Sillgateteatern | |
Address | Gothenburg Sweden |
---|---|
Designation | Sillgatan |
Opened | 1779 |
Closed | 1833 |
Years active | 1779-1833 |
Comediehuset (The Comedy House) or Sillgateteatern (The Herring-Street Theatre) was a Swedish theatre, active in Gothenburg from 1779 until 1833. It was the first permanent Public theatre in Gothenburg and the only one until 1816. It was located at the corner of Sillgatan, the Herring-street (now Postgatan) and Nedre Kvarnbergsgatan.
Prior to the foundation of the first theater, travelling theatre companies had visited Gothenburg, the first one being recorded in 1696. They were foreign, usually from Germany, but by the 1750s, the Swedish theater company of Peter Lindahl regularly visited the town. During the 1770s, amateur theater became popular among the wealthy city elite due to the theater interest of Gustav III of Sweden, and the family of Alströmer and Hall staged amateur theater and became patrons of theater.
In about 1775, Patrik Alströmer and his brother Clas Alströmer, had a proper theater building constructed, known as the Comedy House. Originally of wood, it was rebuilt in stone in 1782. This was to become the 4th public theater in Sweden, after Björngårdsteatern (1640) and Bollhuset (1667) in Stockholm, and the second outside of the capital, after Egges teater in Norrköping (1762), and prior to Spektakelhuset in Karlskrona and Spektakelhuset in Gävle (both founded in 1784). This was a part of 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. Many theaters were founded in smaller cities around Sweden in the 18th-century, but Comediehuset was one of few to have success enough to last past a few years.
It is not exactly known when the theater was first used. Likely, it was used by travelling theater companies from the start. From 1779, however, the building was used by the theater company Gemenasiska sällskapet. It was managed by, in succession, Johan von Blanc (1779-86); Gustaf Simson (1786-87) and finally by Lovisa Simson (1787-92) in companionship with Andreas Widerberg (1786-90).
The standard of the Comediehuset was considered high. The theater's outside the capital was not as closely guarded by the authorities, and controversial plays often had premier sooner in Gothenburg, Karlskrona and Norrköping earlier than in Stockholm. The Marriage of Figaro had its premier in Sweden in Comediehuset in 1786, and Hamlet in 1787, much sooner than in the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. Comediehuset also arranged public masquerade balls, concerts, opera and ballet, and had its own restaurant. Travelling guests artists also performed there, often foreign, such as French pantomime artists, Italian Opera and English circus artists.
In 1792, the theater was dissolved. However, it continued to be used by travelling theater companies. From 1793 until 1800, it was used by the company of Johan Anton Lindqvist, during which it in effect continued as a permanent theater. The following years, it was temporarily used by a succession of theater companies.
From 1810 until 1816, it was again permanently used by Johan Anton Lindqvist, until the building was deemed unsuitable and Lindqvist moved his theater to the second theater in Gothenburg, the newly established 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.
After repairs, Comediehuset was temporarily used for some performances until it was closed in 1833. The empty building burnt down 13 March 1867.
Johan Frans Podolyn or Johann Franz Podolyn was a Swedish numismatist who published on Punic currency in his possession which had been found on the island of Corvo in the Azores. He wrote about the discovery in 1778 in a Swedish academic publication now known as the Publications of the Royal Society of Sciences and Letters in Gothenburg, presumably indicating that he was a member of the society.
Inga Åberg was a Swedish actress and opera singer. She was engaged as an opera singer at the Royal Swedish Opera, and as a stage actress at the Royal Dramatic Theater, between 1787 and 1810.
Margareta Hedvig Alströmer, as married Cronstedt af Fullerö, was a Swedish painter and concert singer. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts and of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
Maria Antonia "Marie Antoinette" Petersén née Crux, (1771–1855), was a Swedish musician (violinist) and singer. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
Johan Peter Strömberg was a Swedish stage actor, dancer and theatre director. He was the founder of the first public theatre and acting school in Oslo, Norway.
Sofia Ulrika Liljegren, also known as Sofia Uttini, was a Swedish-Finnish soprano. She was likely the first professional opera singer from Finland, although she was active in Sweden. She was given the title hovsångerska.
Events from the year 1779 in Sweden
The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Elisabet Spiegelberg, also called Denner-Spiegelberg, née Denner, was a German actress and theater director. She was one of the first actresses to become famous in Scandinavia, and later became the leader of one of the most known theater companies touring in Scandinavia prior to the establishment of a local theater there.
Vauxhall or Vauxhallen was a pleasure garden in Gothenburg in Sweden, active from 1773 until 1802. It was situated at Första Långgatan nr 10 in the Masthugget area in Gothenburg. The area contained a building for public balls and concerts as well as a park, and was used for balls, concerts, fire works, military parades and all sorts of artists performances against an entrance fee.
Lovisa Concordia Simson, née Kliecnik or Lindström, was a Swedish theater director. She was the managing director of the theater Comediehuset in Gothenburg between 1787 and 1792. She was the first female theater director over a permanent theater in her country.
Johan von Blanc, born Michel Le Blanc, was a French actor and acrobat active in Sweden. He was the leader of the travelling theater Gemenasiska Sällskapet, and the director of the first permanent theater in Gothenburg, Comediehuset, between 1780-86. He played a major role in the history of Gothenburg as well as the theater in Sweden outside Stockholm.
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Anna Catharina Widerberg née Widebäck or Widebeck (1765-1824), was a Swedish stage actress and singer.
Segerlindska teatern was a theater in Gothenburg, active between 1816 and 1892. It was also known as Nya teatern, Stora teatern and as Mindre teatern.
Johan Anton Lindqvist was a Swedish stage actor and theater director.
Eva Margareta Fundin (1777-1800) was a Swedish stage actress and dancer. She was the star attraction of the Gothenburg theatre and one of the most celebrated stage actors outside of the capital of Stockholm in her time.
Sophie Haglund, was a Swedish stage actress. She was the star attraction of the Gothenburg theatre and one of the most celebrated stage actors outside of the capital of Stockholm in her time.
Wendla Åberg (1791-1864), was a Swedish stage actress and ballet dancer. She was a star attraction of the Gothenburg theatre and one of the most celebrated stage actors outside of the provincial theatre in her time.
Christina Margareta Cederberg (1786–1858), was a Swedish stage actor and theatre manager.