden during the age of 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....
arose the interest for theatre also in Finland. Swedish travelling theatre troupes visited the city from the 18th-century and forwards, such as 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 the 1760s, the troupe of Carl Gottfried Seuerling in the 1780s and the troupe of Margareta Seuerling
Margareta 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...
, who became the first theatre troupe permanently residing in Finland; and in 1813, the first theatre house was founded by K. G. Bonnevier
Karl Gustav Bonuvier
Karl 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 :...
by permission of the Russian czar (as Finland had then became a part of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
), were his troupe performed until 1827.
The theatre has been located in its present building since 1839, when it was opened with the play Gubben i Bergsbygden the 21 January 1839. During the 19th century, the theatre did not have a permanent staff, as Finland did not have any native actors at this point; the actors consisted of travelling Swedish troupes, which toured both Sweden and Finland, of which one of the most notable was the troupe of Pierre Deland
Pierre Deland
Pierre Joseph Deland, , was a Swedish actor and theatre director. As director of the Deland travelling theatre, he was one of the most famous artists in both Sweden and Finland during the mid 19th century. His troupe inaugurated several of the first theatres founded in the Swedish and Finnish towns...
, which performed regularly on this theatre in the 1840s and 1850s. The first native actors performed in the theatre in 1872, though it was not to be until 1894, that the first complete troupe entirely of native actors performed here.
The theatre building is owned by Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi and it is run by Åbo Svenska Teaterförening.
The theatre has four formal stages; Stora Scenen, with three hundred seats, Studioscenen with one hundred seats, and Tiljan-scenen, also with one hundred seats, as well as local activity.
External links and sources
- http://www.abosvenskateater.fi/
- http://web.abo.fi/library/bildarvet/teateraff/presentation.htm
- Georg Nordensvan, "Svensk teater och svenska skådespelare".
- http://runeberg.org/nfbh/0175.html
- Tryggve Byström "Svenska komedien 1737-1754"