Björngårdsteatern ('Bear's Yard Theater'), also called Christian Thums Commedi-huus ('Christian Thum's Comedy-house') and Theums Spelehus ('Theum's Play-house'), was a
theatre
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...
in
Stockholm in Sweden, active between 1640 and 1655. It was possibly the oldest theatre in
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Swe ...
, but the information is scarce and it is unconfirmed if the theater permit was in fact used. It was in any event a popular tavern managed by
Christian Thum.
History
In 1637, Christian Thum (d. 1655) bought the ''Björnegården'' ('Bear's Yard') at
Södermalm
Södermalm, often shortened to just Söder, is a district and island in central Stockholm.
Overview
The district covers the large island of the same name (formerly called ''Åsön''). Although Södermalm usually is considered an island, wa ...
at
St Paulsgatan and
Björnegårdsgatan in Stockholm. The house was named "Bears' Yard" because it was a local since long used for
Blood sport
A blood sport or bloodsport is a category of sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed. Common examples of the former include combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, and some forms of hunting and fishing. Activities char ...
and
bear-
baiting.
Christian Thum was from Germany and had since 1628 been active in Sweden as the leader of a German theater company: from 1637 until 1645, he was the leader of the theater of the royal court of queen
Christina of Sweden
Christina ( sv, Kristina, 18 December ( New Style) 1626 – 19 April 1689), a member of the House of Vasa, was Queen of Sweden in her own right from 1632 until her abdication in 1654. She succeeded her father Gustavus Adolphus upon his death ...
.
On 15 August 1640, Christian Thum was given a royal permit to manage a "Comedy House" (theater) in the ''Björngården''. However, there is no information of the theatrical activity at ''Björnegårdsteatern''. There is little information even of the theatrical activity of Thum at court, even though that is confirmed to have taken place. His theater at court was an all-male company of actors, who is assumed to have been requited from the Stockholm craftsmen, as there were a tradition of theater performances among the craftsmen guilds, as well as from members of the ''
Hovkapellet''. It is assumed that the theater of Thum at ''Björnegårdsteatern'' would be similar to his theater at court.
[Dahlberg, Gunilla (1992). Komediantteatern i 1600-talets Stockholm. Stockholm: Komm. för Stockholmsforskning. ]
Whether the theater at ''Björnegårdsteatern'' functioned or not, Thum is confirmed to have used the localities as a tavern, which does not exclude a theater in the house.
The tavern at ''Björnegården'' continued to be one of the more well known and popular taverns in Stockholm until it was destroyed in 1877.
See also
*
Stenborg Troupe
*
Lejonkulan
Lejonkulan (In English: ''The Lion's Den''), was a historical theatre in Stockholm, Sweden, active in 1667–89. It's the historically second known theatre establishment of Stockholm, after Björngårdsteatern (1640–55).
History
Lejonkulan ...
References
Notiser ur Stockholms historia* Dahlberg, Gunilla (1992). Komediantteatern i 1600-talets Stockholm. Stockholm: Komm. för Stockholmsforskning.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorngardsteatern
Former theatres in Stockholm
1640 establishments in Sweden
17th century in Sweden
1640 in Sweden
17th century in Stockholm
1877 disestablishments in Sweden
Swedish Empire
Christina, Queen of Sweden