Drottningholms Slottsteater

Drottningholms Slottsteater 2007

We are offering this exciting event in 2007
For more information Drottningholms Slottsteater, please contact one of our consultants

Drottningholms Slottsteater was built to the design of the theatre architect, Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz, at the request of Queen Lovisa Ulrika. The building was completed in 1766 and rests on the remains of an earlier theatre destroyed by fire in 1762.

Drottningholms Slottsteater is built in simple materials. The decorations of the auditorium have been carried out as a theatrical game with stucco, papier mâché and paintings. The rooms surrounding the stage and auditorium acted during the 18th century as dwellings for the staff and as public rooms. In 1791 certain rearrangements of the royal apartments were made and a foyer, the Déjeuner Salon, was built to the design of L. J. Desprez.

The stage measures 20 metres from the footlights to the back and is still one of the deepest in Sweden. The stage machinery, constructed by the Italian mechanic D. Stopani, allows of quick changes of scenery with the curtain up. In addition, the stage has moving waves, trapdoors, cloud cars, lighting machinery and wind and thunder apparatus.

After Gustaf III's death in 1792 Swedish theatrical life stagnated. Drottningholms Slottsteater was more or less forgotten. At the beginning of the 1920's the court theatre was "rediscovered" by the literary and theatre historian Agne Beijer. Under his guidance the theatre was restored to its original shape. The stage machinery was fitted with new ropes and the wax candles were replaced by electric lamps. The unique collection of original scenery (about 15 complete sets and 20 incomplete) has nowadays been copied.

On 19th August 1922 the curtain rose again at Drottningholms Slottsteater. The performances, few at first, were gradually increased, and the theatre aquired a growing international reputation as a festival theatre, with works by Haydn, Handel, Gluck and Mozart. There have been innumerable performances by artists and companies from abroad. Drottningholm ballets soon became a criterion for reconstructed ballets from the 18th century. Music played on authentic instruments has been one of the theatre's aims.

Drottningholms Slottsteater is administrated by Stiftelsen Drottningholms teatermusem. Performances are financed with contributions from the Swedish State and sponsors and also annually recieve financial support from Besides the theatre's own productions the Royal Opera, Stockholm, gives guest perfromances each year.

In 1991 the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO designated the theatre, together with Drottningholm Palace, the Chinese Pavilion and the surrounding park, as beeing of international cultural heritage significance and listed on the UNESCO's list of world heritage.

The auditorium has steeply raked stalls, and all the seats are padded with support for one's back

Sat 26 May	16.00	Serse	Première
Mon 28 May	19.30	Serse
Wed 30 May	19.30	Serse
Fri 1 June	19.30	Serse
Sat 2 June	16.00	Serse
Wed 6 June	16.00	Serse
Fri 8 June	19.30	Serse
Sat 9 June	16.00	Serse
Sat 28 July	16.00	L'Orfeo	Première
Mon 30 July	19.30	L'Orfeo
Wed 1 Aug	19.30	L'Orfeo
Fri 3 Aug	19.30	L'Orfeo
Sun 5 Aug	16.00	L'Orfeo
Tue 7 Aug	19.30	L'Orfeo
Thu 9 Aug	19.30	L'Orfeo
Sat 11 Aug	19.30	L'Orfeo
Subject to changes.

We are offering this exciting event in 2007
For more information Drottningholms Slottsteater, please contact one of our consultants