Det Dramatiske Selskab is the name for several Norwegian
amateur theatre
Amateur theatre, also known as amateur dramatics, is theatre performed by amateur actors and singers. Amateur theatre groups may stage plays, revues, musicals, light opera, pantomime or variety shows, and do so for the social activity as well as f ...
drama troupes. These troupes were the first permanent theatre troupes in the cities of
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
. The period between 1780–1830 is described by many as ''the age of the dramatic companies''.
History
The
amateur theatre
Amateur theatre, also known as amateur dramatics, is theatre performed by amateur actors and singers. Amateur theatre groups may stage plays, revues, musicals, light opera, pantomime or variety shows, and do so for the social activity as well as f ...
companies of Det Dramatiske Selskap founded the first theatres and gave the first regular performances in Norwegian cities. Previously, Norway was visited by travelling foreign troupes which performed in temporary structures. However, the theatres run by the amateur troupes of Det Dramatiske Selskap were not public theatres, but private.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in Christiania (
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
)
An amateur theatre performed in the city is recorded in 1765. Founded in
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
in 1780, it gave the first regular theatre performances in Norway. On 24 October 1780, they performed ''The coffeehouse or the Scottish woman'' by
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his ''nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his criticism of Christianity—es ...
translated by
Ditlevine Feddersen Ditlevine Feddersen (née Collett; 19 July 1727 – 18 November 1803) was a Norwegian poet, translator and culture personality. She was the older sister of Mathia Collett.
Biography
She was one of eleven children of the wealthy merchant Peter Coll ...
starring
Henriette Mathiesen (Lindane) and
Envold Falsen (Frelon).
They performed first in
Gevæxthuset, a concert house from the 1760s by
Grændsehaven and, from 1802, in
Dramatiken, beside the
Centralteatret
Centralteatret ( en, Central Theater) is a theatre on Akersgata in the city centre of Oslo, Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western ...
They replaced the temporary theatre staged by
Martin Nürenbach
Martin Nürenbach or ''Nurembach'' (unknown – 1780) was a German acrobat, stage actor, dancer and equilibrist active in Sweden, Norway and Finland. He was a pioneer in Norwegian theater history by founding the first public theater in Oslo in t ...
in the city 1771–1772, and was in turn replaced by the theatre of
Johan Peter Strömberg
Johan Peter Strömberg (19 August 1773 – 20 September 1834) was a Swedish stage actor, dancer and theatre director. He was the founder of the first public theatre and acting school in Oslo, Norway.
Biography
Johan Peter Strömberg was bor ...
in 1827, the
Christiania Offentlige Theater
Christiania Offentlige Theater ('Christiania Public Theatre') or ''Det Strømbergske Teater'' ('Strömberg Theatre') was a historic theatre in Oslo in Norway, active between 1827 and 1835. It was the first public theatre in Oslo and in Norway, and ...
, which was the origin of the first Norwegian national theatre,
Christiania Theatre
Christiania Theatre, or ''Kristiania Theatre'', was Norway's finest stage for spoken drama from 4 October 1836 (opening date) to 1 September 1899. It was located at Bankplassen by the Akershus Fortress, in central Christiania. It was the fir ...
.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in
Christianssand
Kristiansand is a seaside resort city and municipality in Agder county, Norway. The city is the fifth-largest and the municipality the sixth-largest in Norway, with a population of around 112,000 as of January 2020, following the incorporation ...
Founded in 1787 by
Henrik Arnold Thaulow,
Nicolai Emanuel de Thygeson
Nicolai Emanuel de Thygeson or Niels Emanuel de Thygeson (19 April 1772–16 May 1860) was a Danish-Norwegian landowner and government official. The Thygeson family was originally a Danish noble family. Nevertheless, Thygeson was one of those ...
