The Court Theatre - history and here and now

THE COURT THEATRE IN TIME

The Court Theatre is located behind the Folketing on Christiansborg Riding Ground and above the Royal Stables - in a building that was part of the very first impressive Christiansborg Palace complex, built in the 1730s, when the Danish-Norwegian Absolute Monarchy was at its height, and old Copenhagen outside Slotsholmen and within the ramparts was at the same time worn down by decades of wars, plague and not least as a result of the great fire in 1728.

The Court Theatre dates back to 1767 - and more than a quarter of a millennium has not passed without a trace. The time that has passed since then has settled on the walls, worn on the interiors and left its mark on the patina - the quiet decay in the surface that increases the beauty and makes the soul of the theatre stronger. This applies, for example, to the beautiful inscriptions and signatures written into the walls of the proscenium by actors and others throughout the 19th century.

Past meets present

The restoration rests on two simple but crucial principles: We preserve The Court Theatre in order to use it, and we use it with respect for its preservation. Here, past and present meet in sustainable balance. With the restoration, new stories have emerged from the walls.This is why, for example, you can now see the Norwegian marble columns, which date back to the 1730s, for the first time in more than 170 years.

In the newly restored Court Theatre, the historic interiors now stand beautifully side by side with modern design. New installations, discreet sound and lighting design and improved facilities give the audience a sensual and atmospheric experience, where history is not hidden away - but emerges more clearly than ever before. 

A living museum - in the middle of history

The reopened Court Theatre offers a new and vibrant dissemination of both its own cultural history and Danish theatre through 300 years. The new exhibition design reflects a deep understanding of the  atmosphere of the house - a respectful renewal, in which every detail is designed to bring about the soul of The Court Theatre. » See more here

A place like no other

Today, The Court Theatre is not only Denmark's oldest existing stage, a historical monument, a modern museum but also a creative meeting place for audiences and artists. Here, you can still freely move around in rooms where the 18th-century architecture and atmosphere are alive and present. A visit to The Court Theatre is not just a trip to a historic theatre - it is a journey through time, culture and art, in which the elegance of the past meets the gaze of the present.