About the museum
The Theatre Museum is located on the Christiansborg riding ground, which is part of the Christiansborg Castle that up until the end of the 19th century served as residence for the royal family. Today it accommodates the Danish Parliament, Folketinget.
The collection at The Theatre Museum describes the history of Danish-language theatre from 1700 up to today. It is composed of drawings, engravings, paintings, photographs, costumes, set models and more.
Visitors have access to all areas of the theatre, the auditorium, the galleries and the stage.
The museum has been established in King Christian VII's Court Theatre from 1767, just above the royal stables.
The French architect Nicolas-Henri Jardin, who had previously been in charge of decorating the Banqueting Hall in the castle itself, was at that time entrusted with the assignment of creating the Court Theatre.
King Christian VII and his queen, the British princess Caroline Mathilde, first opened the theatre on 30th January 1767.
However, by 1881 the Court Theatre no longer served as a theatre. This was because a tragic fire in a Viennese theatre made clear the risk involved in continuing to use old theatres.
In 1885 all furniture and equipment were sold by auction and the idea was for the Parliament to take over the rooms and use them for offices. Fortunately things did not turn out quite that bad.
Instead, in 1912, The Theatre Museum was founded by the Society of Danish Theatre History. Its first home was a small guard building, which is still there, situated between the Parliament Courtyard and the garden of the Royal Library.
Those small rooms accommodated the museum for ten years. In 1922 it was moved to the Court Theatre at Christiansborg. The theatre had then been closed for more than 40 years and had neither electric lighting, nor any heating (however, the museum was wired in 1926 and heating came in 1937). And it was in great need of extensive renovation in order to be suitable as a museum.
Visitors have access to all areas of the theatre, the auditorium, the galleries and the stage.
The museum has been established in King Christian VII's Court Theatre from 1767, just above the royal stables.
The French architect Nicolas-Henri Jardin, who had previously been in charge of decorating the Banqueting Hall in the castle itself, was at that time entrusted with the assignment of creating the Court Theatre.
King Christian VII and his queen, the British princess Caroline Mathilde, first opened the theatre on 30th January 1767.
However, by 1881 the Court Theatre no longer served as a theatre. This was because a tragic fire in a Viennese theatre made clear the risk involved in continuing to use old theatres.
In 1885 all furniture and equipment were sold by auction and the idea was for the Parliament to take over the rooms and use them for offices. Fortunately things did not turn out quite that bad.
Instead, in 1912, The Theatre Museum was founded by the Society of Danish Theatre History. Its first home was a small guard building, which is still there, situated between the Parliament Courtyard and the garden of the Royal Library.
Those small rooms accommodated the museum for ten years. In 1922 it was moved to the Court Theatre at Christiansborg. The theatre had then been closed for more than 40 years and had neither electric lighting, nor any heating (however, the museum was wired in 1926 and heating came in 1937). And it was in great need of extensive renovation in order to be suitable as a museum.
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