, and
Nicolai Wergeland (father of
Henrik Wergeland
Henrik Arnold Thaulow Wergeland (17 June 1808 – 12 July 1845) was a Norwegian writer, most celebrated for his poetry but also a prolific playwright, polemicist, historian, and linguist. He is often described as a leading pioneer in the develop ...
and
Camilla Collett
Jacobine Camilla Collett (née Wergeland; 23 January 1813 – 6 March 1895) was a Norwegian writer, often referred to as the first Norwegian feminist. She was also the younger sister of Norwegian poet Henrik Wergeland, and is recognized as bein ...
).
Their first theatre burned down in 1892, and the second was torn down in 1966. It is now counted as the first amateur theatre in Norway, and is located at
Agder Theater
Kilden Teater is a Norwegian theatre based in Kristiansand. It was established in 1991, and has been the regional theatreAgd ...
.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in
Bergen
Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula o ...
Established in 1794 alongside
Det Harmoniske Selskab (founded in 1765), it soon became more independent of it and popular.
From 1800 it had its own theatre building,
Komediehuset på Engen
Komediehuset på Engen ('Meadow Comedy House') was a historic theatre in Bergen
Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. , its popul ...
, until 1828; this theatre was later to be the first public theatre in Bergen, when it, after Det Dramatiske Selskap had left in 1828, became the first travelling professional Danish theatre troupe, and, in 1850, it came to
Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene ( en, National Theater) is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatres in Norway.
History
Opened under the name '' Det Norske Theater'' in 1850, the theatre has root ...
, the first public theatre in Bergen. The building was burnt after the bombardment of 15 June 1940.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in Arendal
The Dramatic company of Arendal was founded in 1796 and performed in
Comediehuset of Arendal
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 a ...
, a building that it owns. They are still active.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in
Drammen
Drammen () is a city and municipality in Viken, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the south-eastern and most populated part of Norway. Drammen municipality also includes smaller towns and villages such as Konne ...
Founded in 1801.
Det Forenede Dramatiske Selskab in
Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, and ...
Founded in 1802 and performed in their own theatre building from 1816. In 1861, they gave the use of their theatre house to the first permanent theatre of the city, the
Throndhjems Theater Throndhjems Theater was a historic theatre in Trondheim in Norway, active between 1861 and 1865. It was the first permanent theatre in Trondhjem.
Previously, theater in Tronhjem had consisted of travelling theatre companies and the amateur society ...
.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in
Laurvig
Larvik () is a town and municipality in Vestfold in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. The municipality of Larvik has about 46,364 inhabitants. The municipality has a 110 ...
Founded in 1810.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in Fredrikshald
Founded in 1819.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in Stavanger
Founded in 1823.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in
Egersund
Egersund is a town in Eigersund municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The town is located along the southwestern coast of Norway, about south of the city of Stavanger. The town is situated along a strait which separates the mainland from the ...
Founded in 1825.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in Christiansund
Founded in 1830.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in
Tromsø
Tromsø (, , ; se, Romsa ; fkv, Tromssa; sv, Tromsö) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.
Tromsø lies in Northern Norway. The municipality is the ...
Founded in 1832.
Det Dramatiske Selskab in
Hammerfest
Hammerfest (; sme, Hámmerfeasta ) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. Hammerfest is the northernmost town in the world with more than 10,000 inhabitants. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hammerf ...
Founded in 1839.
References
Hjemmesidewww.dramatiske.no*
Kirsten Broch, ''Komedianter og kremmere. Det dramatiske Selskab i Bergen 1794-1994.'' (1994).
* ''Musikere og musikkliv i Bergen 1750-1830'' drøfter Randi M. Selvig
* http://www.nb.no/nbvev/eksternvev/html/et_kongeligt_national_theater.html
* H.J. Huitfeldt : Christiania Theaterhistorie (The theatre history of Christiania) (in Norwegian)
{{authority control
History of Oslo
History of theatre
18th-century theatre
19th-century theatre
18th century in Norway
19th century in Norway
Theatre companies in Norway
Arts organizations established in the 18th century
18th-century establishments in Norway
Arts organizations established in the 19th century
19th-century establishments in Norway