The Swedish Theatre (Swedish: Svenska Teatern or "Svenskan") in Stockholm was, at the beginning of the 20th century, Sweden's largest dramatic theatre. It was located on Blasieholmen in central Stockholm. 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). [1]
Svenska Teatern, or Nya Teatern, was founded by the actor Edvard Stjernström (1816-1877). The new theater was erected after drawings by Ernst Jacobsson (1839-1905). It 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, the Royal Dramatic Theatre 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. [2] [3]
The Swedish Theatre's productions were known for their luxurious decor and splendor. 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. [4]
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, the theatre was run by his widow, the playwright Louise Granberg (1812-1907), from 1877 to 1880. The Swedish Theatre was for a long time the prime jewel in the theatrical empire of Swedish theatre manager Albert Ranft (1858–1938). The theatre was devastated in a fire on June 30, 1925. It was never rebuilt. Since then, the Royal Dramatic Theatre has been seen as the country's main national stage. [5] [6]
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 five running stages.
Strindberg's Intimate Theater, is a theatre stage in Stockholm, Sweden.
Oscarsteatern, also known simply as Oscars, is one of Stockholm's private theatres and is the best-known musical theatre in Sweden. It is located at Kungsgatan 63 in central Stockholm.
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. First written in 1872, Strindberg rewrote it many times in both prose and verse.
Maria Kristina Franck was a Swedish actress and drama teacher. She was a member of the pioneer generation of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, and belonged to the first stars of the theater. She has been referred to as her country's first native dramatic tragedienne. She was the principal of the Royal Dramatic Training Academy from 1819 to 1823. During her last years on stage, she was known under her name as married, Ruckman.
Ebba Charlotta Elise Hwasser née Jakobsson was a Swedish stage actress. She was an elite actor and has been referred to as the leading lady of the Royal Dramatic Theatre in the mid 19th-century.
Hugo Björne was a Swedish film and theater actor.
Gertrud Elisabeth Forsselius née Forsell, also called Forselia, later known as Elisabet Haeffner and Elisabet Fahlgren, was a Swedish stage actress and opera singer. She belonged to the pioneer generation of the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
Antoinette Thérèse Elfforss was a Swedish stage actress and theatre director. She was the managing director of the travelling Elfforss Theater Company between 1869 and 1888.
Hedvig Kristina Elisabeth "Betty" Deland was a Swedish stage actress. She was a principal of the Royal Dramatic Training Academy and belong to the elite of Swedish 19th-century actors. She was known as Betty Deland until 1857 and then as Betty Almlöf.
Johanna "Jeanette" Charlotta Granberg, also known by her married name Stjernström and by the pseudonym of Georges Malméen, was a Swedish writer, a playwright, a feminist and a translator, who wrote plays for mainly the theatre Mindre teatern in Stockholm in the mid-19th century. She was praised as a great dramatic by her contemporaries.
Zelma Carolina Esolinda Hedin née Bergnéhr was a Swedish stage actress. She was an elite actress of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, where she belonged to the star actors in the mid 19th-century. She was also known as Zelma Bergnéhr, Zelma Kinmansson and Zelma Bergmansson.
Albert Adam Ranft was a Swedish theatre director and actor.
Hedvig Charlotta Konstantina Willman née Harling was a Swedish stage actor, opera singer and drama teacher. She was co-principal of the Royal Dramatic Training Academy in 1877-86.
Louise Elisabeth Granberg, was a Swedish playwright, translator and theatre director.
John Wilhelm Brunius was a Swedish actor, scriptwriter and film director.
Rosalie "Rosa" Grünberg was a Swedish actress and opera soprano singer. She was considered one of the Swedish opera scene's prima donnas.
Emma Meissner, née Ekström was a Swedish soprano and actress.
Carl Edvard Stjernström was a Swedish stage actor and theater director.
Ludvig Oskar Josephson was a Swedish dramatist, actor and theatre manager.
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